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LOOK BACK: Lopez seals final career win after beating Thompson

In 1998, a 16-year-old Feliciano Lopez made his ATP Tour debut in Barcelona. Just over 25 years later, the left-handed Spaniard called it a playing career Thursday at another event on home soil.

Having delighted locals and himself with a pair of victories en route to the quarterfinals of the Mallorca Championships, the 634th-ranked wild card saw his bid ended by Yannick Hanfmann. The German fired eight aces and did not drop serve en route to wrapping up a 6-2, 6-4 victory over the former world No. 12.

Among Lopez’s career highlights:

  • Closes with a 506-490 record in tour-level matches
  • Co-leads alongside Roger Federer for the most men’s singles major appearances with 81
  • Holds the men’s record of playing 79 consecutive Grand Slam main draws
  • Leads all Spanish men with 87 grass-court wins
  • Won the 2016 Roland Garros doubles title with Marc Lopez (unrelated)
  • Reached four major singles quarterfinals, three coming at Wimbledon
  • Was a member of four Davis Cup winning squads

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Lopez contested 18 ATP singles finals, winning seven (4-2 on grass).

Lopez contested 18 ATP singles finals, winning seven (4-2 on grass).

Lopez has served as the tournament director of the Mutua Madrid Open since 2019 and earlier this month, was appointed by the International Tennis Federation to occupy the same position at the Davis Cup Finals. During a ceremony after his match with Hanfmann, Lopez was presented an honorary membership by the Mallorca Country Club and received a warm sendoff from a group that included tournament director Toni Nadal.

Hanfmann is a two-time ATP finalist, but is bidding to reach his first title match away from the clay. The former USC standout, who ousted defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in the previous round, will square off against another southpaw, Adrian Mannarino. The fourth seed clinched an all-French clash against Corentin Moutet, 7-5, 6-2.

In the other half of the draw, Christopher Eubanks celebrated his first run to an ATP semifinal. The American edged lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4).

“My serve really came up pretty clutch when I needed it to,” expressed the 27-year-old on court.

Eubanks will look to extend his run against South Africa’s Lloyd Harris, a 7-5, 6-2 winner over lucky loser Pavel Kotov.

“I think if you had told both of us that we’d be playing in the semifinals of a 250, we both would take it,” said Eubanks about the matchup.