Galo Blanco
Encyclopedia
Galo Blanco is a retired professional tennis
player from Oviedo
, Spain
. Blanco is a member of the men's professional tour since 1995.
Most of Blanco's early professional tour appearances were earned by qualifying for tournaments. He would do so by winning the qualifier's rounds that are usually played before the tournaments themselves, to fill one last tournament spot. It was that way that he was able to participate at the Fairmonts tournament in Scottsdale
, Arizona
, U.S.
in 1996, for example.
Blanco eventually began to be invited to tournaments, and his name has gained reasonable importance in the men's professional circuit. He came closest to winning a Grand Slam title in 1997, reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Blanco had two high profile wins in majors, beating former 2-time US Open Champion, Patrick Rafter
, in the first round of the 2000 US Open
, and in beating Pete Sampras
in the second round of the 2001 French Open
.
Blanco lost in the second round of the 2004 Australian Open
. He announced his retirement after the 2006 Torneo Godó
.
Blanco is now a prominent tennis coach.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player from Oviedo
Oviedo
Oviedo is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Blanco is a member of the men's professional tour since 1995.
Most of Blanco's early professional tour appearances were earned by qualifying for tournaments. He would do so by winning the qualifier's rounds that are usually played before the tournaments themselves, to fill one last tournament spot. It was that way that he was able to participate at the Fairmonts tournament in Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1996, for example.
Blanco eventually began to be invited to tournaments, and his name has gained reasonable importance in the men's professional circuit. He came closest to winning a Grand Slam title in 1997, reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Blanco had two high profile wins in majors, beating former 2-time US Open Champion, Patrick Rafter
Patrick Rafter
Patrick "Pat" Michael Rafter is an Australian former World No. 1 tennis player. He twice won the men's singles title at the US Open and was twice the runner-up at Wimbledon. Rafter was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006. He was known for his natural serve-and-volley style of...
, in the first round of the 2000 US Open
2000 US Open - Men's Singles
Andre Agassi was the defending champion but lost in the second round to Arnaud Clément. Marat Safin defeated Pete Sampras 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 in the final to win the Men's Singles title at the 2000 US Open. See also:-Key:* Q = Qualifier* WC = Wild Card...
, and in beating Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras is a retired American tennis player and former world no. 1. During his 15-year tour career, he won 14 Grand Slam singles titles and became recognized as one of the greatest tennis players of all time....
in the second round of the 2001 French Open
2001 French Open - Men's Singles
Gustavo Kuerten was the defending champion, and won in the final 6–7, 7–5, 6–2, 6–0, against Àlex Corretja.-Seeds:# Gustavo Kuerten # Marat Safin # Andre Agassi ...
.
Blanco lost in the second round of the 2004 Australian Open
Australian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
. He announced his retirement after the 2006 Torneo Godó
2006 Torneo Godó
The 2006 Torneo Godó was the fifty-fourth edition of the Torneo Godó and it took place from April 24-30, 2006.-Men's Singles: Rafael Nadal def. Tommy Robredo, 6–4, 6–4, 6–0-Men's Doubles:...
.
Blanco is now a prominent tennis coach.
ATP World Tour: 2 (1–1)
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| Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Winner | 1. | August 15, 1999 |  San Marino, San Marino |
Clay (o) |  Albert PortasAlbert Portas Albert Portas Soy is a former professional tennis player.-Career:Portas turned professional in 1994... |
4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Runner-up | 2. | March 4, 2001 |  AcapulcoAbierto Mexicano Telcel The Abierto Mexicano Telcel is a tennis tournament held in Acapulco, Mexico. It is an event on both the ATP Tour and the WTA Tour... , Mexico |
Clay (o) |  Gustavo KuertenGustavo Kuerten Gustavo Kuerten is a retired former World No. 1 tennis player from Brazil. He won the French Open three times between 1997 and 2001, and was the Tennis Masters Cup champion in 2000... |
4–6, 2–6 |