José Acasuso facts for kids
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| Country (sports) |  Argentina |
|---|---|
| Residence | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Born | 20 October 1982 Posadas, Misiones, Argentina |
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Turned pro | 1999 |
| Retired | 2012 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $3,642,422 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 193–183 (51.3%) |
| Career titles | 3 |
| Highest ranking | No. 20 (14 August 2006) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2002, 2003) |
| French Open | 4R (2005) |
| Wimbledon | 1R (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009) |
| US Open | 3R (2009) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 95–89 (51.6%) |
| Career titles | 5 |
| Highest ranking | No. 27 (6 February 2006) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (2006) |
| French Open | QF (2009) |
| Wimbledon | 1R (2003, 2005, 2009) |
| US Open | 2R (2005) |
José Javier "Chucho" Acasuso is a former professional tennis player and coach from Argentina. He was born on October 20, 1982. José was known for his powerful serve and strong shots from both sides of the court. Like many players from Argentina, he was especially good on clay courts, which are tennis courts made from crushed brick or shale.
During his career, José Acasuso won three major singles titles on the ATP Tour, which is the highest level of professional tennis. He also won five doubles titles with different partners. His highest ranking in singles was World No. 20, which he reached in August 2006. In doubles, he reached World No. 27 in February 2006.
Contents
Early Years in Tennis
José Acasuso started playing tennis when he was just two years old! His father would take him, his brother, and his sister to his grandfather's tennis club. He got the nickname "Chucho" because when he was a little kid, he used to say his name was "José Acachucho."
José played both basketball and tennis until he was 12 years old. At that point, he decided to focus only on tennis, which turned out to be a great choice for his future career.
Professional Tennis Career
Starting Out Strong
José Acasuso became a professional tennis player in 2000. He quickly made a name for himself in 2001 at his first big tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Even though he was only 18, he beat some top players, including Franco Squillari and Gastón Gaudio. He made it all the way to the final match, but he lost to the famous player Gustavo Kuerten. Later that year, he won his first "Challenger" event, which is a step below the main ATP Tour. He finished 2001 ranked No. 86 in the world, a huge jump from the year before!
Winning Titles and Team Events
In 2002, José had another successful year. He was part of the Argentine team that won the World Team Cup in Germany. This is a big team competition in tennis. He also won his first ATP singles title in Sopot, Poland, beating Franco Squillari. He reached two more finals that year, showing he was a rising star.
After two great years, José faced some challenges in 2003, including injuries. But he bounced back in 2004, reaching the final in Sopot again, where he played against the future tennis legend Rafael Nadal. Later that year, he won his second career title in Bucharest, Romania.
Grand Slam Highlights
One of José's best moments came at the 2005 French Open, which is one of the four biggest tennis tournaments in the world (called Grand Slams). He reached the fourth round, which was his best result ever at a Grand Slam. In an amazing match, he came back from being two sets down to beat the second-seeded player, Andy Roddick. This was a huge victory!
He also started to play better on different types of courts, not just clay. He reached the quarter-finals in Cincinnati (on hard courts) and Basel (on carpet courts).
Davis Cup and Top Rankings
In 2006, José won his third ATP title in Viña del Mar, Chile. This was also the year he started playing for the Argentine Davis Cup team. The Davis Cup is like the World Cup for tennis, where countries compete against each other. He played important matches and helped Argentina reach the semi-finals.
Later in 2006, José reached his first semi-final at a "Masters Series" event in Hamburg, Germany. This helped him get into the top 30 players in the world for the first time. He also had an incredible five-set win against Lleyton Hewitt in the Davis Cup semi-finals. José said it was "one of the most important wins of my career" because it was at home with 14,000 fans watching.
José played in the 2006 Davis Cup final against Russia and the 2008 Davis Cup final against Spain. Both times, he was a last-minute replacement in crucial matches. Although Argentina didn't win the cup in those years, José's efforts were a big part of the team's journey.
Later Career and Retirement
In 2009, José reached another final in Viña del Mar. He also played a memorable match at the 2009 French Open against Roger Federer, who was the eventual champion that year. José played very well, even having several chances to win sets against Federer, but he eventually lost in four sets.
José Acasuso officially announced his retirement from professional tennis on February 24, 2012, after a long and successful career.
Personal Life and Coaching
It's interesting to know that José Acasuso is naturally left-handed, but he plays tennis with his right hand! This is quite unusual for a professional player.
After retiring from playing, José continued to be involved in tennis. He started coaching other players, including Guido Pella, in 2018.
José's clothing sponsor during his playing days was Topper, and he used Head brand racquets.
Images for kids
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José Acasuso at the French Open in 2009.
See also
In Spanish: José Acasuso para niños
