Michael Llodra French professional tennis player Date of Birth: 18.05.1980 Country: France

1. Biography of Michael Llodra
2. Early Career
3. Success in Doubles
4. Singles Success and Olympic Medal
5. Late Career and Retirement

Biography of Michael Llodra

Michael Llodra is a French professional tennis player who has achieved great success in both singles and doubles competitions. He was born on May 18, 1980, in Paris, France. Llodra comes from a family with a sports background, as his father, Michel Llodra Sr., was a professional football player for Paris Saint-Germain.

Early Career

Llodra started playing tennis at the age of six and showed great promise from a young age. He trained under the guidance of Georges Deniau, who also coached players like Guy Forget and Jakob Hlasek. In his junior years, Llodra reached the finals of the US Open and Wimbledon in doubles, partnering with Jean-Rene Linares and Andy Ram, respectively.

In 1998, Llodra began competing in ITF Futures tournaments and quickly found success, winning multiple titles in both singles and doubles. He made his first appearance in a Grand Slam tournament at the French Open in 1999, reaching the second round in doubles with Linares.

Success in Doubles

Llodra's breakthrough came in 2001 when he won his first ATP title in doubles, partnering with Diego Nargiso. He continued to excel in doubles, winning several Challenger titles and reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open in 2001 with partner Nicklas Kulti. In 2002, Llodra and Fabrice Santoro reached the final of the Australian Open, defeating top-ranked doubles players Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes along the way.

Llodra's biggest doubles success came in 2003 when he won the Australian Open title with Santoro, defeating the world's number one doubles team, Daniel Nestor and Mark Knowles. They went on to reach four more finals, including three Masters tournaments, and qualified for the ATP Tour Finals.

In 2004, Llodra and Santoro successfully defended their Australian Open title, defeating the Bryan brothers in the final. They also reached the final of the French Open, solidifying their status as one of the top doubles teams in the world. Llodra achieved his career-high doubles ranking of 3 in 2004.

Singles Success and Olympic Medal

Llodra also had success in singles, reaching his first ATP final in 2008 and winning his first ATP title in 's-Hertogenbosch. He achieved his best singles Grand Slam performances by reaching the fourth round of the French Open and US Open in 2008. He also had notable wins over top-ranked players, including Marat Safin.

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Llodra represented France in both singles and doubles. He reached the semifinals in doubles with partner Arnaud Clement, narrowly missing out on the bronze medal. Llodra continued to have a successful doubles career, partnering with various players, but his singles ranking gradually declined.

Late Career and Retirement

In the following years, Llodra had moderate success in doubles, winning one ATP title and reaching the final of another. He continued to compete in singles, mainly on the Challenger circuit. In 2013, Llodra announced his retirement from professional tennis after a career that spanned nearly two decades.

Throughout his career, Llodra was known for his serve-and-volley style of play and his exceptional skills at the net. He was widely regarded as one of the most entertaining players to watch on the tour.

After retiring, Llodra has remained involved in tennis, serving as a coach and mentor to young players. He has also participated in various exhibition matches and doubles tournaments.