Fabrice Vetea Santoro (; born 9 December 1972) is a French former professional tennis player. Successful in both singles and doubles, he had a lengthy professional career, with many of his accomplishments coming towards the end of his career, and he is popular among spectators and other players alike for his demeanor and shot-making abilities; he also plays two-handed on both the forehand and backhand sides.
Owing to his longevity on the tour and consistent ranking, Santoro holds several ATP records: the most career wins over top ten opponents for a player who never reached the top ten (40); he was the first player to appear in 70 Grand Slam men's singles events; and has the third-most losses in singles play behind Feliciano López and Fernando Verdasco (444).
In singles, Santoro won six titles, but reached the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam only once. His career-high ranking of world No. 17 belied his impressive record against top ten opposition.
He had greater success in doubles competition, with two Grand Slam doubles titles, one mixed doubles title, and 25 doubles championships overall to his name.
Since March 2019, Santoro has been the coach of Canadian tennis player Milos Raonic.
Career overview
Juniors After having lost in the early rounds of the 1988 Jr French Open and 1988 Jr US Open, Santoro won the 1989 Jr French Open. He also had a semifinal appearance in the 1989 Jr US Open. He reached a career-high junior ranking of No. 3.
Junior Grand Slam results – Singles:
Australian Open: A (-) French Open: W (1989) Wimbledon: 3R (1989) US Open: SF (1989)
Pro tour
When Santoro successfully defended his 2007 title by winning the 2008 Newport tournament at the age of 35, he became the oldest tennis player to win back-to-back championships at an ATP singles event.
In addition, Santoro won what was, at the time, the longest singles match in the open era: at the 2004 French Open, he beat fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clément in a 6-hour 33 minute first-round match (6–4, 6–3, 6–7(5), 3–6, 16–14). The record stood until John Isner defeated Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, but still remains the French Open record.
As a singles tennis player, the 2006 Australian Open was Santoro's only Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance.
In singles play, Santoro defeated 18 players who were ranked world no. 1 at some time during their careers: Novak Djokovic, Jimmy Connors, Mats Wilander, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Thomas Muster, Marcelo Ríos, Gustavo Kuerten, Carlos Moyá, Pat Rafter, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Marat Safin, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, and Roger Federer (against whom he has a 2–9 record). Against other former world no. 1 players, Santoro is 0–6 against Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 0–1 against Ivan Lendl, 0–1 against Rafael Nadal, and 0–2 against Andy Murray. Santoro is famous for his winning record against Marat Safin (7–2); Safin himself has said, "Being told I would play Santoro was being told I was to die."
Santoro won the 2003 and 2004 Australian Opens doubles titles, partnering Michaël Llodra, a French compatriot, and was runner-up at the 2002 Australian Open, 2004 French Open and 2006 Wimbledon Championships. He also won the 2005 French Open mixed doubles title with Daniela Hantuchová. Santoro teamed with Michaël Llodra again to win the 2005 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, a competition that included the top eight doubles teams in the world.
In addition to his doubles prowess, Fabrice is noted for his cheery attitude on court and his vast arsenal of trick shots, making him a crowd favorite and gaining him the admiration of his peers. In recognition of Santoro's varied and innovative style of play, Pete Sampras has nicknamed him The Magician.
Santoro plays with two hands on forehand and backhand, and though he is right-handed, often slices his forehand with his left hand. He attributes this to having used racquets of the same weight throughout his career, which were too heavy for a six-year-old starting off a career to hold with one hand. Santoro was fast around the court and was a skilled defensive player.
With his participation in the 2008 Australian Open, he broke Andre Agassi's record in Grand Slam appearances over his career with a total of 62. Santoro retired at the end of the 2009 season at his hometown tournament at the 2009 BNP Paribas Masters in Paris (Bercy), losing his final singles match against James Blake and final doubles match against Johan Brunström and Jean-Julien Rojer while partnering with compatriot Sébastien Grosjean.
Santoro came out of retirement for one tournament at the 2010 Australian Open in order to obtain the record for having played in Grand Slam tournaments in four different decades, logging a total of 70 appearances in Grand Slam tournaments. At 37, he was the oldest player in the ATP top 100, being ranked 68 when he entered this last tournament. He lost in the first round of the tournament – to Marin Čilić – ending his professional tennis career.
He was the first leader of the ATP Champions Race, winning the first tournament of the year in Doha in the year the race was introduced (2000).
According to the ATP website, as of the 2019 Davis Cup Finals, Feliciano López has lost more singles matches (475) than any other professional player (active or not), surpassing the record previously held by Santoro. Overall, however, Santoro has won more than half of his matches, with a career record of 470–444.
Personal life Santoro was born in Tahiti and grew up in La Seyne-sur-Mer, in Southern France. His father worked at Toulon's military port, and is a former footballer who later became a tennis teacher. Santoro began playing tennis as a child at the club where his father taught.
Santoro divides his time between Paris and Corsica. He owns a home near Ajaccio.
He is a big fan of the late French comedian Michel Colucci, better known as Coluche.
Grand Slam finals
Doubles: 5 (2 titles, 3 runner-ups) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 2002 Australian Open Hard Michaël Llodra Mark Knowles Daniel Nestor 6–7(4–7), 3–6Win 2003 Australian Open (1) Hard Michaël Llodra Mark Knowles Daniel Nestor 6–4, 3–6, 6–3Win 2004 Australian Open (2) Hard Michaël Llodra Bob Bryan Mike Bryan 7–6(7–4), 6–3Loss 2004 French Open Clay Michaël Llodra Xavier Malisse Olivier Rochus 5–7, 5–7Loss 2006 Wimbledon Grass Nenad Zimonjić Bob Bryan Mike Bryan 3–6, 6–4, 4–6, 2–6
Mixed doubles: 1 title ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 2005 French Open Clay Daniela Hantuchová Martina Navratilova Leander Paes 3–6, 6–3, 6–2
Career finals
Singles (6 titles, 6 runner-ups)
Legend (singles)Grand Slam (0–0)ATP Finals (0–0)ATP Masters 1000 (0–0)ATP World Tour 500 Series (1–0)ATP World Tour 250 Series (5–6)
ResultW/L DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss0–1Oct 1990Toulouse, FranceHard (i) Jonas Svensson6–7(5–7), 2–6Loss0–2Feb 1993Dubai, United Arab EmiratesHard Karel Nováček4–6, 5–7Loss0–3Aug 1994Kitzbühel, AustriaClay Goran Ivanišević2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 2–6Win1–3Oct 1997Lyon, FranceCarpet (i) Tommy Haas6–4, 6–4Loss1–4Jan 1998Doha, QatarHard Petr Korda0–6, 3–6Win2–4Feb 1999Marseille, FranceHard (i) Arnaud Clément6–3, 4–6, 6–4Loss2–5Mar 1999Copenhagen, DenmarkHard (i) Magnus Gustafsson4–6, 1–6Win3–5Jan 2000Doha, QatarHard Rainer Schüttler3–6, 7–5, 3–0 retiredLoss3–6Jun 2001Halle, GermanyGrass Thomas Johansson3–6, 7–6(7–5), 2–6Win4–6Feb 2002Dubai, United Arab EmiratesHard Younes El Aynaoui6–4, 3–6, 6–3Win5–6Jul 2007Newport, United StatesGrass Nicolas Mahut6–4, 6–4Win 6–6Jul 2008Newport, United StatesGrass Prakash Amritraj6–3, 7–5
Doubles (24 titles, 18 runner-ups) Legend (doubles)Grand Slam (2–3)ATP Finals (1–1)ATP Masters 1000 (3–7)ATP World Tour 500 Series (3–1)ATP World Tour 250 Series (15–6)
ResultW/L DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin1.Sep 1995Palermo, ItalyClay Álex Corretja Hendrik Jan Davids Piet Norval6–7, 6–4, 6–3Loss1.Feb 1997Marseille, FranceHard (i) Olivier Delaître Thomas Enqvist Magnus Larsson3–6, 4–6Loss2.Oct 1997Lyon, FranceCarpet (i) Olivier Delaître Ellis Ferreira Patrick Galbraith6–3, 2–6, 4–6Loss3.Nov 1997Moscow, RussiaCarpet (i) David Adams Martin Damm Cyril Suk4–6, 3–6Loss4.Jan 1998Doha, QatarHard Olivier Delaître Mahesh Bhupathi Leander Paes4–6, 6–3, 4–6Win2.Jul 1998Stuttgart, GermanyClay Olivier Delaître Joshua Eagle Jim Grabb6–1, 3–6, 6–3Loss5.Aug 1998Cincinnati, United StatesHard Olivier Delaître Mark Knowles Daniel Nestor1–6, 1–2 retiredWin3.Sep 1998Toulouse, FranceHard (i) Olivier Delaître Paul Haarhuis Jan Siemerink6–2, 6–4Win4.Oct 1998Basel, SwitzerlandHard (i) Olivier Delaître Piet Norval Kevin Ullyett6–3, 7–6Win5.Oct 1998Lyon, FranceCarpet (i) Olivier Delaître Tomás Carbonell Francisco Roig6–2, 6–2Win6.Aug 1999Long Island, United StatesHard Olivier Delaître Jan-Michael Gambill Scott Humphries7–5, 6–4Win7.Oct 2000Toulouse, FranceHard (i) Julien Boutter Donald Johnson Piet Norval7–6(10–8), 4–6, 7–6(7–5)Win8.Feb 2001Marseille, FranceHard (i) Julien Boutter Michael Hill Jeff Tarango7–6(9–7), 7–5Loss6.Jan 2002Melbourne, AustraliaHard Michaël Llodra Mark Knowles Daniel Nestor6–7(4–7), 3–6Win9.Oct 2002Paris, FranceCarpet (i) Nicolas Escudé Gustavo Kuerten Cédric Pioline6–3, 7–6(8–6)Win10.Jan 2003Melbourne, AustraliaHard Michaël Llodra Mark Knowles Daniel Nestor6–4, 3–6, 6–3Win11.Feb 2003Marseille, FranceHard (i) Sébastien Grosjean Tomáš Cibulec Pavel Vízner6–1, 6–4Loss7.Apr 2003Monte Carlo, MonacoClay Michaël Llodra Mahesh Bhupathi Max Mirnyi4–6, 6–3, 6–7(6–8)Loss8.May 2003Rome, ItalyClay Michaël Llodra Wayne Arthurs Paul Hanley1–6, 3–6Loss9.Sep 2003Metz, FranceHard (i) Michaël Llodra Julien Benneteau Nicolas Mahut6–7(2–7), 3–6Loss10.Oct 2003Paris, FranceCarpet (i) Michaël Llodra Wayne Arthurs Paul Hanley3–6, 6–1, 3–6Loss11.Nov 2003Houston, United StatesHard Michaël Llodra Bob Bryan Mike Bryan7–6(8–6), 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(3–7), 4–6Win12.Jan 2004Auckland, New ZealandHard Mahesh Bhupathi Jiří Novák Radek Štěpánek4–6, 7–5, 6–3Win13.Jan 2004Melbourne, AustraliaHard Michaël Llodra Bob Bryan Mike Bryan7–6(7–4), 6–3Win14.Mar 2004Dubai, UAEHard Mahesh Bhupathi Jonas Björkman Leander Paes6–2, 4–6, 6–4Loss12.May 2004French Open, FranceClay Michaël Llodra Xavier Malisse Olivier Rochus5–7, 5–7Loss13.Feb 2005Dubai, UAEHard Jonas Björkman Martin Damm Radek Štěpánek2–6, 4–6Win15.May 2005Rome, ItalyClay Michaël Llodra Bob Bryan Mike Bryan6–4, 6–2Loss14.May 2005Hamburg, GermanyClay Michaël Llodra Jonas Björkman Max Mirnyi6–4, 6–7(2–7), 6–7(3–7)Win16.Oct 2005Metz, FranceHard (i) Michaël Llodra José Acasuso Sebastián Prieto5–2, 3–5, 5–4Win17.Oct 2005Lyon, FranceCarpet (i) Michaël Llodra Jeff Coetzee Rogier Wassen6–3, 6–1Win18.Nov 2005Shanghai, ChinaCarpet (i) Michaël Llodra Leander Paes Nenad Zimonjić6–7(6–8), 6–3, 7–6(7–4)Win19.Jan 2006Sydney, AustraliaHard Nenad Zimonjić František Čermák Leoš Friedl6–1, 6–4Loss15.Apr 2006Monte Carlo, MonacoClay Nenad Zimonjić Jonas Björkman Max Mirnyi2–6, 6–7(2–7)Win20.Jun 2006Halle, GermanyGrass Nenad Zimonjić Michael Kohlmann Rainer Schüttler6–0, 6–4Loss16.Jun 2006Wimbledon, UKGrass Nenad Zimonjić Bob Bryan Mike Bryan3–6, 6–4, 4–6, 2–6Win21.Oct 2006Metz, FranceHard (i) Richard Gasquet Julian Knowle Jürgen Melzer3–6, 6–1, [11–9]Win22.Oct 2006Moscow, RussiaCarpet (i) Nenad Zimonjić František Čermák Jaroslav Levinský6–1, 7–5Loss17.Oct 2006Paris, FranceCarpet (i) Nenad Zimonjić Arnaud Clément Michaël Llodra6–7(4–7), 2–6Win23.Feb 2007Dubai, UAEHard Nenad Zimonjić Mahesh Bhupathi Radek Štěpánek7–5, 6–7(3–7), [10–7]Win24.May 2007Rome, ItalyClay Nenad Zimonjić Bob Bryan Mike Bryan6–4, 6–7(4–7), [10–7]Loss18.Jun 2007Halle, GermanyGrass Nenad Zimonjić Simon Aspelin Julian Knowle4–6, 6–7(5–7)
Performance timelines
Singles