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The Drop Shot Dragon

Explore the remarkable career of Albert Portas, the Spanish clay-court specialist who stunned the tennis world with his tactical genius and an unforgettable Masters title.

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Player Profile

The Barcelona Native

Albert Portas Soy was born on November 15, 1973, in Barcelona, Spain. A right-handed player known for his two-handed backhand, he embarked on his professional tennis journey in 1994. After a dedicated career spanning over a decade, he retired from the professional circuit in 2007.

Career by the Numbers

Portas carved out a successful career, reaching impressive heights in both singles and doubles play. His key statistics include:

  • Highest Singles Ranking: World No. 19 (October 1, 2001)
  • Highest Doubles Ranking: World No. 56 (April 14, 2003)
  • Career Singles Record: 142โ€“198
  • Career Doubles Record: 73โ€“109
  • Total Prize Money: $2,972,633

Grand Slam Journey

While a Grand Slam title eluded him, Portas was a consistent presence at the majors. His best singles results were reaching the third round at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. In doubles, his most significant achievement was reaching the quarterfinals of the 2003 Australian Open.

An Unforgettable Career

The Hamburg Miracle of 2001

The crowning achievement of Albert Portas's career was his astonishing victory at the 2001 Hamburg Masters. Entering the tournament as a qualifier, he defied all expectations. In a dramatic five-set final, he defeated fellow Spaniard and future World No. 1, Juan Carlos Ferrero. This victory was his first and only top-level singles title, catapulting him into the top 20 of the world rankings.

Notable Finals & Runs

Beyond his Hamburg title, Portas made several other deep runs. In 1997, he reached the final of the prestigious Barcelona Open, defeating future French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten, Marcelo Rรญos, and Carlos Moyรก before falling to Albert Costa. He also reached the finals in San Marino (1999) and Sopot (2001), cementing his reputation as a formidable clay-court threat.

Life After Tennis

Immediately following his retirement from professional play in September 2007, Portas transitioned into coaching. He took on the role of coach for WTA player Daniela Hantuchovรก, a partnership that lasted from 2007 to 2012. This move allowed him to share his extensive knowledge and tactical acumen with the next generation of players.

Playing Style & Legacy

The "Drop Shot Dragon"

Portas earned the memorable nickname "Drop Shot Dragon" for his exceptional mastery of the drop shot. This tactical weapon was key to his victory in the Hamburg final. His ability to execute this delicate shot with precision frustrated even the world's best players. Lleyton Hewitt once remarked, "He sure hits a lot of drop shots, but he hits them so well, as well as anyone I have faced."

Performance Timelines

Albert Portas competed on the ATP Tour for over a decade, participating in numerous Grand Slams and Masters Series events. His year-by-year performance showcases his consistency and highlights his peak seasons.

Singles Performance Timeline

Tournament 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Wโ€“L
Australian Open A A A A 1R 1R 2R 1R 2R 1R 1R A A A 2โ€“7
French Open A Q1 Q1 3R 1R 2R 3R 1R 3R 2R 1R Q1 1R Q1 8โ€“9
Wimbledon Q2 A A A 1R 1R 3R 1R 1R 1R A A 1R Q1 2โ€“7
US Open A A A 1R A 1R 1R 3R 1R 1R A Q1 A A 2โ€“6
Winโ€“Loss 0โ€“0 0โ€“0 0โ€“0 2โ€“2 0โ€“3 1โ€“4 5โ€“4 2โ€“4 3โ€“4 1โ€“4 0โ€“2 0โ€“0 0โ€“2 0โ€“0 14โ€“29

Doubles Performance Timeline

Tournament 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Wโ€“L
Australian Open A A 2R 2R 1R QF 2R A A 6โ€“5
French Open A A 1R 2R 2R 1R A A 2R 3โ€“5
Wimbledon A A 1R 1R A 1R A A 1R 0โ€“4
US Open A 1R 1R 1R 1R 1R A A A 0โ€“5
Winโ€“Loss 0โ€“0 0โ€“1 1โ€“4 2โ€“4 1โ€“3 3โ€“4 1โ€“1 0โ€“0 1โ€“2 9โ€“19

Triumphs Against the Top

Wins Over Top 10 Players

Throughout his career, Albert Portas secured 10 victories against players ranked in the world's top 10. These wins demonstrate his ability to compete with and defeat the elite of the sport, especially on his favored clay surface.

# Player Rank Event Surface Round Score
1997
1. Marcelo Rรญos 9 Barcelona, Spain Clay 2R 7โ€“5, 7โ€“6(7โ€“3)
2. Carlos Moyรก 9 French Open, France Clay 2R 6โ€“4, 4โ€“6, 7โ€“5, 6โ€“3
3. Thomas Muster 4 Stuttgart, Germany Clay 2R 6โ€“4, 7โ€“5
2000
4. Gustavo Kuerten 5 Australian Open, Australia Hard 1R 4โ€“6, 4โ€“6, 6โ€“4, 7โ€“6(8โ€“6), 6โ€“4
2001
5. Magnus Norman 5 Barcelona, Spain Clay 2R 1โ€“1, ret.
6. Magnus Norman 6 Hamburg, Germany Clay 2R 7โ€“6(7โ€“5), 7โ€“6(9โ€“7)
7. Lleyton Hewitt 7 Hamburg, Germany Clay SF 3โ€“6, 7โ€“5, 6โ€“2
8. Juan Carlos Ferrero 9 Hamburg, Germany Clay F 3โ€“6, 6โ€“2, 0โ€“6, 7โ€“6(7โ€“5), 7โ€“5
2003
9. Andy Roddick 6 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay 1R 7โ€“6(7โ€“5), 6โ€“3
10. Carlos Moyรก 4 Sopot, Poland Clay 1R 7โ€“6(7โ€“4), 6โ€“7(6โ€“8), 6โ€“4

ATP Tour Finals

Singles Finals (1 Title, 3 Runner-ups)

Portas contested four ATP singles finals in his career, all on his preferred clay surface. His victory in Hamburg stands as a monumental achievement in the Masters 1000 series.

Result Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss Apr 1997 Barcelona, Spain Clay Albert Costa 5โ€“7, 4โ€“6, 4โ€“6
Loss Aug 1999 San Marino Clay Galo Blanco 6โ€“4, 4โ€“6, 3โ€“6
Win May 2001 Hamburg, Germany Clay Juan Carlos Ferrero 4โ€“6, 6โ€“2, 0โ€“6, 7โ€“6(7โ€“5), 7โ€“5
Loss Jul 2001 Sopot, Poland Clay Tommy Robredo 6โ€“1, 5โ€“7, 6โ€“7(2โ€“7)

Doubles Finals (1 Title, 3 Runner-ups)

In addition to his singles success, Portas was a capable doubles player, reaching four finals and capturing one title with compatriot รlex Lรณpez Morรณn in Umag, Croatia.

Result Date Tournament Partner Opponents Score
Loss Nov 1996 Santiago, Chile Dinu Pescariu Gustavo Kuerten / Fernando Meligeni 4โ€“6, 2โ€“6
Win Jul 2000 Umag, Croatia รlex Lรณpez Morรณn Ivan Ljubiฤiฤ‡ / Lovro Zovko 6โ€“1, 7โ€“6(7โ€“2)
Loss Jul 2002 Umag, Croatia Fernando Vicente Frantiลกek ฤŒermรกk / Julian Knowle 4โ€“6, 4โ€“6
Loss Jul 2006 Umag, Croatia Guillermo Garcรญa Lรณpez Jaroslav Levinskรฝ / David ล koch 4โ€“6, 4โ€“6

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References

References

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Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional analysis or expert commentary on sports history. For official records and statistics, please consult official sources such as the ATP Tour website.

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