Pablo Andújar Alba (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈpaβloanˈduxaɾˈalβa];[1] born 23 January 1986) is a Spanish former professional tennis player. Andújar has won four ATP Tour singles titles and reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 32 in July 2015. His best results are reaching the fourth round of the 2019 US Open and the 2021 French Open doubles semifinals.
Junior career
As a junior, Andújar compiled a singles win–loss record of 67–16 (and 48–14 in doubles), reaching as high as No. 5 in the combined junior world rankings in June 2004.
Junior Slam results:
Australian Open: -
French Open: QF (2004)
Wimbledon: 1R (2004)
US Open: 1R (2004)
Professional career
2008–11: Grand Slam & top 100 debuts, first ATP title & top 50
On his Grand slam debut at the 2008 French Open as a lucky loser he reached the second round defeating Filippo Volandri. In August 2008, following his wins at two consecutive Challengers in Vigo and in San Sebastián, he entered the top 100 on 25 August 2008 at World No. 88.
In 2011, Andújar won his first ATP title at the Grand Prix Hassan II tournament in Morocco, defeating Italian Potito Starace in the final. As a result he entered the top 50 at World No. 48 on 25 April 2011.
Andújar reached his biggest final at the 2015 Barcelona Open where he was defeated by Kei Nishikori. On 13 July 2015 he reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 32.
2016–18: Hiatus due to surgery, Fourth title & first in four years
Between March 2016 and April 2017, Andújar underwent three elbow surgeries with three different doctors and considered retirement if the third surgery didn't work. Upon his return in January 2018, Andújar lost five of his first six matches at all levels.[2]
In April 2018, Andújar won his fourth ATP tournament and his first in for four years, beating Kyle Edmund in straight sets in the final in Marrakesh to become the lowest-ranked tour-level titlist at World No. 355 since then-World No. 550 Lleyton Hewitt at Adelaide in 1998.[2]
2019–21: US Open fourth round, French Open doubles semifinal, Olympics
In May 2021, ranked No. 75, Andújar upset Roger Federer in three sets at the Geneva Open and reached the semifinals of the event.[3][4][5] He lost to eventual champion Casper Ruud.
At the 2021 French Open, he continued his good form by coming back from two sets down to defeat fourth seed Dominic Thiem in the opening round of the tournament.[6] He also reached the semifinals as alternate in doubles with fellow Spaniard Pedro Martínez,[7] with whom he also made his Grand Slam doubles debut as a pair at the 2021 Australian Open. They defeated the 14th seeded Belgians S.Gillé/J.Vliegen in the third round and the pair of Rohan Bopanna/Franko Skugor in the quarterfinals. They entered the tournament as a replacement alternate pair for the top seeds Nikola Mektić/Mate Pavić.
In September 2021, he reached the third round of the 2021 US Open only for the second time in his career where he lost to World No. 2 and eventual champion Daniil Medvedev. He finished the year 2021 with a positive record of 5–3 in Grand Slams for the first time in his career.
2022: Australian Open third round
Andújar started his 2022 season at the Sydney Classic. He lost in the first round of qualifying to Viktor Durasovic. At the Australian Open, he reached the third round for the first time in his career, thus completing a career set of third rounds at all four Grand Slams. He was defeated in the third round by 32nd seed Alex de Minaur.[8]
At Wimbledon, Andújar lost in the first round to ninth seed, world No. 12, and eventual semifinalist, Cameron Norrie.[22]
After Wimbledon, Andújar played at the Iași Open. As the second seed, he made it to the final where he lost to eighth seed Felipe Meligeni Alves.[23] At the Generali Open Kitzbühel, he beat ninth seed, Lorenzo Sonego, in the first round.[24] He lost in the second round to Austrian wildcard and eventual finalist, Filip Misolic.[25] Seeded second at the first edition of the Kozerki Open, he retired from his second-round match against qualifier Alexey Vatutin due to an arm injury.
Andújar withdrew from the US Open due to the same arm injury he picked up while he was in Grodzisk Mazowiecki.[26]
2023: Retirement
Andújar announced on Instagram in December 2022 that the 2023 season will be his last on tour.[27] He started his season at the Maharashtra Open. He lost in the first round to eighth seed Aslan Karatsev.[28] At the Australian Open, he fell in the first round of qualifying to Australian wildcard Adam Walton.[29]
In February, Andújar played at the Córdoba Open. He retired during his first-round match against Argentinian wildcard and 2021 champion, Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, due to a right shoulder injury.[30] At the Open 13 Provence in Marseille, he lost in the first round to qualifier Alexander Ritschard.[31] In March, he competed at the BNP Paribas Open. He was defeated in the final round of qualifying by Borna Gojo.
Andújar began his clay-court season at the Girona Challenger. Playing as a wildcard, he lost in the first round to Miljan Zekić. In Marrakech, he was defeated in the first round of qualifying by Riccardo Bonadio. He accepted a wildcard for the Barcelona Open. He lost in the first round to Tomás Martín Etcheverry. After his first-round loss, he said farewell, hoping to play one more match at the Valencia Challenger.[32] Receiving a wildcard to enter the qualifying round at the Madrid Open, he was eliminated in the first round of qualifying by Zsombor Piros in three sets.[33]
Performance timelines
Key
W
F
SF
QF
#R
RR
Q#
P#
DNQ
A
Z#
PO
G
S
B
NMS
NTI
P
NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.