Julián Alonso


Julián Alonso Pintor is a retired tennis player from Catalonia, Spain, who turned professional in 1995 and retired in 2003. He was known in tennis because of his powerful serve, compared with the Goran Ivanisevic´s service. In 1997, playing against Ivanisevic, in Long Island, beat him for first Top 10 victory en route to semifinal and in that match fired a 143 mph serve to become just third player to register a serve of at least 143. He is the founder of "Julian Alonso Team" Academy located in Palm Beach, FL focusing on junior development.
Married to Arantxa Vivanco and father of two children.

Tennis career

Alonso was awarded the ATP Newcomer of the Year prize after winning his first ATP title in Santiago and finishing in the Top 30 in 1997. In the final of the tournament, he defeated Marcelo Ríos, World No. 1 ranking 6–1, 6–2 in 46 min. Previously, that same year, Tim Henman after being defeated by Alonso at "The Lipton" Key Biscayne declared: "Julian will be the next number 1 in the World before Wimbledon"
After this promising start, however, his career is considered underwhelming; he only won one more title and retired in 2003 after half year playing only Challengers. He confessed that the decline of his career started with the relationship with Martina Hingis. The pressure of the media and his mother-in-law made Alonso's ranking and self-confidence fall. He reached his career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 29 in June 1998. He used to play doubles in Davis Cup Spanish team with Joan Ballcells during Manolo Santana captaincy, and several single matches.

Career finals

Singles (2 wins, 1 loss)

Legend
Grand Slam
ATP Masters Series
ATP Tour

ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Jul 1997Kitzbühel, AustriaClay Filip Dewulf6–7, 4–6, 1–6
Win1–1Nov 1997Santiago, ChileClay Marcelo Ríos6–2, 6–1
Win2–1Jun 1998Bologna, ItalyClay Karim Alami6–1, 6–4

Doubles (2 wins, 1 loss)

Legend
Grand Slam
ATP Masters Series
ATP Tour

ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Sep 1997Marbella, SpainClay Karim Alami Alberto Berasategui
Jordi Burillo
4–6, 6–3, 6–0
Loss1–1Nov 1997Santiago, ChileClay Nicolás Lapentti Hendrik Jan Davids
Andrew Kratzmann
6–7, 7–5, 4–6
Win2–0Aug 1998Long Island, United StatesHard Javier Sánchez Brandon Coupe
Dave Randall
6–4, 6–4