Andrés Gimeno
Encyclopedia
Andrés Gimeno Tolaguera (born August 3, 1937 in Barcelona
, Spain
) is a retired Spanish
tennis
player. He major achievement came in 1972, when he won the French Open.
Gimeno turned professional in 1960, the year in which he became the first Spanish
player to win the Torneo Godó
. That same year he reached the doubles final too, but failed to win in that category, losing to an Australian duo in the final.
The Catalan
won his first and only Grand Slam
in 1972. He holds the record for the oldest male player to win the French Open (at the age of 34). He also reached the final of the Australian Open
in 1969, losing to Rod Laver
in three sets.
He was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame
in 2009.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) is a retired Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player. He major achievement came in 1972, when he won the French Open.
Gimeno turned professional in 1960, the year in which he became the first Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
player to win the Torneo Godó
Torneo Godó
The Barcelona Open also known as Torneo Godó, Trofeo Conde de Godó, Open Banco Sabadell, is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players. The event has been held annually in Barcelona, Spain since 1953, and is played on clay courts. Originally an event of the Grand Prix tennis circuit...
. That same year he reached the doubles final too, but failed to win in that category, losing to an Australian duo in the final.
The Catalan
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
won his first and only Grand Slam
Grand Slam (tennis)
The four Major tennis tournaments, also called the Slams, are the most important tennis events of the year in terms of world tour ranking points, tradition, prize-money awarded, strength and size of player field, and public attention. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and...
in 1972. He holds the record for the oldest male player to win the French Open (at the age of 34). He also reached the final of the Australian Open
Australian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
in 1969, losing to Rod Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
in three sets.
He was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
in 2009.
Grand Slam singles finals
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up (0/1) | 1969 | Australian Open Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
Grass |  Rod LaverRod Laver Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970... |
6–3, 6–4, 7–5 |
| Winner (1/2) | 1972 | French Open | Clay |  Patrick ProisyPatrick Proisy Patrick Proisy is a French former professional tennis player best remembered for reaching the finals of the French Open in 1972 losing against Spaniard Andrés Gimeno in four sets. He added to that one more final and a single title in Hilversum, 1977.-Runner-ups :-References:... |
4–6, 6–3, 6–1, 6–1 |