Sergi Bruguera facts for kids
| Country (sports) |  Spain |
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| Residence | Barcelona, Spain | ||||||||||
| Born | 16 January 1971 Barcelona, Spain |
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| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||
| Turned pro | 1988 | ||||||||||
| Retired | 2002 | ||||||||||
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | ||||||||||
| Prize money | $11,632,199 | ||||||||||
| Singles | |||||||||||
| Career record | 447–271 (62.3%) | ||||||||||
| Career titles | 14 | ||||||||||
| Highest ranking | No. 3 (1 August 1994) | ||||||||||
| Grand Slam singles results | |||||||||||
| Australian Open | 4R (1993) | ||||||||||
| French Open | W (1993, 1994) | ||||||||||
| Wimbledon | 4R (1994) | ||||||||||
| US Open | 4R (1994, 1997) | ||||||||||
| Other tournaments | |||||||||||
| Tour Finals | SF (1994) | ||||||||||
| Grand Slam Cup | QF (1993, 1994) | ||||||||||
| Olympic Games | F (1996) | ||||||||||
| Doubles | |||||||||||
| Career record | 49–50 | ||||||||||
| Career titles | 3 | ||||||||||
| Highest ranking | No. 49 (6 May 1991) | ||||||||||
| Grand Slam doubles results | |||||||||||
| French Open | 3R (1990) | ||||||||||
| US Open | QF (1990) | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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Sergi Bruguera is a famous tennis player and coach from Spain. He was born on January 16, 1971, in Barcelona. Sergi is best known for winning the French Open tennis tournament two years in a row, in 1993 and 1994. He also won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. At his best, he was ranked the third-best tennis player in the world!
Sergi Bruguera has a special record. He is the only player to have a winning record against two tennis legends: Roger Federer and Pete Sampras. In their only match, Sergi beat Roger Federer 6–1, 6–1. This was Federer's biggest loss ever in terms of games won.
After his playing career, Sergi became a coach. He was the captain for the Spain Davis Cup team in 2018. He also coached Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Alexander Zverev. Since October 2023, he has been coaching Arthur Fils.
Contents
Sergi Bruguera's Tennis Journey
Sergi Bruguera won 14 major singles titles and 3 doubles titles during his career. His highest singles ranking was World No. 3. Today, he is the director of the Bruguera Tennis Academy Top Team.
Early Career Highlights
Sergi was a top junior player in Spain. He won the national junior championship in 1987. He became a professional tennis player in 1988. In his first full year, 1989, he won a tournament in Cairo. He also reached the semifinals in Rome. He finished 1989 ranked World No. 26 and was named the ATP's (Association of Tennis Professionals) newcomer of the year.
Becoming the "King of Clay" (1990–1994)
Sergi Bruguera became known as one of the best clay court players in the early 1990s. Clay courts are a type of tennis court made from crushed brick, shale, or stone. He reached many finals and won several titles on clay.
In 1993, Sergi became even more famous. At the French Open, he played incredibly well. In one match, he won every single game, beating his opponent 6–0, 6–0, 6–0. This is called a "triple bagel" and is very rare! He then beat Pete Sampras, who was ranked World No. 1.
Sergi reached his first Grand Slam final at the French Open. He played against Jim Courier, who had won the tournament twice before. Sergi won the tough five-set match, becoming the first Spanish man to win the French Open since 1972.
In 1994, Sergi showed his skill again. He successfully defended his title at the French Open. He only lost two sets in the whole tournament! He beat Alberto Berasategui in the final. By August 1994, he reached his highest ranking of World No. 3. He was the first Spanish player to finish two years in a row in the top 5.
Between 1990 and 1994, Sergi reached 25 clay court finals and won 13 of them. He truly was the "King of Clay."
Facing Challenges (1995–1996)
In 1995, Sergi's dominance on clay courts started to change. He reached the semifinals of the French Open, but lost to Michael Chang. This ended his 19-match winning streak at the tournament. Later that year, he tore two ligaments in his right ankle. This injury made it hard for him to play well in 1996.
Despite his injury, Sergi had a big moment in 1996. He won a silver medal in men's singles at the Atlanta Olympic Games. He lost to Andre Agassi in the final. His ranking dropped a lot because of his injuries.
A Strong Comeback (1997)
In 1997, Sergi made a great return from his injury. He played well in several tournaments, reaching finals in Milan, Key Biscayne, and Umag. He also had an amazing run at the French Open. He reached the final for the third time, beating top players like Michael Chang and Patrick Rafter.
However, in the final, he lost to a lesser-known Brazilian player, Gustavo Kuerten. Even though Sergi was expected to win his third French Open title, Kuerten played incredibly well.
Because of his strong return, Sergi won the ATP's "Comeback Player of the Year" award in 1997. His ranking jumped from World No. 81 to World No. 8!
Later Career and Retirement
After 1997, Sergi Bruguera struggled with more injuries. He found it harder to play his best tennis. He retired from professional tennis in 2002.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, Sergi Bruguera became a tennis coach.
- He coached Alexander Zverev from May 2022 until May 2023.
- He is currently coaching French player Arthur Fils since late 2023.
Beyond the Tennis Court
Sergi Bruguera is a big fan of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team. He often watched their games when he was playing tournaments in the United States. In 1997, he even won $500 by making three basketball shots during a Lakers game! He gave this money to tennis charities.
Sergi has also played semi-professional football (soccer) in Spain.
In an interview, Sergi Bruguera once said that he thought Roger Federer was ten times better than Pete Sampras. This shows his strong opinion about these tennis legends!
See also
In Spanish: Sergi Bruguera para niños
