Feliciano Lopez extends 26-year career after victory in first round of farewell tournament
- Planet Sport writer
- 27 June 2023
Spaniard Feliciano Lopez extended his 26-year career by another day after beating Max Purcell in the first round of the Mallorca Championships.
Feliciano Lopez put his retirement on hold by at least another day when he beat Max Purcell in the first round of the Mallorca Championships.
The 41-year-old, watched by friends Rafael Nadal - back on his native island - Carlos Moya and Marc Lopez, beat the Australian 6-3 7-5 in an emotional opening to his final tournament.
"It's a really special win for me, probably one of the most special wins of my career so far, to be honest," Lopez said in his on-court interview.
"This is over my expectations, to be winning a match at this stage of my career in Mallorca, this beautiful place, surrounded by the ones that I love, my friends.
"Most of them came for my hypothetical last match. Luckily, it wasn't the last match of my life.
"I have another opportunity tomorrow (against another Australian Jordan Thompson) and this is very overwhelming, I have to say."
