Sergio Bruguera

Sergio "Sergi" Bruguera (born on January 16 1971,
in Barcelona, Spain) is a retired professional
tennis player from Spain. He is best remembered
for winning two consecutive men's singles titles
at the French Open in 1993 and 1994.

Bruguera was Spain's national junior champion in
1987. He turned professional in 1988. In his first
full year on the tour, 1989, he won the won Cairo
Challenger title as a qualifier (defeating Jordi
Arrese in the final) and reached the semi-finals
in Rome. He finshed 1989 ranked World No. 26, and
was named the Association of Tennis
Professionals|ATP's Newcomer of Year.

Bruguera earned a reputation as a top clay court
player in the early-1990s, winning titles in
Estoril, Monte Carlo and Athens in 1991, and in
Madrid, Gstaad and Palermo in 1992.

In 1993, Bruguera qualified for his first Grand Slam final at the French
Open, where he faced defending-champion Jim
Courier in the final. Bruguera won a gruelling
five-set final 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. The
victory was one of five titles that Bruguera
captured that year.

In 1994, Bruguera won the French Open again,
defeating fellow-Spaniard Alberto Berasategui in
four sets in the final 6-3, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.

Bruguera won the men's singles Silver Medal at the
1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He
was defeated in straight sets in the final by
Andre Agassi 6-2, 6-3, 6-1.

Bruguera reached the French Open final for the
third time in 1997 and was considered the clear
favourite to win his third title against the
unseeded Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten. But Kuerten
surprisingly defeated Bruguera in straight sets
6-3, 6-4, 6-2. (Kuerten was almost completely
unknown at the time, but would go on to become the
World No. 1-ranked player in 2000.)

Outside tennis, Bruguera is a long-time fan of the
Los Angeles Lakers and would often attend their
games while playing at tournaments in United
States. On March 28 1997, after beating the World
No. 1 Pete Sampras in the semi-finals of a
tournament in Miami, Bruguera sank three shots
(layup, free throw, top of key) during a timeout
of a game between the Lakers and the Miami Heat to
earn $500 which was given to ATP Charities in his
name.

Bruguera earned the ATP's Comeback Player of Year
award in 1997 after returning from ankle injury
the previous year to improving his ranking from
No. 81 to No. 8.

Bruguera won a total of 14 top-level singles
titles and 3 doubles titles during his career. His
career-high singles ranking was World No. 3. He is
currently the director of Bruguera Tennis Academy
Top Team.