The 2020 ATP season was marked by the retirement of US doubles legends Mike and Bob Bryan, Santiago Giraldo and Steve Darcis.
The Bryan brohers clinched an Open Era record 119 doubles titles as a team, including all four Grand Slam titles, all nine Masters 1000 trophies, the Nitto ATP Finals and the Olympic men’s doubles gold medal. They finished their careers with 16 Grand Slam doubles titles from 30 finals setting an all-time team record and 39 Masters 1000 titles from 59 finals. They won 1108 doubles matches. They had already announced their retirement at the end of last year.
The US twins made their last appearance in Delray Beach where they claimed a tournament record sixth doubles title.
“We are most proud of the way we devoted to ourselves completely to the game and gave our full effort every day. Our loyalty toward each other never wavered and are leaving professional tennis with zero regrets. We will miss the competition and camaradiere amongst the players. We will also miss the excitement of gearing up for a big match and playing for the roar of the fans. We feel it’s the right time to walk away. We have given over 20 years to the tour, and we are now looking forward to the next chapter of our lives”, said Bob Bryan.
Colombian player Santiago Giraldo played his last match against Juan Londero last March in a Davis Cup tie between Colombia and Argentina. Giraldo scored 168 tour-level wins and finished runner-up in two ATP Tour Finals in Vina del Mar in 2011 to Tommy Robredo and in Barcelona 2014 to Kei Nishikori. Giraldo reached a career-high of world number 28. In 2014 and clinched ten ATP Challenger titles.
Giraldo reached three Grand Slam finals at 2012 Roland Garros (where he faced Andy Murray) and at Wimbledon in 2014 and 2015. The Colombian player earned two top 10 wins and beat Lleyton Hewitt, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray in consecutive matches to reach the quarter finals at the 2014 Madrid Mutua Open.
Giraldo is the highest-ranked player in Colombian tennis history with a career-high singles ranking of world number 28.
“I started at 15 and now, at almost 33, I have decided to say thank you and put a full stop at the end of the journey. I did the best I could, and I gave everything I had”, said Giraldo.
Steve Darcis played his final match at the 2020 Australian Open where he lost to Elliot Benchetrit in the first qualifying round.
Darcis won two ATP titles in Amersfoort in 2007 and in Memphis in 2008 and reached the final in his second consecutive final in Amersfoort in 2008. He dropped just one set from the qualifying round to score eight consecutive titles to claim his first ATP Tour title in Amersfoort 2007.
The Belgian player reached the third round at two Grand Slam tournaments at 2011 Roland Garros and 2017 Australian Open. He scored the biggest win of his career at Wimbledon 2013 where he upset Rafael Nadal becoming the lowest-ranked player to beat Nadal at a Grand Slam tournanent.
“I made a successful comeback in 2019, but after Wimbledon, I got problems again with my shoulder. Mentally and physically I am no longer at my best. Plenty of strong moments will stay with me forever”, said Steve Darcis.
