French Open - Coria quits tennis at 27

Eurosport - Thu, 07 May 11:53:00 2009

Former French Open finalist Guillermo Coria has quit tennis at the age of 27 because he has lost motivation.

TENNIS 2008 ATP Stuttgart Coria - 0

"I didn't have any more desire to compete," Coria told Radio Continental.

"I had been thinking about it for several months and in Thailand I realised that it was a struggle for me to travel."

Coria, who won nine singles titles and was runner-up at Roland Garros in 2004, last played at an ATP Challenger tournament in Bangkok in March. He has slipped to 672 in the world rankings.

"I'm happy with the decision I've taken because I have some new projects and more time to dedicate to my family," he said.

"In 2005, I didn't feel like competing. In the last three years, things have not worked out the way I wanted and I haven't had so much passion for what I do.

"In this sport, you always have to be 100 per cent."

Coria was a dominant force on clay, winning the Monte Carlo Masters in 2004 before losing in an epic five-setter the following year to Rafael Nadal.

Coria lost the 2004 Roland Garros final to fellow Argentine Gaston Gaudio having held two match points and having lost just one set on his way to the final.

He also served a seven-month ban after testing positive for nandrolone in 2001.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 16 of 16

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  1. HBM do you remember the two 5 hours matches betwin­ Coria and Nadal and have you seen anything better on­ clay after. Coria was a genius on clay but his body­ couldn't sustaine the pressure of his stile. In his­ best days Coria was one of the best clay corters­ ever.He lost to Gaudio because of the cramps he was so­ so dominant before. I will miss this player he was an­ inspiration. Anyway good luck outside of the court .

    From lubvezenkov, on Thu 30 Apr 9:18AM

  2. what a waste, one of the most graceful clay courter i­ have witnessed. rafa has had tough times with him too.

    From Ray V, on Wed 29 Apr 8:51PM

  3. Coria is a good player still, so I am sad for He quits,­ but respect His dwecision. Good luck for Him.

    From boki, on Wed 29 Apr 7:30PM

  4. in my opinion coria is not a great player .... he shine­ for only one year between the retirment of kuerten and­ the begining of nadal era !!!

    From hmb222000, on Wed 29 Apr 7:26PM

  5. sad have always loved watching coria in action,such a­ nice guy who never showed off for his talent but­ passionate,wish him all the best in the future,how­ carla doin?

    From mo, on Wed 29 Apr 3:53PM

  6. When will people realise that Murray cannot play on­ clay he is a hardciurt specialist not the great­ allrounder people want to say he is ????

    From charleslister02, on Wed 29 Apr 3:50PM

  7. where is murray now???lol...he cannot compete on­ clay???

    From lonewolf, on Wed 29 Apr 3:35PM

  8. Always love the way Coria play.............. Before­ Nadal I always enjoy watching Coria . Its a shame that­ he retires a bit too sudden and too soon.......... I­ wish Him all the best......He should have won that 2004­ final at GR.............

    From Fadlee, on Wed 29 Apr 2:40PM

  9. El Mago Guille Coria is my all time favorite, a petite­ guy who goes up to world no. 3

    From Shaun, on Wed 29 Apr 1:32PM

  10. no players i known can compete the same level of game­ after getting married, that's the reason i believe­ on the El Mago's faded career.

    From Shaun, on Wed 29 Apr 1:31PM

  11. yeah shame although i wasn't rooting for him in­ 2004 because he was a convicted drug cheat!

    From sanchez.santos, on Wed 29 Apr 1:06PM

  12. That RG final between Coria and Gaudio ruined them­ both, but for different reasons.

    From webbski, on Wed 29 Apr 11:41AM

  13. Ahh what sad news to hear Coria has retired from­ tennis.I just loved to watch him play on clay.
    All the­ very best to him whatever he does in life in the­ future.

    From AJ, on Wed 29 Apr 11:28AM

  14. All the best to you: a great player in his day!

    From wulfnoth, on Wed 29 Apr 11:23AM

  15. comment 1, tallbbw33, you are a @#$%

    From webbski, on Wed 29 Apr 11:17AM

  16. that loss at rg destroyed coria and he never managed to­ overcome it, it was a sad day, rg was his alone to win­ and then the cramps set in reversing the whole match.­ its a shame he never managed to deal with that defeat­ cause he was really awesome in 2004 and had a great­ future on clay.

    From ralph, on Wed 29 Apr 11:15AM
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