The Magician Who Lost His Box Of Tricks

Guillermo 'El Mago' Coria has ended the past three seasons playing at the Masters Cup. He won't be doing that this year.

The man who has often punched above his weight, seems to have punched himself out in 2006. And we all saw it coming. In 2003, Coria began to announce himself among the world's elite. In the build up to Roland Garros, he was beaten in the Monte Carlo Masters final by then King of Clay, Juan Carlos Ferrero. It wouldn't be long before Coria got his hands on a Masters trophy, as he won the Hamburg title a few weeks later. And while he ended up losing to Martin Verkerk in the Semi-Finals at the Mecca of clay court tennis (Roland Garros), he had established himself as a player to be reckoned with on the surface for years to come. It was a disappointment, but he vowed to come back the next year and seize the moment.

That unexpected defeat at Roland Garros was the catalyst for 'Guille' to go on a golden run on clay courts. During 3 weeks from mid-July, he won 3 titles. He didn't lose a set and he handed out 5 bagels in the process. Going into 2004, it was already clear Coria would be in the mix for Roland Garros that year, but no one could have imagined the series of events that followed; which at the time of writing looks like will define his professional career. His untouchable run on clay continued, with him winning Buenos Aires and Monte Carlo (his 2nd Masters title). Going into the defence of his Hamburg Masters title, Coria was on a 26 match win streak on clay. It finally came to an end in the final of Hamburg, against Roger Federer. You've heard of him, haven't you?

From his defeat at Roland Garros in 2003, Coria posted a 31-1 clay court record by the time he next arrived in Paris. He was rightly considered as one of if not the player to beat. He didn't buckle under the expectation, or so it seemed as he reached an all-Argentine final versus Gaston Gaudio for the loss of just one set. This was to be Coria's crowning moment, the stamp of approval of a clay court king. Sport (as well as life), is never that easy. For an hour or so it sure looked like it though. Coria took advantage of Gaudio's nerves and anxieties and raced away to a 6-0, 6-3 lead. The match seemed over. Gaudio at times played like a man who knew it was over too.

Deep into the 3rd set on May 24 2004 was when the dream of winning Roland Garros turned into the start of a downward spiral. Coria froze, got tight, couldn't pass the finish line. However you wish to describe it, it was a moment that no doubt will forever be tatooed in his mind. The nerves set in, the mind was spinning and then came the cramps. Coria lost the 3rd set and had to let go of the 4th. The 5th set was pure drama. El Mago was fighting to overcome his problems and not let the dream slip away. Incredibly, Coria found himself serving for the match on two different occasions. In the first game, he never got close. The second time he had match point, went for a winner and missed by an inch. He had another, went for a winner and missed by an inch, again.

Gaudio eventually realised his opponent was there for the taking and after 211 minutes of action, he took him. Coria had few words at the presentation ceremony and was too distraught to say much although he offered his congratulations to an opponent with whom the relationship has always been frosty. At the post-match press conference, Coria broke down. His fans broke down with him, and even his critics had to empathise with the trauma he had gone through. Tennis is a cruel sport, one more point and Guillermo Coria would have been French Open champion. Instead, his career is currently in crisis.

Following a disappointment far greater than he experienced in 2003, Coria required surgery on his right shoulder which would rule him out for the rest of the season. He was not willing to believe that and had a great desire to attend his 2nd consecutive Masters Cup. With all the wins in the bag earlier in the year, he had already done enough to qualify despite not playing for more than 3 months. He achieved his objective to be a part of the Masters Cup, although clearly hampered and being nowhere near ready to obtain any victories. He had earnt his place amongst the elite and wanted to be there.

In 2005, things seemed to be going reasonably well for Coria. With new coach, Jose Perlas, now on board, El Mago arrived to defend his Monte Carlo Masters title as no5 in the world. Like his defence of the Hamburg title the year before, Coria's defence again was ended in the final this time by a young Spaniard, Rafael Nadal. You've heard of him, haven't you?

A few weeks later in Rome, the same two players squared off in another final. This one was a bit special. Lasting more than 5 hours, both players gave an exhibition of clay court tennis at its finest. You had to see it to believe it, and if you love tennis, you really must see it. Coria led 3-0 in the 5th set, but Nadal was eventually the victor. 8-6 in a 5th set tie break. The difference between the two of them after more than than 5 hours on court, was just two points.

Despite the obvious disappointment of not winning, Coria had reason to be upbeat. He could have won, and next time he hoped that he would. The level of tennis he showed was as good as anything he had shown in his 31-1 run on clay during the 2003-2004 period. Drawn in the opposite half to Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Coria was a hot pick to return to the Roland Garros final, or at worst make the last four. He did neither and lost to Nikolay Davydenko in the 4th round; the same Nikolay Davydenko who had beaten for the loss of just 6 games at the French Open in 2004. And so another year where the Roland Garros title had eluded him, and at this point even he must have started to wonder if he would ever be as close again as he had been in 2004. Was that 2004 final to become the defining moment of his career? What we have seen since, suggests exactly that.

Coria's personal war became evident to all at the US Open in 2005. Having been back on tour for 9 or so months and seemingly having no trouble with the shoulder surgery from the previous year, he started to perform his impression of Elena Dementieva. His tournament ended in a 5 sets defeat to Robby Ginepri in the Quarter-Finals. Coria had achieved this run inspite of serving 56 - yes, that's 56 - double faults. Impressive or ridiculous? Both. In his 4th round match with Nicolas Massu, Coria served 20 double faults, and still won.

Unsurprisingly, he was asked what was happening. He said it was related to the surgery, it wasn't nerves, it wasn't his mind and added that he would have to live with these kind of moments, nothing could be done. He went to Beijing and made the final, losing to Nadal again. Bar one match against Johansson where he served 11 double faults, it was not a problem. It didn't stay that way.

Coria ended the season in poor fashion, looking very low on confidence and not showing his usual appetitie for battle. He made his 3rd successive appearance at the Masters Cup. He lost all his matches, the only bright spots being his new orange Adidas shirt and handing out a breadstick to Roger Federer to partially make up for the bagel he had been handed earlier.

Starting 2006 in the top 10, Coria and his fans were hoping for a fresh start off the back of the poor end to 2005. Instead, it has been a complete nightmare. During 3 matches at the Australian Open, he served 49 double faults. Coria's alliance with Jose Perlas had now reached a conclusion; it was over. Back in Argentina, he served 21 double faults and was knocked out in the 2nd round by a player ranked outside the top 90. He took a mini break to clear his mind. He came back in Acapulco, losing in the 1st round to a player outside the top 100 and served 16 double faults in the process. Another break followed and this time a partnership with Jose Higueras was hoped would stop Coria's slide and put him back on the right path. For a brief moment it looked like this time he was back to his normal self. Returning for the Miami Masters, defeating talented Serb, Novak Djokovic, in straight sets without a single double fault. He lost in the 2nd round and would not play again till a month later in Monte Carlo, where he had been a previous winner and runner up.

Coria was happy to be back in Monte Carlo. It was a crazy few days. A routine 1st round win over Mikhail Youzhny, gave us no inkling of the drama to unfold in the next days. Being humilated by Paul-Henri Mathieu, serving double faults continuously and down 6-1, 5-1, the magician finally produced some of his old magic and saved 4 match points to record a 1-6, 7-6, 6-4 victory. It was an incredible win, and more was to follow the next day. Having served 20 double faults versus Mathieu, he went 3 better versus Nicolas Kiefer, and he still won 6-7, 6-4, 6-3.

The insanity had to end, and it was Rafael Nadal who did just that in the quarters. Those incredible comeback victories would turn out to be the highlights of a dreadful year. Going 1-4 post-Hamburg, Coria decided he could not play at Roland Garros. That his shoulder was still an issue and that he needed a break (another one) to regain his hunger and "to return like I was in 2003/2004".

Coria returned to action in Sweden where he would lose a close match to compatriot, 'Chucho' Acasuso. He followed that up in Amersfoort and made the Semi-Final but retired with a neck/shoulder injury. It did not stop him showing up in Umag a few days later to defend his title from 2005. Another humiliating defeat awaited him, serving 12 double faults in a 1st round 6-2, 6-3 loss to Robin Vik (ranked 74 at the time). More trouble was to come, in Sopot the next week another retirement. This time in the 1st round versus Michal Przysiezny (ranked 364 at the time).

By now, Jose Higueras and Coria were no longer working together. Coria found a new coach, fellow Argentine and former coach of Fernando Gonzalez, Horacio de la Pena. A press conference was called, Coria sounded upbeat, even with wild ideas of being involved in Davis Cup for Argentina despite being a long way from the team realistically. De la Pena was more reserved, setting the goals at the bare minimum. They would train in Chile and Coria would return for the US Open. He did and he didn't. He was in the draw, he was on the court, but the slippery surface soon caused a groin injury, and five games into another 'comeback' Coria left the scene with a towel over his head. Out of the blue, the relationship of coach and and player between de la Pena and Coria was no more. Why? We are still not clear on that. Coria decided he would play in a challenger event; the first time he had done so since 2002. Serving for the match in his 1st round, Coria had now reached a new low: Dismissed in the 1st round of a challenger event by a player outside the top 150.

El Mago has not played since. And it doesn't look like he will anytime soon, at least not this season. Having started the year in the top 10, Coria currently sits at 83, and is likely to fall even lower if he does not play again this season. His fans want to see him back on court, but like the way he used to be and not the way he has been for most of 2006. The question is just how much Coria wants the same; he is the one who has to deal with the inner turmoil and it remains to be seen if we'll ever see his usual array of magicial skills on full display again.

One more point, and this all could have been very different.