Feliciano López ends to decades of career at the Mallorca Championships

The Spaniard retires from tennis at the age of 41

Feliciano López said goodbye to more than twenty years as a professional tennis player at the Mallorca Championships on Thursday. The Spaniard closed his career after losing to Germany's Yannick Hanfmann (6-2, 6-4) after 1555 matches, including singles and doubles, since his debut in the elite in 1997.

The 41-year-old added the last two of his 506 singles victories on the grass of the Mallorca Country Club, against Australians Max Purcell (6-3, 7-5) and Jordan Thompson (7-6[6], 1-6, 6-3). The champion of seven ATP titles was accompanied in his last dance by his family and friends such as Marc Lopez, his doubles partner when they conquered Roland Garros (2016).

The five-time Davis Cup champion with Spain was moved as soon as the match ended when his son Darío and his wife Sandra jumped onto the court. With the crowd on their feet applauding, Feliciano López watched an emotional video with the best moments of his career before listening to the words of affection of his partner Rafa Nadal projected on the video scoreboard.

Finally, the player from Toledo was honoured by Edwin Weindorfer, CEO and founder of e|motion, with the membership of the Mallorca Country Club. Toni Nadal, director of the Mallorca Championships, also had words of praise for his career after presenting him with the ball with which he played the last point of his career.