Younes El Aynaoui
$4,044,667 | |
Singles | |
---|---|
Career record | 265–227 |
Career titles | 5 |
Highest ranking | No. 14 (11 March 2003) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | QF (2000, 2003) |
French Open | 4R (1995, 2000) |
Wimbledon | 3R (2000, 2001, 2003) |
US Open | QF (2002, 2003) |
Other tournaments | |
Olympic Games | 2R (1992) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 24–56 |
Career titles | 0 |
Highest ranking | No. 85 (14 July 2003) |
Last updated on: 31 March 2018. |
Younes El Aynaoui (
He is a five-time singles winner on the ATP Tour and reached his career-high singles ranking of world No. 14 in March 2003, at the age of 31. His long career has been plagued by injuries and he did not play competitive tennis between September 2008 and January 2010. However, in December 2009 he scheduled to play at the ATP Champions Tour tournament in London, where he made his debut at the senior tour.
He received a gold medal – the nation's highest sporting honor – from King Mohammed VI. In a 2003 poll by leading Moroccan newspaper L'Economiste, readers named El Aynaoui their favorite role model for society, ahead of athletics star Hicham El Guerrouj.
Tennis career
At the Bollettieri Academy
In 1990, at the age of 18, El Aynaoui traveled to Bradenton, Florida, to spend a week at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, after which he decided to turn professional. He continued to hone his skills at the academy for the next two years where, in order to afford the fees, he drove the academy bus, cleaned the gym, strung rackets, tossed practice balls to campers, and helped to babysit younger players. He also saved money in a high interest account.
First ATP singles final
In 1993, he reached his first top-level
1996 to 1998
After finishing runner-up in three tour events in 1996, El Aynaoui suffered a broken right ankle. He had surgery on his ankle in November that year, but the injury continued to cause him problems. He missed seven months of the season in 1997 and had a second surgery in February 1998. He returned to the tour that summer ranked World Number 444, and enjoyed a run of strong results. He won five
1999 to 2003
In 1999, El Aynaoui won his first top-level singles title in
El Aynaoui captured two tour titles in 2002 (Doha and Munich), and reached the quarter-finals of the US Open. The following year, he reached the quarter-finals of the Australian and US Opens and finished the season ranked a career-high World Number 14.
Longest Grand Slam fifth set
In the Round of 16 of the 2003 Australian Open, El Aynaoui defeated the World No. 1,
). Roddick won the battle 4–6, 7–6, 4–6, 6–4, 21–19. Both players saved match points before the fifth set ended. El Aynaoui's one match point came in the tenth game of the fifth set, with Roddick serving at 4–5. Roddick saved the match point with a cross-court forehand winner after a short rally. Roddick broke El Aynaoui's serve at 10–10 to go up 11–10 and serve for the match, but El Aynaoui broke straight back for 11–11. Roddick broke El Aynaoui's serve again at 19–19 to serve for the match for the second time at 20–19, with Roddick clinching the match on his second match point.Return to ATP Tour in 2007
After a three-year hiatus due to injury, El Aynaoui made a comeback to the
Another comeback attempt in 2008
In March 2008, after a seven-month lay-off due to injuries, he won a Futures event in
ATP Champions Tour (2009)
El Aynaoui made his debut as a wild card at the senior tour in London, the last stop on the tour, joining
. He won two matches, against Rusedski and Philippoussis.2010 Comeback
In the
He played American Ryler DeHeart in the first round of this tournament and won 7–6, 7–6, thus becoming at age 38 the oldest player to win a main tour ATP match since Jimmy Connors in 1995. However, El Aynaoui's run came to an end when he was defeated 6–3, 6–1 by Belgian Steve Darcis.[2]
2017 Record for oldest player with ATP ranking
In March 2017, at the age of 45, El Aynaoui participated in a US$15,000 tournament in
El Aynaoui also contested the doubles draw in Manama, and Koksijde, Belgium.
Personal life
El Aynaoui's son, Neil El Aynaoui, is a professional footballer in France.[3]
Career finals
Singles (5 wins, 11 losses)
Legend (singles) |
---|
Grand Slam (0) |
Tennis Masters Cup (0) |
ATP Masters Series (0) |
ATP Tour (5) |
Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | Mar 1993 | Casablanca, Morocco | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 0–2 | Jan 1996 | Doha, Qatar | Hard | ![]() |
6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–7(5–7) |
Loss | 0–3 | Jan 1996 | Jakarta, Indonesia | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 0–4 | Aug 1996 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Clay | ![]() |
5–7, 1–6, 1–6 |
Loss | 0–5 | Nov 1998 | Santiago, Chile | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1–5 | Aug 1999 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Clay | ![]() |
6–0, 6–3 |
Loss | 1–6 | Mar 2000 | Santiago, Colombia | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 6–7(5–7) |
Loss | 1–7 | Jul 2001 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 7–5, 6–7(0–7), 6–3, 4–6 |
Win | 2–7 | Sep 2001 | Bucharest , Romania
|
Clay | ![]() |
7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–2) |
Loss | 2–8 | Oct 2001 | Lyon, France | Carpet | ![]() |
3–6, 2–6 |
Win | 3–8 | Dec 2001 | Doha , Qatar
|
Hard | ![]() |
4–6, 6–2, 6–2 |
Loss | 3–9 | Feb 2002 | Dubai, UAE | Hard | ![]() |
4–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Win | 4–9 | Apr 2002 | Casablanca, Morocco | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
Win | 5–9 | Apr 2002 | Munich , Germany
|
Clay | ![]() |
6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 5–10 | Jun 2002 | Båstad, Sweden | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 6–2, 5–7 |
Loss | 5–11 | Mar 2003 | Casablanca, Morocco | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 6–2, 1–6 |
Singles performance timeline
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Tournament | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | SR | W–L | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | 2R | 1R | A | A | A | 2R | QF | 1R | 3R | QF | 1R | A | A | A | 0 / 8 | 12–8 | ||
French Open | A | 1R | 4R | 1R | A | A | 2R | 4R | 2R | 2R | 3R | A | A | A | Q2 | 0 / 8 | 11–8 | ||
Wimbledon | A | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | 2R | 3R | 3R | 1R | 3R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 7 | 7–7 | ||
US Open | A | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | 2R | 1R | 1R | QF | QF | 1R | 1R | A | A | 0 / 9 | 9–9 | ||
Win–loss | 0–0 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–4 | 9–4 | 3–4 | 7–4 | 12–4 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 / 32 | 39–32 | ||
ATP Masters Series | |||||||||||||||||||
Indian Wells
|
A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 5 | 0–5 | ||
Miami
|
A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | QF | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 6 | 4–6 | ||
Monte Carlo
|
A | 1R | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 7 | 1–7 | ||
Hamburg
|
A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 3R | 1R | 3R | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 5 | 4–5 | ||
Rome
|
A | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | 1R | 3R | A | 1R | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 7 | 2–6 | ||
Canada
|
A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | 2R | A | 2R | A | A | 0 / 3 | 3–3 | ||
Cincinnati
|
A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | A | 0 / 4 | 1–4 | ||
Madrid | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 3R | A | 2R | SF | A | A | A | A | 0 / 4 | 5–4 | ||
Paris | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | 1R | 2R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 3 | 1–3 | ||
Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–6 | 6–5 | 1–4 | 4–9 | 8–9 | 0–1 | 1–5 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 / 44 | 21–43 | ||
Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||
Titles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |||
Finals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | |||
Year-end ranking | 51 | 117 | 110 | 70 | 237 | 45 | 33 | 25 | 38 | 22 | 14 | 644 | 228 | 189 | 167 |
Top 10 wins
Season | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Total |
Wins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
# | Player | Rank | Event | Surface | Rd | Score | EAR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | |||||||
1. | ![]() |
4 | Toulouse, France | Hard (i) | 2R | 6–4, 3–6, 7–6(7–2) | 76 |
1996 | |||||||
2. | ![]() |
7 | Doha, Qatar | Hard | 2R | 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | 110 |
3. | ![]() |
3 | Doha, Qatar | Hard | SF | 6–4, 6–4 | 110 |
4. | ![]() |
6 | Lyon, France | Carpet (i) | 1R | 5–7, 6–4, 6–4 | 65 |
1999 | |||||||
5. | ![]() |
5 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | 2R | 7–6(7–3), 6–3 | 41 |
6. | ![]() |
9 | Gstaad, Switzerland | Clay | 2R | 7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–5) | 33 |
2001 | |||||||
7. | ![]() |
4 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | 3R | 6–3, 6–7(1–7), 6–3 | 49 |
8. | ![]() |
5 | Lyon, France | Carpet (i) | QF | 6–4, 6–4 | 40 |
2002 | |||||||
9. | ![]() |
3 | Davis Cup, Zaragoza, Spain | Clay (i) | RR | 7–6(7–2), 6–0, 3–6, 0–6, 6–3 | 20 |
10. | ![]() |
3 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Hard | 2R | 7–5, 4–6, 2–1, ret. | 21 |
11. | ![]() |
10 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Hard | SF | 7–6(7–5), 4–6, 6–3 | 21 |
2003 | |||||||
12. | ![]() |
1 | Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia | Hard | 4R | 6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–5), 6–4 | 22 |
13. | ![]() |
10 | Miami, United States | Hard | 3R | 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 | 21 |
14. | ![]() |
10 | US Open, New York, United States | Hard | 3R | 7–6(7–1), 5–7, 3–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–5) | 21 |
15. | ![]() |
7 | US Open, New York, United States | Hard | 4R | 7–6(7–4), 7–6(9–7), 4–6, 6–4 | 21 |
16. | ![]() |
10 | Madrid, Spain | Hard (i) | QF | 3–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–2 | 18 |
References
- ^ El Aynaoui Makes a Comeback (Again) | TennisGrandstand
- ^ "ATPWT". ATP World Tour. 6 January 2010. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
- ^ "Neil El Aynaoui signs three years with AS Nancy". Bergaag. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.