Alejandro Falla
FullnameAlejandro Falla Ramírez
Birth date14 November 1983 (age 42)
Birth placePopayán, Colombia
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Turnedpro2000
Retired2018
PlaysLeft-handed (two-handed backhand)
Careerprizemoney$3,101,331
Singlesrecord114–169 (at ATP Tour level, Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
Singlestitles0
HighestsinglesrankingNo. 48 (16 July 2012)
Australianopenresult3R (2010, 2012)
Frenchopenresult4R (2011)
Wimbledonresult3R (2012)
Usopenresult2R (2006, 2011)
Doublesrecord17–41 (at ATP Tour level, Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
Doublestitles0
HighestdoublesrankingNo. 130 (3 August 2009)
Australianopendoublesresult1R (2010, 2012, 2013)
Frenchopendoublesresult2R (2014)
Wimbledondoublesresult1R (2010, 2014)
Usopendoublesresult1R (2010, 2014)
Medaltemplates-expandyes
Updated9 April 2021

Alejandro Falla Ramírez (aleˈxandɾo ˈfaʎa raˈmiɾes;[1] born 14 November 1983) is a Colombian former professional tennis player. The left-hander turned professional in 2000 and achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 48 in July 2012. At the 2006 Wimbledon tournament, Falla upset ninth seed Nikolay Davydenko and at the 2007 Sony Ericsson Open he beat ninth seed Tommy Haas in straight sets. He reached the semifinals of the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon in 2007, beating players such as the fifth seed Ivan Ljubičić.

Career

The Colombian became the first player from his country to break into the top 100 of the ATP rankings since Mauricio Hadad in 1996. In 2006, Alejandro qualified a career-high five times into the main draw of ATP tournaments. In his second tournament of the year, he reached the final of the Mexico City Challenger. He then went on to earn points for his country in a Davis Cup tie against Paraguay Davis Team. Then later in April, he won the Bogotá Challenger. At Roland Garros, he reached the second round after defeating Justin Gimelstob, though he lost to Roger Federer in the second round. A few weeks later at Wimbledon, he managed to beat Nikolay Davydenko in a four-set thriller. His victory over Davydenko was his first win over a top-10 player, and a first ever for a Colombian player. However, he was then defeated in the second round by Philipp Kohlschreiber in another four-set match. He then reached the second round in the US Open. In the first round, he beat Juan Martín del Potro in four sets, before being defeated by Dmitry Tursunov in straight sets.

Falla almost caused a sensation in the first round of Wimbledon in 2010, winning the first two sets against defending champion Roger Federer and serving for the match at 5–4 in the fourth set (he was three points away from winning), before Federer eventually won 5–7, 4–6, 6–4, 7–6, 6–0.[2]

His best result in a Grand Slam was in 2011 at the French Open. Falla reached the fourth round, where he lost to the unseeded Juan Ignacio Chela.

In the 2014 Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Falla rallied to beat 2011 champion Philipp Kohlschreiber 5–7, 7–6 (5), 6–4 to become the first Colombian to reach the final of a grass-court tournament. He lost to six-time champion Roger Federer in the final.

Juniors

Alejandro Falla made it to the semi-finals in the 2001 French Open, giving a big inspiration to Colombian players aspiring to achieve strong results in junior open tennis.

Doubles

In junior doubles at the French Open, he and compatriot Carlos Salamanca defeated the German duo Markus Bayer and Philipp Petzschner, the first junior title won by Colombians in a Grand Slam.

Tournament20002001
Junior Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAA
French Open1RW
Wimbledon1R1R
US OpenA2R

Doubles: 1 (1 title)

ResultYearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win2001French OpenClayCarlos SalamancaMarkus Bayer
Philipp Petzschner		3–6, 7–5, 6–4

ATP career finals

Singles: 2 (2 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0)
ATP World Tour 500 Series (0–0)
ATP World Tour 250 Series (0–2)
Titles by surface
Hard (0–1)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–1)
Titles by setting
Outdoor (0–2)
Indoor (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Jul 2013Colombia Open, Colombia250 SeriesHardIvo Karlović3–6, 6–7(4–7)
Loss0–2Jun 2014Halle Open, Germany250 SeriesGrassRoger Federer6–7(2–7), 6–7(3–7)

Doubles: 1 (1 runner-up)

Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0)
ATP World Tour 500 Series (0–0)
ATP World Tour 250 Series (0–1)
Titles by surface
Hard (0–1)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Titles by setting
Outdoor (0–1)
Indoor (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Feb 2011Pacific Coast Championships, United States250 SeriesHardXavier MalisseScott Lipsky
Rajeev Ram		4–6, 6–4, [8–10]

ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals

Singles: 24 (14–10)

Legend
ATP Challenger (11–8)
ITF Futures (3–2)
Finals by surface
Hard (3–4)
Clay (11–6)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Jun 2002Bogotá, ColombiaFuturesClayPablo González6–7(6–8), 6–7(2–7)
Loss0–2Jun 2002Bogotá, ColombiaFuturesClayEduardo Bohrer6–7(3–7), 6–7(1–7)
Win1–2Jan 2003San Salvador, El SalvadorFuturesClayJorge Aguilar6–4, 6–4
Win2–2May 2003Pereira, ColombiaFuturesClayThiago Alves7–5, 6–3
Win3–2Oct 2003Bogotá, ColombiaFuturesClayMarco Mirnegg7–5, 6–3
Loss3–3Feb 2004Waikoloa, United StatesChallengerClayDmitry Tursunov5–7, 6–7(4–7)
Win4–3Mar 2004Bogotá, ColombiaChallengerClayAdrián García4–6, 6–1, 6–2
Win5–3Mar 2004Salinas, EcuadorChallengerHardGilles Müller6–7, 6–2, 6–2
Loss5–4Jul 2005Pozoblanco, SpainChallengerHardMarcos Baghdatis3–6, 3–6
Loss5–5Jul 2005Binghamton, United StatesChallengerHardAndy Murray6–7(3–7), 3–6
Loss5–6Apr 2006Mexico City, MexicoChallengerClayRamón Delgado3–6, 6–4, 4–6
Win6–6Apr 2006Bogotá, Colombia (2)ChallengerClayAndré Sá6–4, 6–2
Loss6–7Nov 2007Bratislava, SlovakiaChallengerHardSimone Bolelli6–4, 6–7(7–9), 1–6
Win7–7May 2009Pereira, ColombiaChallengerClayHoracio Zeballos6–4, 4–6, 6–2
Win8–7Sep 2009Cali, ColombiaChallengerClayHoracio Zeballos6–3, 6–4
Win9–7Oct 2009Rennes, FranceChallengerHardThierry Ascione6–3, 6–2
Loss9–8Apr 2010Bogotá, ColombiaChallengerClayJoão Souza6–4, 4–6, 1–6
Win10–8Sep 2011Cali, Colombia (2)ChallengerClayEduardo Schwank6–4, 6–3
Loss10–9Oct 2011Medellín, ColombiaChallengerClayVíctor Estrella Burgos7–6(7–2), 4–6, 4–6
Win11–9Apr 2012Barranquilla, ColombiaChallengerClayHoracio Zeballos6–4, 6–1
Win12–9Jul 2012Bogotá, ColombiaChallengerClaySantiago Giraldo7–5, 6–3
Win13–9Jan 2014Nouméa, New CaledoniaChallengerHardSteven Diez6–2, 6–2
Win14–9Jan 2014Bucaramanga, ColombiaChallengerClayPaolo Lorenzi7–5, 6–1
Loss14–10Jan 2016Nouméa, New CaledoniaChallengerHardAdrian Mannarino7–5, 2–6, 2–6

Doubles: 20 (10–10)

Legend
ATP Challenger (6–5)
ITF Futures (4–5)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–3)
Clay (9–6)
Grass (0–1)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Oct 2000Colombia F2, BogotáFuturesClayPablo GonzalezLeonardo Azzaro
Eyal Ran		2–6, 2–6
Win1–1Aug 2001Spain F4, DeniaFuturesClayPablo GonzalezJ. Fernandez-Rubio
A-J Martin-Arroyo		2–6, 6–2, 6–2
Win2–1Jun 2002Colombia F2, BogotáFuturesClayCarlos SalamancaEduardo Bohrer
Fernando Araujo		3–0 ret.
Loss2–2Aug 2002Spain F11, IrunFuturesClayCarlos SalamancaMarc Fornell Mestres
F. Ventura-Martell		6–7(3–7), 1–6
Loss2–3Sep 2002Spain F14, MadridFuturesHardCarlos SalamancaGabriel Trujillo Soler
A-J Martin-Arroyo		4–6, 4–6
Loss2–4Jan 2003El Salvador F2, La LibertadFuturesHardCarlos SalamancaJuan Pablo Brzezicki
Bruno Soares		6–4, 4–6, 6–7(3–7)
Win3–4May 2003Mexico F4, AguascalientesFuturesHardBruno SoaresRonaldo Carvalho
Gabriel Pitta		4–6, 6–4, 6–3
Loss3–5May 2003Colombia F1A, CaliFuturesClayCarlos SalamancaMirko Pehar
Michael Quintero		3–6, 4–6
Win4–5Oct 2003Colombia F2, BogotáFuturesClayCarlos SalamancaRonaldo Carvalho
Carlos Berlocq		6–5, 5–7, 6–4
Loss4–6Jun 2004Surbiton, Great BritainChallengerGrassGlenn WeinerNathan Healey
Jim Thomas		3–6, 6–7(9–11)
Win5–6Sep 2008Cali, ColombiaChallengerClayJuan Sebastián CabalBrian Dabul
Horacio Zeballos		7–6(8–6), 6–3
Win6–6Sep 2008Bogotá 3, ColombiaChallengerClayJuan Sebastián CabalAlejandro Fabbri
Horacio Zeballos		3–6, 7–6(9–7), [10–8]
Win7–6Nov 2008Medellín, ColombiaChallengerClayJuan Sebastián CabalJuan-Pablo Amado
Víctor Estrella Burgos		3–4 ret.
Loss7–7May 2009Pereira, ColombiaChallengerClayJuan Sebastián CabalJoão Souza
Víctor Estrella Burgos		4–6, 4–6
Win8–7Nov 2009Bogotá, ColombiaChallengerClayAlejandro GonzálezDiego Álvarez
Sebastián Decoud		5–7, 6–4, [10–8]
Loss8–8Oct 2009Mons, BelgiumChallengerHardTeymuraz GabashviliDenis Istomin
Evgeny Korolev		7–6(7–4), 6–7(4–7), [9–11]
Loss8–9Apr 2011Barranquilla, ColombiaChallengerClayEduardo StruvayFlavio Cipolla
Paolo Lorenzi		3–6, 4–6
Loss8–10Apr 2011Pereira, ColombiaChallengerClayEduardo StruvayMarcel Felder
Carlos Salamanca		6–7(5–7), 4–6
Win9–10Sep 2016Barranquilla, ColombiaChallengerClayEduardo StruvayGonzalo Escobar
Roberto Quiroz		6–4, 7–5
Win10–10Oct 2016Medellín, ColombiaChallengerClayEduardo StruvayAndré Ghem
Juan Lizariturry		6–3, 6–2

Performance timelines

Singles

Tournament20012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017SRW–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAAAQ1AAQ22RA3R1R3R2R2R1RQ2A0 / 77–7
French OpenAAA2RQ12R1R2RQ12R4R1R1R1R1RQ1A0 / 107–10
WimbledonAAA2RQ32R2R1R1R1R1R3R1R1R1RQ2A0 / 115–11
US OpenAAAQ2Q12RQ2Q11R1R2R1RA1RQ3AA0 / 62–6
Win–loss0–00–00–02–20–03–31–22–30–23–44–44–41–31–40–30–00–00 / 3421–34
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Indian Wells MastersAAAAAA2RAA1RA1R1R3RQ1AA0 / 53–5
Miami MastersAAAAAA3RAA2RQ12R3R1R3RQ1A0 / 68–6
Monte Carlo MastersAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA0 / 00–0
Rome MastersAAAAAAAAAAAQ1A1RQ1AA0 / 10–1
Madrid MastersNHAAAA1R1RAAA1R2RQ1Q11RAA0 / 51–5
Canada MastersAAAAA1R1RA2R1R1RAA1RQ2Q1A0 / 61–6
Cincinnati MastersAAAAAA1RAA2RQ11RA1RAAA0 / 41–4
Shanghai MastersNot Masters SeriesAAA1R1RAAAA0 / 20–2
Paris MastersAAAAAAAA1RAA2RQ1AAAA0 / 21–2
Win–loss0–00–00–00–00–00–23–50–01–22–40–23–62–32–52–20–00–00 / 3115–31
National representation
OlympicsNot HeldANot HeldANot Held1RNot HeldANH0 / 10–1
Davis CupZ2Z2AZ3Z2Z2Z1Z1Z1POZ1Z1POZ1POAPO0 / 022–10
Win–loss1–01–00–05–02–04–02–12–01–10–11–20–22–21–00–20–00–00 / 122–11
Career statistics
Titles / Finals0 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 10 / 10 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 2
Year-end ranking1383566275127231108811808110574549988122273397

Doubles

Tournament20102011201220132014W–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open1RA1R1RA0–3
French Open1RA1RA2R1–3
Wimbledon1RAAA1R0–2
US Open1RAAA1R0–2
Win–loss0–40–00–20–11-31–10

References

  1. ^ "The pronunciation by Alejandro Falla himself". ATP World Tour. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  2. ^ Cheese, Caroline (21 June 2010). "Wimbledon 2010: Roger Federer survives massive scare". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 June 2010.