João Souza
João Olavo Soares de Souza is a Brazilian former professional tennis player. Before receiving a lifetime ban for matchfixing, Souza competed mainly on the ATP Challenger Tour, both in singles and doubles. He reached his highest ATP singles ranking, No. 69, on April 6, 2015, and his highest ATP doubles ranking, No. 70, on January 7, 2013. Souza was coached by former Brazilian player Ricardo Acioly. Souza is also known as "Feijão".
Career
In 2011, he qualified to the US Open, but was defeated in the first round by wildcard Robby Ginepri 3–6, 4–6, 7–6, 1–6.In the 2014 season, Souza beat world number 45 Robin Haase in round of 32 of the ATP 250 São Paulo. Later he reached semifinals at the Marburg, Scheveningen and Poznan Challengers. At the Medellin Challenger, he beat Facundo Bagnis in semifinals and lost to Austin Krajicek in the final. He reached semifinals at the Quito Challenger.
In 2015, he played in the longest singles match in Davis Cup history, losing to Leonardo Mayer in 6 hours and 42 minutes, 6–7, 6–7, 7–5, 7–5, 13–15.
In 2016, he won the 2016 International Tennis Tournament of Cortina on the ATP Challenger Tour, beating Laslo Đere in the final in straight sets.
In January 2020, the Tennis Integrity Unit announced that Souza had been issued a lifetime ban after conviction on match-fixing charges.
ATP career finals
Doubles: 1 (1 runner-up)
Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
Loss | 0–1 | 2015 Ecuador Open Quito – Doubles| | Ecuador Open, Ecuador | 250 Series | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 5–7, 6–7 |
Futures and Challenger finals: 35 (21–14)
Singles: 22 (14–8)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
Runner-up | 1. | São Paulo, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | 6–7, 6–7 | |
Winner | 1. | São Paulo, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | 6–3, 6–2 | |
Winner | 2. | Santos, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | 6–1, 6–2 | |
Winner | 3. | Fortaleza, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | 6–4, 2–0 RET | |
Winner | 4. | Bucaramanga, Colombia | Clay | ![]() | 4–6, 6–2, 6–2 | |
Winner | 5. | Bauru, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | 7–6, 7–6 | |
Runner-up | 2. | Medellín, Colombia | Clay | ![]() | 4–6, 6–4, 4–6 | |
Winner | 6. | Bogotá, Colombia | Clay | ![]() | 4–6, 6–4, 6–1 | |
Winner | 7. | Bogotá, Colombia | Clay | ![]() | 6–4, 7–6 | |
Runner-up | 3. | Quito, Ecuador | Clay | ![]() | 6–2, 3–6, 4–6 | |
Winner | 8. | Santos, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | 6–4, 6–2 | |
Runner-up | 4. | Zagreb, Croatia | Clay | ![]() | 3–6, 4–6 | |
Winner | 9. | Cali, Colombia | Clay | ![]() | 6–2, 6–4 | |
Winner | 10. | Quito, Ecuador | Clay | ![]() | 6–2, 7–6 | |
Winner | 11. | São Paulo, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | 7–6, 6–3 | |
Winner | 12. | São Paulo, Brazil | Hard | ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 | |
Runner-up | 5. | Medellín, Colombia | Clay | ![]() | 5–7, 3–6 | |
Runner-up | 6. | Pereira, Colombia | Clay | ![]() | 6–7, 6–3, 6–7 | |
Runner-up | 7. | San Juan, Argentina | Clay | ![]() | 6–7, 3–6 | |
Runner-up | 8. | León, Mexico | Hard | ![]() | 3–6, 2–6 | |
Winner | 13. | Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy | Clay | ![]() | 6–4, 7–6 | |
Winner | 14. | Fano, Italy | Clay | ![]() | 6–4, 6–7, 6–2 |
Doubles: 22 (11–11)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
Runner-up | 1. | Sorocaba, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 5–7, 6–3 | |
Runner-up | 2. | Londrina, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 6–2, 7–6 | |
Runner-up | 3. | São Paulo, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–2 | |
Winner | 1. | Criciúma, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 | |
Winner | 2. | Uruguaiana, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 6–2 | |
Runner-up | 4. | Florianópolis, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 | |
Runner-up | 5. | São Paulo, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 | |
Runner-up | 6. | Caldas Novas, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–7, 6–1 | |
Winner | 3. | Chapecó, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 6–2, 6–2 | |
Winner | 4. | Itu, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 6–4, | |
Winner | 5. | Fortaleza, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | walkover | |
Winner | 6. | Manizales, Colombia | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 | |
Runner-up | 7. | Aracaju, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 | |
Runner-up | 8. | Mexico City, Mexico | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–3 | |
Winner | 7. | Pereira, Colombia | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 | |
Runner-up | 9. | Cali, Colombia | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 6–3, | |
Runner-up | 10. | Cali, Colombia | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 6–7 | |
Winner | 8. | Campinas, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 7–5 | |
Runner-up | 11. | Quito, Ecuador | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 6–7 | |
Winner | 9. | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–4 | |
Winner | 10. | Porto Alegre, Brazil | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 3–6, | |
Winner | 11. | Santiago, Chile | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–1 |