A kiss goodbye: Tommy Robredo plays final match of ATP career in Barcelona

BARCELONA—Tommy Robredo had just given all he could to get on the scoreboard in the second set of his match with countryman Bernabe Zapata Miralles on Monday. As he sat down for the changeover, growing chants of “Tommy! (clap, clap, clap)” filled Pista Rafa Nadal at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.

Across the way, 13-month-old daughter Alexia stood out among the crowd’s energy, making herself heard in the arms of mom Patricia. Blowing kisses to her papa, Robredo returned the favor before standing up to continue fighting in the final match of his career.

A short time later, the 39-year-old kissed goodbye to the ATP tour when Zapata Miralles closed out a 6-1, 6-1 victory. Robredo appeared all but at peace with the closed chapter, soaking up the opportunity to say farewell at a venue that has always been home.

“I grew up here. When I was 14, I started to be a member of the team competition. It was my first tournament as a professional when I was 16,” Robredo told TENNIS.com in press afterwards. “This is where I have most of my friends, and my family lives one hour from here.

“I think there is no better way to end a career than doing it in your tennis club, with your friends, with your family and with all the people that [have] followed you.”

Several familiar faces, including now tournament director David Ferrer, former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero and Davis Cup champion teammate Feliciano Lopez, helped send off the 12-time ATP titlist in a moving presentation. Andy Murray, Carlos Moya and David Nalbandian were among those sending in congratulatory video messages.

“To have them on the video, to have them next to me, it's a special moment. I always will remember this because it's like a family,” reflected Robredo. “It's a great honor to see great athletes, great people, great friends that spend a little bit of time just to say a few words to myself. We have been traveling together, playing together, having battles together. Winning, losing, but enjoying this world for many, many years.

“I'm leaving this small group, but I'm not going to leave them. When we see each other, we go for dinner, we have a drink and we enjoy remembering things.”

Robredo, who first picked up a racquet at the age of five, finishes with a 533-358 career mark. His standout triumphs include titles in Barcelona in 2004 and Hamburg in 2006 (when it was a 1000-level tournament). He reached a career-high No. 5 in singles, qualified for the 2006 ATP Finals and represented Spain at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.

On the major stage, Robredo advanced to seven singles quarterfinals, with five coming at Roland Garros—and No. 7 was surely one for the scrapbook. At the 2013 US Open, he notably flipped a 0-10 head-to-head series with Roger Federer on its head when he ousted the Swiss in straight sets.

Now, with a future full of possibilities, Robredo is going to let the dirt on the clay settle for a bit. He’ll relish the company of loved ones and a schedule that isn’t full of advanced commitments after leaving everything on the court.

“After that many years, I think that I have to celebrate also what I achieved and take a little bit of time. Then we'll see what's going to be the next chapter,” he said.

“I’m a guy that is passionate [about] sport, tennis. I'm a guy that likes to do things. I like to make my head think. I will do something else because I'm not the kind of guy that wants to be home and doing nothing. But in my experience in the tennis world, when you have a victory, you have to celebrate it appropriately because there is not many, many wins in the career.”

Perhaps down the road we’ll see Robredo around the grounds in a coaching capacity or in the commentary booth. For now, Robredo will have all the time in the world to show Alexia how to master the art of blowing kisses.