Farewell to Feliciano Lopez: Spaniard loses to Hanfmann in Mallorca quarter-finals and retires from professional tennis

Feliciano Lopez has ended his professional tennis career. The 41-year-old Spanish veteran fell in the quarter-finals of the Mallorca Championships, his last tournament on the ATP circuit, against German Yannick Hanfmann in two sets: 6-2, 6-4.

On the grass of Mallorca, a place where he has always felt very comfortable, Feliciano has put an end to a great career sealing two victories in the 2023 edition that became a superb story among the privileged spectators of the two matches (three counting this last one).

As for the match, Feliciano Lopez started off strong with his serve in the first set, saving a break point on his first serve and completing an empty set to make it 1-2. However, Hanfmann took advantage of his improved form to string together five consecutive games and close out the first set 6-2 in his favour.

In the second and final set of the Spaniard's career, Feliciano did not manage to hold on for long until his German opponent completed the first (and only) break. At 4-2 it looked like Lopez was going to get a chance to equalise and go on to win the set with three break points, but Hanfmann saved them all. Finally, with both winning their respective serves until the end, the German won 6-4 and sealed his qualification to the semi-finals in the last match of Feliciano Lopez's long and more than remarkable career.