| Guillermo Coria |
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| 1982 births | |
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| living people | |
| argentine tennis players | |
| people from santa fe province | |
| doping cases in tennis | |
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Guillermo Sebastián Coria (born January 13 , 1982 in Rufino , Santa Fe Province ), nicknamed '''''El Mago''''' (''The Magician'' in Spanish ), is a professional Tennis player from Argentina . He was named after tennis champion and countryman Guillermo Vilas . CAREER Coria turned professional in 2000 , finishing 2003 , 2004 and 2005 as a top ten. He is one of the fastest players in the Association Of Tennis Professionals , consistently showing great performances on clay courts tournaments and is often a major threat at the French Open . His playing style is a Counterpuncher . Coria tested positive for Nandrolone in April 2001 and was initially suspended two years. Coria claimed that the only supplement he was taking was a multivitamin made by a NJ supplements company. His family had a private lab test the multivitamin, which found them contaminated with steroids. Subsequently, the ATP reduced his suspension to only the seven months that had already passed. Coria sued the company for more than $10 million in lost prize money and endorsements and settled after the third day of the trial for an undisclosed amount. {Link without Title} Coria reached the semifinals of the French Open in 2003 before getting upset by Martin Verkerk 's booming Serves . In 2004, as a favorite to win the title, he reached the French Open Men's Singles final, beating among others former #1 Carlos Moyá , but was unexpectedly defeated by unseeded compatriot Gastón Gaudio in an unprecedented all-Argentinean final, 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6. Coria had won the first two sets convincingly before succumbing to leg cramps, at times barely able to move. Coria played on, went two breaks of serve ahead in the fifth set and even had two points to win at 6-5 because of Gaudio's shaky play. But in the end, Gaudio prevailed in a thrilling finish. Coria is considered one of the best clay court players never to win the French Open, perhaps only surpassed by Alex Corretja . In August 2004, he had suffered a shoulder injury, which required surgery shortly before the Houston Masters Cup, in which he performed poorly. Coria has appeared in several finals since the French Open defeat, but did not win another title until July 31st 2005, when he won in Umag, Croatia. Afterwards, Coria joked that the small tournament was considered a fifth Grand Slam in his family, because his wife Carla hails from Croatia. Coria had a surprisingly consistent 2005 season, where he reached the fourth round or better in every Grand Slam, having previously been considered somewhat out of his element on surfaces other than clay. ''El Mago'' attended preschool with David Nalbandian in Argentina. He is a well known River Plate fan (he sometimes celebrates winning matches like Chilean Soccer player Marcelo Salas ). Coria's level during 2006 seriously dropped, losing in the first round at several tournaments. He withdrew from the 2006 French Open and from Wimbledon to rehabilitate. In August 2006 he hired Horacio De La Peña as his tennis coach. In 2007, Coria was scheduled to return on April 30 at the Ostrava Challenger in the Czech Republic, but withdrew due to injuries. GRAND SLAM SINGLES FINALS Runner-ups (1) ATP MASTERS SERIES SINGLES FINALS Wins (2) Runner-ups (5) TITLES (9) Singles titles (9)
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