Albert Portas Soy (Catalan: [əlˈβɛɾ(t)ˈpɔɾtəsˈsɔj], Spanish: [alˈβeɾˈpoɾtasˈsoj]; born 15 November 1973) is a Spanish former professional tennis player. He reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 19 in October 2001.

Career

Portas turned professional in 1994.

His first and only top-level singles title came at the 2001 Hamburg Masters tournament, where as a qualifier (and ranked No. 42 in the world) he defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final. His mastery of the drop shot (key to his victory in the final) earned him the nickname "Drop Shot Dragon". According to the BBC, Lleyton Hewitt said of Portas that "He sure hits a lot of drop shots, but he hits them so well, as well as anyone I have faced." His final at Barcelona Open in 1997 was also very remarkable. En route to the final he defeated Gustavo Kuerten (eventual champion this same year of French Open), Marcelo Ríos, and Carlos Moyá, but lost in the final to Albert Costa. In 1999, Portas lost the final of San Marino defeated by his countryman Galo Blanco.

Immediately after his retirement from playing tennis in September 2007, Portas started coaching WTA player Daniela Hantuchová, whom he coached from 2007 to 2012.

Performance timelines

Key
WFSFQF#RRRQ#DNQANH

Singles

Tournament19941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAAAA1R1R2R1R2R1R1RAAA0 / 72–722%
French OpenAQ1Q13R1R2R3R1R3R2R1RQ11RQ10 / 98–947%
WimbledonQ2AAA1R1R3R1R1R1RAA1RQ10 / 72–722%
US OpenAAA1RA1R1R3R1R1RAQ1AA0 / 62–625%
Win–loss0–00–00–02–20–31–45–42–43–41–40–20–00–20–00 / 2914–2933%
ATP Masters Series
Indian WellsAAAA1RAAA1RAAAAA0 / 20–20%
MiamiAAAAAAA1R3RAAAAA0 / 21–233%
Monte CarloA2RAA1RQ11R2R1R2R1RAQ11R0 / 83–827%
HamburgAAAA1RQ1Q2W1RA2RAQ1A1 / 47–370%
RomeAQ1A2R1R1R1R2R1R1RQ2AAA0 / 72–722%
CanadaAAAAAAA1RAAAAAA0 / 10–10%
CincinnatiAAAAAAA1RAAAAAA0 / 10–10%
StuttgartAAA1RAAA1RNot Masters Series0 / 20–20%
ParisAAA1RAAA2RAAAAAA0 / 21–233%
Win–loss0–01–10–01–30–40–10–29–71–51–21–20–00–00–11 / 2914–2833%

Doubles

Tournament199819992000200120022003200420052006SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAA2R2R1RQF2RAA0 / 56–555%
French OpenAA1R2R2R1RAA2R0 / 53–538%
WimbledonAA1R1RA1RAA1R0 / 40–40%
US OpenA1R1R1R1R1RAAA0 / 50–50%
Win–loss0–00–11–42–41–33–41–10–01–20 / 199–1932%
ATP Masters Series
MiamiAAA1RAAAAA0 / 10–10%
Monte CarloAAQ1AAAAAA0 / 00–0–
HamburgQ1A1R2RAAAAA0 / 21–233%
Rome1RAAQ11RAAAA0 / 20–20%
StuttgartAAA1RNot Masters Series0 / 10–10%
ParisAAA1RAAAAA0 / 10–10%
Win–loss0–10–00–11–40–10–00–00–00–00 / 71–713%

ATP career finals

Singles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups)

Legend
Legend Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0) ATP World Tour Finals (0–0) ATP Masters 1000 (1–0) ATP 500 Series (0–1) ATP 250 Series (0–2)Finals by surface Hard (0–0) Clay (1–3) Grass (0–0) Carpet (0–0)Finals by setting Outdoors (1–3) Indoors (0–0)
Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP Masters 1000 (1–0)
ATP 500 Series (0–1)
ATP 250 Series (0–2)
Finals by surface
Hard (0–0)
Clay (1–3)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Finals by setting
Outdoors (1–3)
Indoors (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Apr 1997Barcelona, SpainChampionship SeriesClaySpain Albert Costa5–7, 4–6, 4–6
Loss0–2Aug 1999San Marino, San MarinoWorld SeriesClaySpain Galo Blanco6–4, 4–6, 3–6
Win1–2May 2001Hamburg, GermanyMasters 1000ClaySpain Juan Carlos Ferrero4–6, 6–2, 0–6, 7–6(7–5), 7–5
Loss1–3Jul 2001Sopot, PolandWorld SeriesClaySpain Tommy Robredo6–1, 5–7, 6–7(2–7)

Doubles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups)

Legend
Legend Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0) ATP World Tour Finals (0–0) ATP Masters 1000 (0–0) ATP 500 Series (0–0) ATP 250 Series (1–3)Finals by surface Hard (0–0) Clay (1–3) Grass (0–0) Carpet (0–0)Finals by setting Outdoors (1–3) Indoors (0–0)
Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP Masters 1000 (0–0)
ATP 500 Series (0–0)
ATP 250 Series (1–3)
Finals by surface
Hard (0–0)
Clay (1–3)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Finals by setting
Outdoors (1–3)
Indoors (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Nov 1996Santiago, ChileWorld SeriesClayRomania Dinu PescariuBrazil Gustavo Kuerten Brazil Fernando Meligeni4–6, 2–6
Win1–1Jul 2000Umag, CroatiaWorld SeriesClaySpain Álex López MorónCroatia Ivan Ljubičić Croatia Lovro Zovko6–1, 7–6(7–2)
Loss1–2Jul 2002Umag, CroatiaWorld SeriesClaySpain Fernando VicenteCzech Republic František Čermák Austria Julian Knowle4–6, 4–6
Loss1–3Jul 2006Umag, CroatiaWorld SeriesClaySpain Guillermo García LópezCzech Republic Jaroslav Levinský Czech Republic David Škoch4–6, 4–6

ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals

Singles: 19 (8–11)

Legend
Legend ATP Challenger (8–11) ITF Futures (0–0)Finals by surface Hard (0–0) Clay (8–11) Grass (0–0) Carpet (0–0)
ATP Challenger (8–11)
ITF Futures (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (0–0)
Clay (8–11)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Jul 1994Prague, Czech RepublicChallengerClayCzech Republic Jiří Novák2–6, 5–7
Win1–1Jul 1995Prague, Czech RepublicChallengerClayMorocco Hicham Arazi6–7, 6–4, 6–4
Win2–1Apr 1997Prague, Czech RepublicChallengerClaySpain Fernando Vicente6–1, 6–4
Loss2–2Aug 1997Graz, AustriaChallengerClayCzech Republic Radomír Vašek1–6, 3–6
Loss2–3Aug 1998Graz, AustriaChallengerClaySpain Carlos Costa5–7, 6–7
Win3–3Oct 1998Cairo, EgyptChallengerClaySpain Alberto Martín6–2, 1–6, 6–3
Win4–3Oct 2000Barcelona, SpainChallengerClaySpain Óscar Serrano3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win5–3Oct 2000Cairo, EgyptChallengerClayCzech Republic Jiří Vaněk7–5, 6–3
Loss5–4Aug 2002San Marino, San MarinoChallengerClayArgentina José Acasuso6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Loss5–5Oct 2002Seville, SpainChallengerClayFrance Olivier Mutis3–6, 5–7
Loss5–6Oct 2002Barcelona, SpainChallengerClaySpain Rubén Ramírez Hidalgo6–4, 4–6, 1–6
Loss5–7Oct 2002Cairo, EgyptChallengerClayItaly Stefano Galvani2–6, 7–6, 6–1
Loss5–8Mar 2003Barletta, ItalyChallengerClaySpain Rafael Nadal2–6, 6–7(2–7)
Loss5–9Sep 2003Szczecin, PolandChallengerClayChile Nicolás Massú4–6, 3–6
Win6–9Oct 2003Barcelona, SpainChallengerClaySpain Albert Montañés6–4, 6–4
Win7–9Jun 2005Furth, GermanyChallengerClayGermany Philipp Kohlschreiber7–6(7–5), 6–2
Loss7–10Jul 2005Oberstaufen, GermanyChallengerClayGermany Simon Greul5–7, 2–6
Win8–10Aug 2005Vigo, SpainChallengerClaySpain Iván Navarro6–4, 6–4
Loss8–11Oct 2005Barcelona, SpainChallengerClaySpain Fernando Vicente2–6, 2–6

Doubles: 22 (12–10)

Legend
Legend ATP Challenger (12–10) ITF Futures (0–0)Finals by surface Hard (0–1) Clay (12–9) Grass (0–0) Carpet (0–0)
ATP Challenger (12–10)
ITF Futures (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (0–1)
Clay (12–9)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Sep 1996Tashkent, UzbekistanChallengerClayArgentina Marcelo CharpentierRussia Andrei Cherkasov Italy Laurence Tieleman6–1, 6–2
Loss1–1Apr 1997Barletta, ItalyChallengerClaySpain Alberto MartínPortugal Nuno Marques Belgium Tom Vanhoudt3–6, 4–6
Loss1–2Aug 1997Graz, AustriaChallengerClaySpain Alberto MartínArgentina Lucas Arnold Ker Belgium Tom Vanhoudt1–6, 2–6
Win2–2Jun 1998Furth, GermanyChallengerClaySpain Álex López MorónSpain Juan Ignacio Carrasco Argentina Martín Rodríguez6–4, 6–4
Win3–2Aug 1998Graz, AustriaChallengerClayRomania Dinu PescariuSouth Africa Lan Bale Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nebojša Đorđević6–3, 6–4
Win4–2Oct 1998Cairo, EgyptChallengerClaySpain Álex López MorónSpain Alberto Martín Spain Salvador Navarro-Gutierrez4–6, 6–3, 6–2
Win5–2Jun 1999Braunschweig, GermanyChallengerClaySpain Germán PuentesSpain Tomás Carbonell Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nebojša Đorđević6–4, 6–7(3–7), 6–3
Win6–2Jul 1999Venice, ItalyChallengerClaySpain Germán PuentesArgentina Diego del Río Argentina Mariano Hood6–4, 6–0
Loss6–3Jul 1999Graz, AustriaChallengerClaySpain Germán PuentesPortugal Nuno Marques Belgium Tom Vanhoudt2–6, 2–6
Loss6–4Oct 1999Cairo, EgyptChallengerClaySpain Álex López MorónSpain Juan Ignacio Carrasco Spain Jairo Velasco7–6, 4–6, 6–7
Loss6–5Jun 2000Braunschweig, GermanyChallengerClaySpain Álex López MorónGermany Jens Knippschild United States Jeff Tarango2–6, 2–6
Win7–5Oct 2000Barcelona, SpainChallengerClaySpain Tomás CarbonellGermany Marcus Hilpert Germany Jens Knippschild5–7, 6–1, 6–4
Win8–5Oct 2000Cairo, EgyptChallengerClaySpain Álex López MorónCzech Republic Petr Kovačka Czech Republic Pavel Kudrnáč6–4, 6–3
Loss8–6Oct 2002Seville, SpainChallengerClaySpain Álex López MorónArgentina Mariano Hood Peru Luis Horna6–4, 1–6, 4–6
Loss8–7Oct 2002Cairo, EgyptChallengerClaySpain Álex López MorónCzech Republic Tomas Behrend Germany Karsten Braasch6–7(3–7), 4–6
Loss8–8Mar 2003Cagliari, ItalyChallengerClaySpain Juan Ignacio CarrascoSpain Álex López Morón Argentina Andrés Schneiter7–5, 4–6, 5–7
Loss8–9Jul 2003Córdoba, SpainChallengerHardSpain Juan Ignacio CarrascoUnited States Brandon Coupe Israel Noam Okun4–6, 6–1, 4–6
Win9–9Oct 2003Seville, SpainChallengerClaySpain Óscar HernándezItaly Enzo Artoni Argentina Sergio Roitman6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Win10–9Sep 2004Kyiv, UkraineChallengerClayArgentina Sergio RoitmanRussia Igor Kunitsyn Russia Yuri Schukin6–1, 6–1
Win11–9May 2005Ettlingen, GermanyChallengerClaySpain Marc LópezBelgium Jeroen Masson Spain Gabriel Trujillo Soler3–6, 6–1, 7–5
Loss11–10Jun 2005Barcelona, SpainChallengerClaySpain Álex López MorónSpain Óscar Hernández Spain Gabriel Trujillo Soler5–7, 4–6
Win12–10Mar 2007Barletta, ItalyChallengerClaySpain David MarreroItaly Alessandro Motti Italy Flavio Cipolla6–4, 6–4

Wins over top 10 players

Season1997199819992000200120022003Total
Wins300140210
#PlayerRankEventSurfaceRdScore
1997
1.Chile Marcelo Ríos9Barcelona, SpainClay2R7–5, 7–6(7–3)
2.Spain Carlos Moyá9French Open, Paris, FranceClay2R6–4, 4–6, 7–5, 6–3
3.Austria Thomas Muster4Stuttgart, GermanyClay2R6–4, 7–5
2000
4.Brazil Gustavo Kuerten5Australian Open, Melbourne, AustraliaHard1R4–6, 4–6, 6–4, 7–6(8–6), 6–4
2001
5.Sweden Magnus Norman5Barcelona, SpainClay2R1–1, ret.
6.Sweden Magnus Norman6Hamburg, GermanyClay2R7–6(7–5), 7–6(9–7)
7.Australia Lleyton Hewitt7Hamburg, GermanyClaySF3–6, 7–5, 6–2
8.Spain Juan Carlos Ferrero9Hamburg, GermanyClayF3–6, 6–2, 0–6, 7–6(7–5), 7–5
2003
9.United States Andy Roddick6Monte Carlo, MonacoClay1R7–6(7–5), 6–3
10.Spain Carlos Moyá4Sopot, PolandClay1R7–6(7–4), 6–7(6–8), 6–4

External links