Robert Charbel Farah Maksoud (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈroβeɾt ˈfaɾa];[2][3] born 20 January 1987)[1] is a Colombian former professional tennis player. A world No. 1 in doubles, he also reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 163 in June 2011.
Farah is a two-time Grand Slam Champion, having won both the 2019 Wimbledon Championships (the first Hispanic duo to accomplish the feat) alongside compatriot Juan Sebastián Cabal[4] and the 2019 US Open. The pair also finished runners-up at the 2018 Australian Open, and Farah reached the final in mixed doubles at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships and 2017 French Open with Anna-Lena Grönefeld.
Farah won 19 doubles titles on the ATP Tour, including two at the Masters 1000 level, and became world No. 1 in doubles for the first time on 15 July 2019. He spent a total of 68 weeks at the top of the doubles rankings, and was year-end No. 1 in both 2019 and 2020. Farah represented Colombia in the Davis Cup from 2010 to his retirement, as well as at the 2016 and at the 2020 Olympic Games.
College career
Farah played college tennis at the University of Southern California from 2006 to 2010 where he won two NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championships as a USC Trojan. He finished his Senior season (2010) as the No. 1 ranked NCAA D1 player in the US in singles, while additionally ranked 2nd in doubles. He won the 2008 NCAA Men's Doubles National Championship, partnering Kaes Van't Hof. He occasionally played doubles at USC with future ATP pro Steve Johnson.[5]
Professional career
2011
Farah's consistent doubles partnership with fellow countryman Juan Sebastián Cabal began at Wimbledon 2011, when they defeated the pair consisting of Pakistani Aisam Qureshi (8 in doubles) and Indian Rohan Bopanna (9 in the world), in a tight three set match that went to 21–19 in the final set, before losing in second round against American Michael Russell and Kazakhstani Mikhail Kukushkin in straight sets.
2013
In the 2013 Australian Open, Farah and Cabal made their first appearance in the quarterfinals.
2016
In 2016, Farah reached his first grand slam final, in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon partnering Anna-Lena Grönefeld. They lost in straight sets to Henri Kontinen of Finland and Heather Watson of the UK.
2017
In 2017, Farah and Cabal reached their first men's doubles grand slam semifinal at the French Open. In the same tournament he reached the final of the mixed doubles partnering Gronefeld where they lost to Rohan Bopanna and Gabriela Dabrowski in 3 sets.
2019: Two Grand Slam and Second Masters titles, World No. 1
Farah and countryman Cabal won their first ever Grand Slam men's doubles title at Wimbledon in 2019, defeating Frenchmen Nicolas Mahut and Édouard Roger-Vasselin in a thrilling 5 set match that required 4 tie-break sets; this victory helped Farah and Cabal to both ascend to world No. 1 in the week following the conclusion of the Championships.[6]
2022-23: Two Masters finals, Retirement
Farah made his last ATP tour-level professional appearance at the 2023 US Open (tennis) with Cabal where they lost in the second round.[7][4]
Personal life
Farah is the son of a family of Lebanese descent.[8] His mother is a teacher at the French Liceo Paul Valery de Cali. His father is a retired tennis player (not recognized at professional level).[8] His sister is a former professional tennis player Romy Farah. In 2010, Robert became a professional tennis player.
Controversies
In July 2018, Farah was given a suspended three months ban and fined £3,800 for promoting a gambling website on his Twitter account. Farah would only serve the suspension if there were further breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program.[9]
In October 2019, Farah was tested positive for the anabolic steroid Boldenone. He was provisionally suspended from official tournaments from 14 January 2020 and did not compete at the 2020 Australian Open.[10] Farah argued that he had ingested Boldenone from contaminated Colombian meat and the ITF chose not to ban him, holding that he "bears no fault or negligence for the violation".[11]
Performance timelines
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | P# | DNQ | A | Z# | PO | G | S | B | NMS | NTI | P | NH |
Doubles
Current through the 2023 US Open.
Tournament | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | SR | W-L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | 2R | QF | 1R | 2R | 3R | 3R | F | 1R | A | 2R | 2R | 3R | 0 / 11 | 18–11 |
French Open | A | A | 3R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 1R | SF | QF | SF | SF | SF | 1R | 2R | 0 / 12 | 24–12 |
Wimbledon | A | 3R | 1R | 3R | A | 2R | 2R | 2R | 3R | W | NH | QF | SF | 1R | 1 / 11 | 22–10 |
US Open | A | 2R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | SF | W | 2R | 1R | SF | 2R | 1 / 12 | 19–11 |
Win–loss | 0–0 | 3–2 | 3–4 | 7–4 | 1–3 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 7–3 | 14–4 | 16–2 | 5–2 | 8–4 | 9–4 | 4–4 | 2 / 46 | 83-44 |
Year-end championship | ||||||||||||||||
ATP Finals | did not qualify | SF | SF | DNQ | RR | DNQ | 0 / 3 | 4–7 | ||||||||
National representation | ||||||||||||||||
Summer Olympics | not held | A | not held | 2R | not held | QF | not held | 0 / 2 | 3–2 | |||||||
Davis Cup | PO | Z1 | Z1 | PO | PO | PO | Z1 | PO | PO | RR | RR | PO | QR | 0 / 2 | 16–8 | |
ATP Tour Masters 1000 | ||||||||||||||||
Indian Wells Masters | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | 1R | A | 1R | QF | NH | 1R | 2R | 1R | 0 / 7 | 4–7 |
Miami Open | A | A | A | A | F | 2R | A | 1R | QF | 2R | NH | 2R | 1R | 2R | 0 / 8 | 9–8 |
Monte-Carlo Masters | A | A | A | A | 2R | 1R | SF | A | QF | 2R | NH | SF | F | 2R | 0 / 8 | 14–8 |
Madrid Open | A | A | A | A | SF | A | 1R | 2R | SF | 1R | NH | 2R | F | 1R | 0 / 8 | 9–8 |
Italian Open | A | A | A | A | 1R | QF | 1R | A | W | W | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2 / 9 | 13–7 |
Canadian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | 1R | NH | QF | 1R | A | 0 / 4 | 1–4 |
Cincinnati Masters | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | F | F | 1R | SF | 1R | A | 0 / 6 | 9–6 |
Shanghai Masters | A | A | A | A | QF | QF | 2R | 2R | SF | QF | not held | A | 0 / 6 | 10–6 | ||
Paris Masters | A | A | A | A | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 2R | QF | A | A | 0 / 8 | 5–8 |
Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 11–6 | 8–7 | 4–6 | 3–4 | 13–8 | 16–8 | 1–3 | 7–8 | 9–7 | 2–5 | 2 / 64 | 74–62 |
Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||
Titles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 | |
Finals | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 42 | |
Overall win–loss | 0–1 | 4–3 | 16–14 | 21–17 | 35–20 | 37–24 | 33–21 | 33–15 | 39–23 | 51–20 | 14–10 | 38–20 | 24–20 | 7–15 | 353-223 | |
Year-end ranking | 160 | 83 | 64 | 48 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 29 | 129 | 61% |
Mixed doubles
Tournament | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | SR | W–L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | QF | A | 2R | 1R | A | 0 / 7 | 4–6 |
French Open | A | A | A | 2R | 2R | 1R | F | SF | 2R | NH | QF | A | A | 0 / 7 | 11–7 |
Wimbledon | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | A | F | A | 2R | A | NH | A | QF | A | 0 / 6 | 7–6 |
US Open | A | A | A | 2R | 1R | SF | A | A | A | NH | A | A | A | 0 / 3 | 4–3 |
Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 8–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0 / 23 | 26–22 |
Major finals
Grand Slam finals
Doubles: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 2018 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 2019 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5), 7–6(8–6), 6–7(5–7), 6–3 |
Win | 2019 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 7–5 |
Mixed doubles: 2 (2 runners-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 2016 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(5–7), 4–6 |
Loss | 2017 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 2–6, [10–12] |
Masters 1000 finals
Doubles: 7 (2 titles, 5 runner-ups)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 2014 | Miami Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(8–10), 4–6 |
Win | 2018 | Italian Open | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–4, [10–4] |
Loss | 2018 | Cincinnati Masters | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 3–6, [6–10] |
Win | 2019 | Italian Open (2) | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–1, 6–3 |
Loss | 2019 | Cincinnati Masters | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 4–6, [6–10] |
Loss | 2022 | Monte-Carlo Masters | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 6–3, [7–10] |
Loss | 2022 | Madrid Open | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 4–6, [5–10] |
ATP career finals
Doubles: 42 (19 titles, 23 runner-ups)
|
|
|
Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | Jul 2012 | Swiss Open, Switzerland |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 6–7(9–11) |
Loss | 0–2 | May 2013 | Open de Nice Côte d'Azur, France |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 0–3 | Jan 2014 | Brisbane International, Australia |
250 Series | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 4–6, [7–10] |
Loss | 0–4 | Feb 2014 | Chile Open, Chile |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1–4 | Feb 2014 | Rio Open, Brazil |
500 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–2 |
Loss | 1–5 | Mar 2014 | Brasil Open, Brazil |
250 Series | Clay (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 4–6, [13–15] |
Loss | 1–6 | Mar 2014 | Miami Open, United States |
Masters 1000 | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(8–10), 4–6 |
Win | 2–6 | Aug 2014 | Winston-Salem Open, United States |
250 Series | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–4 |
Win | 3–6 | Feb 2015 | Brasil Open, Brazil |
250 Series | Clay (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 4–6 | May 2015 | Geneva Open, Switzerland |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 4–6, [10–7] |
Loss | 4–7 | Jul 2015 | Swedish Open, Sweden |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(8–6), 3–6, [8–10] |
Loss | 4–8 | Aug 2015 | German Open, Germany |
500 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 3–6, [8–10] |
Loss | 4–9 | Oct 2015 | Japan Open, Japan |
500 Series | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(5–7), 6–3, [7–10] |
Win | 5–9 | Feb 2016 | Argentina Open, Argentina |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–0 |
Win | 6–9 | Feb 2016 | Rio Open, Brazil (2) |
500 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–5), 6–1 |
Loss | 6–10 | May 2016 | Bavarian International, Germany |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–3, [7–10] |
Win | 7–10 | May 2016 | Open de Nice Côte d'Azur, France |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, [10–8] |
Win | 8–10 | Oct 2016 | Kremlin Cup, Russia |
250 Series | Hard (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 4–6, [10–5] |
Win | 9–10 | Feb 2017 | Argentina Open, Argentina (2) |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–1, 6–4 |
Loss | 9–11 | Feb 2017 | Rio Open, Brazil |
500 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 7–5, [8–10] |
Loss | 9–12 | Apr 2017 | Hungarian Open, Hungary |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(2–7), 4–6 |
Win | 10–12 | May 2017 | Bavarian International, Germany |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–3 |
Loss | 10–13 | May 2017 | Geneva Open, Switzerland |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–7(9–11), [6–10] |
Loss | 10–14 | Jan 2018 | Australian Open, Australia |
Grand Slam | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 10–15 | Feb 2018 | Argentina Open, Argentina |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 7–5, [3–10] |
Win | 11–15 | May 2018 | Italian Open, Italy |
Masters 1000 | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–4, [10–4] |
Loss | 11–16 | Aug 2018 | Cincinnati Masters, United States |
Masters 1000 | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 3–6, [6–10] |
Loss | 11–17 | Jan 2019 | Sydney International, Australia |
250 Series | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 3–6 |
Win | 12–17 | Apr 2019 | Barcelona Open, Spain |
500 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 7–6(7–4) |
Win | 13–17 | May 2019 | Italian Open, Italy (2) |
Masters 1000 | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–1, 6–3 |
Win | 14–17 | Jun 2019 | Eastbourne International, United Kingdom |
250 Series | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 7–6(7–4), [10–6] |
Win | 15–17 | Jul 2019 | Wimbledon Championships, United Kingdom |
Grand Slam | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5), 7–6(8–6), 6–7(5–7), 6–3 |
Loss | 15–18 | Aug 2019 | Cincinnati Masters, United States |
Masters 1000 | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 4–6, [6–10] |
Win | 16–18 | Sep 2019 | US Open, United States |
Grand Slam | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 7–5 |
Loss | 16–19 | Feb 2020 | Mexican Open, Mexico |
500 Series | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(6–8), 7–6(7–4), [9–11] |
Loss | 16–20 | Oct 2020 | Forte Village Sardegna Open, Italy |
250 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 16–21 | Feb 2021 | Great Ocean Road Open, Australia |
250 Series | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–7(7–9) |
Win | 17–21 | Mar 2021 | Dubai Tennis Championships, United Arab Emirates |
500 Series | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–0), 7–6(7–4) |
Win | 18–21 | Apr 2021 | Barcelona Open, Spain |
500 Series | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 19–21 | Oct 2021 | Vienna Open, Austria |
500 Series | Hard (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–2 |
Loss | 19–22 | Apr 2022 | Monte-Carlo Masters, Monaco |
Masters 1000 | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 6–3, [7–10] |
Loss | 19–23 | May 2022 | Madrid Open, Spain |
Masters 1000 | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 4–6, [5–10] |
ATP Challenger & ITF Futures
Singles: 5 (3–2)
Legend |
---|
ATP Challenger Tour (1–2) |
ITF Futures (2–0) |
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | 7 June 2010 | Maracaibo, Venezuela | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 7–6(7–3) |
Winner | 2. | 21 June 2010 | Barquisimeto, Venezuela | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 6–2 |
Winner | 3. | 12 July 2010 | Bogotá, Colombia | Clay | ![]() |
6–3, 2–6, 7–6(7–3) |
Runner–up | 4. | 16 September 2011 | Aguascalientes, Mexico | Clay | ![]() |
6–4, 7–6(7–3) |
Runner–up | 5. | 6 August 2012 | Aptos, USA | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 6–3 |
References
- ^ a b ATPtennis.com – Players – Profiles – Profile
- ^ fedecoltenis (11 September 2014). "SALUDO ROBERT FARAH" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2018 – via YouTube.
- ^ Ministerio TIC Colombia (7 July 2017). "#BajemosElTono – Robert Farah, tenista profesional" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2018 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "Cabal & Farah Announce Retirement: 'It's Hard To Say Goodbye' Colombian duo will play their last professional tournament in September". ATPTour. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
- ^ "Robert Farah Player Profile". USC Athletics. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ "Colombian History: Cabal/Farah Triumph in Wimbledon Final Thriller". ATP Tour. 13 July 2019.
- ^ "Cabal/Farah Say Adios to the Big Stage". Association of Tennis Professionals. 3 September 2023. Archived from the original on 3 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Robert Farah, a Colombian-Lebanese with tennis in his genes". Lorientlejour.com (published 2019). 19 July 2019.
- ^ "Robert Farah suspended for three months for endorsing betting". BBC Sport. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "The truth behind World No.1's mysterious Aussie Open exit". 7news.com.au. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- ^ "Robert Farah: No ban for doubles champion despite positive test". BBC Sport. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
You must be logged in to post a comment.