Juan Ignacio Chela (; born 30 August 1979), nicknamed as "El Flaco" or "Liliano," is a tennis coach and former professional player from Argentina. He reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 15 in August 2004.

Chela was given a three-month ban from the professional tour in 2001 for failing a drugs test. Post-doping ban, Chela went on to reach the quarterfinals of the 2004 and 2011 French Open, and the 2007 US Open.

Career 2000–2001: Failed drugs test and doping suspension In April 2001, Chela was found to have failed a routine drugs test (in August 2000) – testing positive for the banned steroid methyltestosterone – and was given a three-month ban, as well as being made to forfeit all prize money and ranking points accumulated over the previous eight months since testing positive.

2004–2005: World No. 15 In February 2024, he reached the quarterfinals in Salvador, defeating Flávio Saretta and David Ferrer, before falling to Agustín Calleri, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6. He won in doubles in Viña del Mar, partnering Gastón Gaudio. In Acapulco and Indian Wells, he reached the quarterfinals, but lost to Óscar Hernández Pérez and Roger Federer, respectively. In Acapulco, he also reached the final in doubles, partnering Nicolás Massú, but they lost to the Bryan brothers, 2–6, 3–6.

In April, Chela won in Estoril against Marat Safin, 6–7, 6–3, 6–3. He also won in doubles, partnering Gastón Gaudio.

He reached the quarterfinals of the French Open, where he lost to Tim Henman, 2–6, 4–6, 4–6. In doubles, he reached the quarterfinals in Rome, where he and Guillermo Cañas lost to the Bryan brothers, and in Hamburg, where he also partnered with Cañas.

On August 9, 2004, he reached his career-high singles ranking of world No. 15.

Chela (The Torino) was involved in a controversy during a third-round loss to Lleyton Hewitt in the Australian Open in 2005, when he attempted to spit on Hewitt.

2006–2007: US Open quarterfinal In April 2006, as part of the Argentine team for the Davis Cup, he held a record of six victories and four losses, the most important of his victories, giving Argentina the third point to beat defending champions Croatia in the quarterfinals.

In May 2007, he appeared in the quarterfinals of his sixth different Masters event at Rome, also his personal best showing, with wins over Marc Gicquel, Igor Andreev, and world No. 3 Andy Roddick, the latter being Chela's best victory since defeating No. 3 Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the second round in Mallorca in May 2000. He also partnered Pablo Cuevas in doubles, reaching the quarterfinals in Barcelona, where they lost to the Bryan brothers in straight sets.

In July, he reached the semifinals in Stuttgart, where he lost to Stan Wawrinka, 7–6, 4–6, 1–6. He reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, but lost to David Ferrer, 2–6, 3–6, 5–7. In October, he reached the quarterfinals in Vienna, where he lost to Novak Djokovic, 3–6, 7–5, 6–7 and reached the semifinals in doubles, partnering Fernando González.

2008–2009 In February 2008, he reached the semifinals in Buenos Aires, only to lose to David Nalbandian, 1–6, 2–6. In April, he reached the quarterfinals in Barcelona, where he lost to Rafael Nadal, 4–6, 2–6.

In 2009, Chela played mostly Challenger tournaments, although he did reach the quarterfinals in Viña del Mar, where he lost to Tommy Robredo 6–0, 3–6, 4–6.

2010: Three titles, Wimbledon doubles semifinal Chela won the US Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston, defeating Sam Querrey 5–7, 6–4, 6–3, for his first ATP Tour championship in over three years. After he beat Rajeev Ram in straight sets, Chela won a controversial three-set second-round match, in which fellow countryman Eduardo Schwank was fined for his use of tactics when injured. Chela then beat defending champion Lleyton Hewitt and another Argentine Horacio Zeballos in straight sets to reach the final.

Chela also won the BCR Open Romania in singles, defeating Pablo Andújar in the final 7–5, 6–1, and doubles partnering Łukasz Kubot. In singles it was his sixth career ATP World Tour title and in doubles his third.

Chela did reach the semifinals of the 2010 Wimbledon Championships in doubles, along with his partner Eduardo Schwank.

2011: French Open quarterfinal

He reached the quarterfinals in Vienna and in Santiago, and the semifinals in Costa do Sauipe, where he lost to Nicolás Almagro 6–1, 2–6, 4–6. He reached the final in Buenos Aires, where he again lost to Almagro, 3–6, 6–3, 4–6. In doubles, he reached the semifinals in Santiago, partnering Santiago González.

In April, he reached the final in doubles in Monte Carlo, partnering Bruno Soares, but they lost to the Bryan brothers in straight sets.

He reached the quarterfinals of the French Open, where he lost to Andy Murray, 6–7, 5–7, 2–6. In August, he reached the semifinals in Kitzbühel, where he lost to Albert Montañés, 2–6, 4–7. He reached his career-high doubles ranking of world No. 32 on 6 June 2011.

At the US Open, he made the third round, where he was defeated by young American Donald Young, 7–5, 6–4, 6–3.

2012: Retirement Chela did not make any ATP Tour finals in 2012, either in singles or in doubles. He again reached the third round of Wimbledon in doubles, along with Eduardo Schwank, losing to Daniele Bracciali and Julian Knowle in straight sets. He also reached the singles semifinals in Viña del Mar, where he lost to Carlos Berlocq and reached the doubles semifinals in Acapulco also with Schwank.

ATP career finals Singles: 12 (6–6) LegendGrand Slam (0–0)ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0)ATP World Tour 500 series (2–2)ATP World Tour 250 series (4–4)Finals by surfaceHard (0–2)Clay (6–4)Grass (0–0)Carpet (0–0)Finals by settingOutdoors (6–6)Indoors (0–0)

OutcomeNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWinner 1. Feb 2000 Mexico City, Mexico Clay Mariano Puerta 6–4, 7–6(7–4)Runner-up 1. Jan 2001 Bogotá, Colombia Clay Fernando Vicente 4–6, 6–7(6–8)Runner-up 2. Jan 2002 Sydney, Australia Hard Roger Federer 3–6, 3–6Winner 2. Jul 2002 Amersfoort, Netherlands Clay Albert Costa 6–1, 7–6(7–4)Runner-up 3. Aug 2002 Long Island, United States Hard Paradorn Srichaphan 7–5, 2–6, 2–6Winner 3. Apr 2004 Estoril, Portugal Clay Marat Safin 6–7(2–7), 6–3, 6–3Runner-up 4. Mar 2006 Acapulco, Mexico Clay Luis Horna 6–7(6–8), 4–6Runner-up 5. Jul 2006 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Agustín Calleri 6–7(9–11), 2–6, 3–6Winner 4. Feb 2007 Acapulco, Mexico Clay Carlos Moyá 6–3, 7–6(7–2)Winner 5. Apr 2010 Houston, United States Clay Sam Querrey 5–7, 6–4, 6–3Winner 6. Sep 2010 Bucharest, Romania Clay Pablo Andújar 7–5, 6–1Runner-up 6. Feb 2011 Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay Nicolás Almagro 3–6, 6–3, 4–6

Doubles: 6 (3–3) LegendGrand Slam (0–0)ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–1)ATP World Tour 500 series (0–1)ATP World Tour 250 series (3–1)Finals by surfaceHard (0–0)Clay (3–3)Grass (0–0)Carpet (0–0)Finals by settingOutdoors (3–3)Indoors (0–0)

OutcomeNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWinner 1. Feb 2004 Viña del Mar, Chile Clay Gastón Gaudio Nicolás Lapentti Martín Rodríguez 7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–3)Runner-up 1. Mar 2004 Acapulco, Mexico Clay Nicolás Massú Bob Bryan Mike Bryan 6–2, 6–3Winner 2. Apr 2004 Estoril, Portugal Clay Gastón Gaudio František Čermák Leoš Friedl 6–2, 6–1Runner-up 2. May 2005 Estoril, Portugal Clay Tommy Robredo František Čermák Leoš Friedl 6–3, 6–4Winner 3. Sep 2010 Bucharest, Romania Clay Łukasz Kubot Marcel Granollers Santiago Ventura 6–2, 5–7, [13–11]Runner-up 3. Apr 2011 Monte Carlo, Monaco Clay Bruno Soares Bob Bryan Mike Bryan 6–3, 6–2

Performance timelines

Singles Tournament2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012W–LGrand Slam tournamentsAustralian OpenA3R2R2R2R3R4R3R1RA1R1R3R14–11 French Open2RA1R3RQF2R1R2R2R1R2RQF1R15–12Wimbledon1RA1R2R2RA1R2RAA1R2R1R4–9US Open1RA4R3R1R1R1RQFA2R2R3RA13–10Win–loss1–32–14–46–46–43–33–48–41–21–22–48–42–346–42ATP Masters Series Indian Wells MastersA1R3R2RQF3R2RQF3R1R1R3R2R12–12 Miami MastersA1RQF3R3R3R4RQF2R1R2R2R2R13–12 Monte Carlo Masters3RA3RQF3R1R2R2R1R2RA1R1R12–11 Rome Masters1RA2R2R1R2R1RQF1R1R1R3R1R8–12 Madrid MastersAA1RQF2R2R2R2RA1R2R1R1R6–10 Canada Masters1RA1R2R3R1R1R1RAA2R1RA4–9Cincinnati Masters1RA1R3R3R3R3R2RAAA1RA9–8 Paris MastersAA1R1R1RA2R2RAA1RAA1–6 Hamburg MastersAA3R1R1RQF1R2R2RNot Masters Series7–7Win–loss2–40–211–912–910–99–87–912–92–51–53–63–70–572–87Career statisticsTitles / Finals1–10–11–30–01–10–00–21–10–00–02–20–10–06–12Year-end ranking6370233826393320140733829176

Doubles Tournament200320042005200620082009201020112012W–L Australian Open2R3R2R3R1R1R2R7–7 French Open2R3R2R1R3R1R1R1R2R7–9 Wimbledon2R1RSF3R7–4 US Open1R1R1R2R3R2R2R5–7Win–loss3–44–42–33–32–12–25–43–42–226–27

Top-10 wins Season1997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012TotalWins000312312220010017

#PlayerRankEventSurfaceRdScore20001. Gustavo Kuerten6Mexico City, MexicoClay2R3–6, 7–6(10–8), 6–41292. Tim Henman10Monte Carlo, MonacoClay2R6–2, 4–6, 6–3843. Yevgeny Kafelnikov3Mallorca, SpainClay2R5–7, 6–0, 6–35920014. Sébastien Grosjean7Amsterdam, NetherlandsClay1R6–4, 6–482620025. Albert Costa7Amersfoot, NetherlandsClayF6–1, 7–6(7–4)286. Tim Henman5US Open, New YorkHard3R6–3, 6–3, 6–22420037. Albert Costa8Sydney, AustraliaHard1R7–6(7–4), 6–1238. David Nalbandian10Indian Wells, United StatesHard1R4–6, 6–4, 7–5309. Jiří Novák9Monte Carlo, MonacoClay2R6–4, 6–233200410. Lleyton Hewitt9Indian Wells, United StatesHard3R6–3, 4–6, 6–134200511. Tim Henman9Hamburg, GermanyClay3R3–6, 6–4, 6–24012. Nikolay Davydenko6New Haven, United StatesHard2R6–1, 7–6(7–5)50200613. Lleyton Hewitt6Australian Open, MelbourneHard2R6–4, 6–4, 6–7(8–10), 6–25114. Nikolay Davydenko6Cincinnati, United StatesHard1R6–4, 2–6, 6–235200715. Andy Roddick3Rome, ItalyClay3R6–0, 6–42316. Fernando González5World Team Cup, DüsseldorfClayRR6–3, 7–521201017. Nikolay Davydenko6Umag, CroatiaClayQF6–2, 6–156

See also List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences

References

External links