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Leonardo Mayer
Leonardo Mayer
Leonardo Mayer
View on Wikipedia
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Leonardo Martín Mayer[2] (Spanish: [leoˈnaɾðo maɾˈtim ˈmaʝeɾ],[a] German: [ˈmaɪɐ]; born May 15, 1987) is a tennis coach and a former professional player from Argentina. Mayer achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 21 in June 2015 and world No. 48 in doubles in January 2019.[1]

Key Information

Career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Mayer started playing tennis at age nine.[1]

2005–2008: Juniors and ITF

[edit]

As a junior, Mayer won the 2005 French Open Boys' Doubles and the Orange Bowl with Emiliano Massa, reaching as high as No. 2 in the combined world rankings in June 2005.

He won one Challenger singles title in 2008 and lost in three other finals.[1]

2009–2013: Becoming a professional tennis player

[edit]

Mayer qualified for his first Grand Slam at the 2009 French Open and beat 15th seed James Blake in straight sets in the first round. He lost to Tommy Haas in five sets in the second round. At Wimbledon, he beat Óscar Hernández in straight sets in the first round. He lost to Fernando González in four sets in the second round.

Mayer had a successful American summer, reaching the semifinals of the LA Tennis Open (lost to Carsten Ball) and the quarterfinals of the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament in New Haven (lost to Igor Andreev). At the 2009 US Open, Mayer reached the second round, losing to Radek Štěpánek in straight sets.

In 2011, Mayer qualified for the Brasil Open and defeated world no. 73 Igor Andreev in the first round of the main draw. In the second round, he played seventh-seeded Italian Potito Starace and lost.

Mayer reached the third round of the French Open for the third time and the US Open in 2012, losing to Nicolás Almagro in straight sets at Roland Garros and Juan Martín del Potro in New York.[3]

2014: First ATP title and top 30

[edit]
Mayer at the 2014 Winston-Salem Open

In February 2014, Mayer reached his first career ATP final at Viña del Mar, defeating second seed Tommy Robredo en route. Mayer lost to top-seed Fabio Fognini in straight sets. At Oeiras and Niza, he reached the quarterfinals as a qualifier in both. He was defeated in the third round of the French Open by Rafael Nadal.

At Wimbledon, he reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time. He defeated No. 25 seed Andreas Seppi, former Wimbledon semifinalist and Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis, and Andrey Kuznetsov before being defeated by Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets. With this run, Mayer was ranked in the top 50 for the first time in his career.

Next, Mayer played in the 2014 MercedesCup, where he lost in the second round to Mikhail Youzhny. Then, he played at the 2014 International German Open, where he beat Guillermo García López and Philipp Kohlschreiber, reaching the final without dropping a set. In the final, he defeated top seed David Ferrer in three sets, winning his first ATP title.

Seeded 23rd at the 2014 US Open, Mayer reached the third round, being defeated by Kei Nishikori. In the doubles tournament, he partnered with compatriot Carlos Berlocq and made it to the quarterfinals, beating the reigning Wimbledon champions Jack Sock and Vasek Pospisil.

Mayer won his two singles rubbers against Israel in the Davis Cup Play-offs, helping Argentina to secure a place in the 2015 World Group.

Mayer lost in the second round at the Malaysian Open to Jarkko Nieminen and in the first round of the China Open to Martin Kližan. He lost in the second round of the Shanghai Masters to Roger Federer, who saved five match points against Mayer.

2015: Career high ranking of World No. 21

[edit]

Mayer started the year at Doha, where he lost in the first round in a tight three-set match against Andreas Seppi. Then, he competed in the Apia International Sydney, where he reached the semifinals but was defeated by Mikhail Kukushkin. In the Australian Open, he was seeded 27th but was defeated by Viktor Troicki in four sets in the second round.

Next, Mayer reached the quarterfinals at the Brasil Open, being defeated by local favourite João Souza. On March 8, 2015, he played in the longest singles match in Davis Cup history, beating João Souza in 6 hours and 42 minutes, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–5), 5–7, 5–7, 15–13. Mayer was unable to recover in time for the Indian Wells Masters and was defeated in the third round of the Miami Masters by Kevin Anderson.

The Argentine started the European clay-court swing with a first round loss in Barcelona. Then, he reached the third round at Madrid and the second round in the Rome Masters. In the Open de Nice Côte d'Azur, he reached the third ATP final of his career, losing to Dominic Thiem. Mayer reached the third round of the French Open as the 23rd seed, being defeated by Marin Čilić in straight sets.

In the grass court season, Mayer reached the quarterfinals at Nottingham (lost to Denis Istomin) and the third round of Wimbledon where he was the 24th seed before he (lost to Kevin Anderson) in straight sets.

2016: Davis Cup Champion

[edit]

Mayer lost in the first round of the 2016 Australian Open and the 2016 French Open. He had minor success in the 2016 Indian Wells Masters beating Sam Groth and 20th seed Viktor Troicki before losing to Marin Čilić in the third round. In the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, he lost in the first round to Donald Young.

In the Davis Cup semifinal between Great Britain and Argentina, Mayer beat Daniel Evans in the fifth and deciding rubber, sending Argentina into its fifth Davis Cup Final. Mayer teamed with Juan Martín del Potro for doubles in the Davis Cup Final against Croatia. They lost to Marin Čilić and Ivan Dodig. However, Argentina won their first championship 3 to 2.

2017: Second ATP title and back to top 50

[edit]

Mayer lost in the second round of the 2017 Argentina Open and the 2017 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships (lost to John Isner). In July he lost in the 2nd round of qualifying to a teenager in the 2017 German Open only to enter the MD as lucky loser and win his first tournament as a father (his son Valentino was born in February 2017).

He became the first lucky loser to win an ATP 500 tournament. In the final, he defeated Florian Mayer in three sets, winning his second ATP 500 title. Due to winning his second Hamburg title, Mayer climbed 89 spots, breaking into the top 50 for the first time since 2016, at number 49.[4]

2018: Third Hamburg Final

[edit]

Defeated 3 players ranked outside Top 100 to reach ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells 4R (lost to his boyhood friend and eventual champion Juan Martín del Potro in 3 sets). Reached QFs at Buenos Aires and São Paulo. Improved to 2–29 vs. Top 10 players by beating Kevin Anderson in 3rd-set TB at London/Queen's Club. Fell to A. Zverev in ATP Masters 1000 Madrid 3R, but earned only break point faced by German en route to title. Squandered 6 MPs vs. Nicolas Jarry in the ATP Estoril 1R (most of all players to lose a match this season). Blew a 2-set lead for 1st time in career at Wimbledon (lost to Struff in 1R). Finished as Brisbane doubles runner-up in 1st event with Zeballos since 2010 Wimbledon (l. to Kontinen/Peers).

2019: Australian doubles semifinal & French singles fourth round

[edit]

Mayer reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam in doubles for the first time in his career at the 2019 Australian Open partnering João Sousa. The pair also reached the quarterfinals at the 2019 US Open.

He made the fourth round of the French Open where he lost to world No. 3 Roger Federer in straight sets.

2020: Severe dip in form

[edit]

Mayer only played eight matches in 2020 and lost all eight. His final Grand Slam was the 2020 US Open where he lost in the first round to 25th seed Milos Raonic in straight sets.

2021: Retirement

[edit]

Mayer played his last ATP tournament at the 2021 Chile Open where he lost in the first round to Pedro Sousa in straight sets. His last event was 2021 Wimbledon qualifying where he lost in the first round to compatriot Marco Trungelliti in straight sets.

On October 7, 2021, Mayer announced his retirement from tennis.[5]

ATP career finals

[edit]

Singles: 5 (2 titles, 3 runner-ups)

[edit]
Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0)
ATP World Tour 500 Series (2–1)
ATP World Tour 250 Series (0–2)
Titles by surface
Hard (0–0)
Clay (2–3)
Grass (0–0)
Titles by setting
Outdoor (2–3)
Indoor (0–0)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Feb 2014 Chile Open, Chile 250 Series Clay Italy Fabio Fognini 2–6, 4–6
Win 1–1 Jul 2014 German Open, Germany 500 Series Clay Spain David Ferrer 6–7(3–7), 6–1, 7–6(7–4)
Loss 1–2 May 2015 Open de Nice Côte d'Azur, France 250 Series Clay Austria Dominic Thiem 7–6(10–8), 5–7, 6–7(2–7)
Win 2–2 Jul 2017 German Open, Germany (2) 500 Series Clay Germany Florian Mayer 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
Loss 2–3 Jul 2018 German Open, Germany 500 Series Clay Georgia (country) Nikoloz Basilashvili 4–6, 6–0, 5–7

Doubles: 5 (1 title, 4 runner-ups)

[edit]
Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0)
ATP World Tour 500 Series (0–0)
ATP World Tour 250 Series (1–4)
Titles by surface
Hard (0–3)
Clay (1–1)
Grass (0–0)
Titles by setting
Outdoor (1–2)
Indoor (0–1)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 Feb 2010 Pacific Coast Championships, US 250 Series Hard (i) Germany Benjamin Becker United States Mardy Fish
United States Sam Querrey 		6–7(3–7), 5–7
Win 1–1 Feb 2011 Argentina Open, Argentina 250 Series Clay Austria Oliver Marach Brazil Franco Ferreiro
Brazil André Sá 		7–6(8–6), 6–3
Loss 1–2 Aug 2012 Winston-Salem Open, US 250 Series Hard Spain Pablo Andújar Mexico Santiago González
United States Scott Lipsky 		3–6, 6–4, [2–10]
Loss 1–3 Jan 2018 Brisbane International, Australia 250 Series Hard Argentina Horacio Zeballos Finland Henri Kontinen
Australia John Peers 		6–3, 3–6, [2–10]
Loss 1–4 Feb 2020 Córdoba Open, Argentina 250 Series Clay Argentina Andrés Molteni Brazil Marcelo Demoliner
Netherlands Matwé Middelkoop 		3–6, 6–7(4–7)

Records

[edit]
  • These records were attained in the Open Era of tennis.
Tournament Year Record accomplished Player tied
Hamburg 2017 Winning an ATP tournament as lucky loser Heinz Günthardt
Bill Scanlon
Francisco Clavet
Christian Miniussi
Sergiy Stakhovsky
Rajeev Ram
Andrey Rublev
Marco Cecchinato[6]
Kwon Soon-woo[7]

Team competitions finals

[edit]

Davis Cup: 1 (1 title)

[edit]
Outcome Date Tournament Surface Partner(s) Opponents Score
Win Nov 2016 Davis Cup, Zagreb, Croatia Hard (i) Argentina Juan Martín del Potro
Argentina Federico Delbonis
Argentina Guido Pella 		Croatia Marin Čilić
Croatia Ivo Karlović
Croatia Ivan Dodig
Croatia Franko Škugor 		3–2

ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals

[edit]

Singles: 22 (10-12)

[edit]
Legend (singles)
ATP Challenger Tour (9-12)
ITF Futures Tour (1–0)
Titles by surface
Hard (1-4)
Clay (9-8)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Win 1-0 Nov 2005 Chile F6, Santiago Futures Clay Argentina Emiliano Redondi 6-3, 6-4
Loss 1-1 Nov 2006 Puebla, Mexico Challenger Hard United States Robert Kendrick 5–7, 4–6
Win 2-1 Jul 2007 Cuenca, Ecuador Challenger Clay Brazil Thomaz Bellucci 6–3, 6–2
Loss 2-2 Aug 2007 Graz, Austria Challenger Clay Romania Victor Hănescu 6–7(4–7), 3–6
Win 3-2 Nov 2007 Puebla, Mexico Challenger Hard Poland Dawid Olejniczak 6–1, 6–4
Loss 3-3 Aug 2008 Bronx, USA Challenger Hard Czech Republic Lukáš Dlouhý 0–6, 1–6
Loss 3-4 Sep 2008 Cali, Colombia Challenger Clay Brazil Marcos Daniel 2–6 RET
Loss 3-5 Oct 2008 Asunción, Paraguay Challenger Clay Argentina Martín Vassallo Argüello 6–3, 3–6, 6–7(2–7)
Win 4-5 Nov 2008 Medellín, Colombia Challenger Clay Argentina Sergio Roitman 6–4, 7–5
Win 5-5 Jul 2011 Dortmund, Germany Challenger Clay Netherlands Thomas Schoorel 6–3, 6–2
Loss 5-6 Aug 2011 Trani, Italy Challenger Clay Belgium Steve Darcis 6–4, 3–6, 2–6
Loss 5-7 Sep 2011 Genova, Italy Challenger Clay Slovakia Martin Kližan 3–6, 1–6
Win 6-7 Oct 2011 Napoli, Italy Challenger Clay Italy Alessandro Giannessi 6–3, 6–4
Win 7-7 Nov 2011 São Leopoldo, Brazil Challenger Clay Serbia Nikola Ćirić 7–5, 7–6(7–1)
Loss 7-8 Nov 2012 Medellín, Colombia Challenger Clay Italy Paolo Lorenzi 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–4), 4–6
Win 8-8 Nov 2012 Guayaquil, Ecuador Challenger Clay Italy Paolo Lorenzi 6–2, 6–4
Loss 8-9 Sep 2013 Orléans, France Challenger Hard(i) Czech Republic Radek Štěpánek 3–6, 4–6
Win 9-9 Nov 2013 Guayaquil, Ecuador Challenger Clay Portugal Pedro Sousa 6–4, 7–5
Win 10-9 Aug 2016 Manerbio, Italy Challenger Clay Serbia Filip Krajinović 7–6 (7–3), 7–5
Loss 10-10 Oct 2016 Buenos Aires, Argentina Challenger Clay Argentina Renzo Olivo 6–2, 6–7(3–7), 6–7(3–7)
Loss 10-11 Mar 2017 Tigre, Argentina Challenger Hard Japan Taro Daniel 7–5, 3–6, 4–6
Loss 10-12 Jul 2017 Båstad, Sweden Challenger Clay Serbia Dušan Lajović 6–2, 7–6(7–4)

Doubles: 19 (11–8)

[edit]
Legend (singles)
ATP Challenger Tour (8–8)
ITF Futures Tour (3–0)
Titles by surface
Hard (2–2)
Clay (9–6)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1–0 Aug 2005 Argentina F6, Buenos Aires Futures Clay Argentina Emiliano Massa Argentina Diego Cristin
Argentina Máximo González 		6–1, 5–7, 6–4
Win 2–0 Sep 2005 Argentina F12, Buenos Aires Futures Clay Argentina Emiliano Massa Argentina Diego Cristin
Argentina Lucas Arnold Ker 		7–6(7–4), 6–3
Loss 2–1 Jul 2006 Campos do Jordão, Brazil Challenger Hard Sweden Jacob Adaktusson Brazil Marcelo Melo
Brazil André Sá 		6–7(1–7), 5–7
Win 3–1 Sep 2006 Brazil F12, Caldas Novas Futures Hard Argentina Sebastián Decoud Brazil Frederico Casaro
United States Mashiska Washington 		6–4, 7–5
Win 4–1 Nov 2006 Guayaquil, Ecuador Challenger Clay Argentina Juan Pablo Brzezicki Uruguay Marcel Felder
Spain Fernando Vicente 		1–6, 7–5, [14–12]
Win 5–1 May 2007 Naples, United States Challenger Clay Argentina Juan Pablo Brzezicki Uruguay Pablo Cuevas
Argentina Horacio Zeballos 		6–1, 6–7(4–7), [10–8]
Loss 5–2 Jul 2007 Córdoba, Spain Challenger Hard Chile Paul Capdeville Spain Santiago Ventura
Spain Fernando Vicente 		4–6, 3–6
Loss 5–3 Jul 2007 Bogotá, Colombia Challenger Clay Colombia Pablo Gonzalez Mexico Santiago González
Argentina Brian Dabul 		2–6, 2–6
Loss 5–4 Oct 2007 Belo Horizonte, Brazil Challenger Clay Chile Adrián García Spain Marcel Granollers
Spain Fernando Vicente 		3–6, 3–6
Win 6–4 Apr 2008 Florianapolis, Brazil Challenger Clay Chile Adrián García Brazil Bruno Soares
Brazil Thomaz Bellucci 		6–2, 6–0
Loss 6–5 Jun 2008 Reggio Emilia, Italy Challenger Clay Argentina Mariano Hood China Yu Xinyuan
China Zeng Shaoxuan 		3–6, 4–6
Win 7–5 Sep 2008 Quito, Ecuador Challenger Clay United States Hugo Armando Brazil Ricardo Mello
Brazil Caio Zampieri 		7–5, 6–2
Win 8–5 Oct 2008 Asunción, Paraguay Challenger Clay Argentina Alejandro Fabbri Argentina Mariano Hood
Argentina Martín García 		7–5, 6–4
Win 9–5 Jan 2009 São Paulo, Brazil Challenger Hard Argentina Carlos Berlocq Argentina Mariano Hood
Argentina Horacio Zeballos 		7–6(7–1), 6–3
Win 10–5 May 2009 Tunis, Tunisia Challenger Clay Argentina Brian Dabul Sweden Johan Brunström
Netherlands Antilles Jean-Julien Rojer 		6–4, 7–6(8–6)
Loss 10–6 Nov 2012 Guayaquil, Ecuador Challenger Clay Argentina Martín Ríos-Benítez Argentina Facundo Bagnis
Argentina Martín Alund 		5–7, 6–7(5–7)
Loss 10–7 Aug 2016 Manerbio, Italy Challenger Clay Argentina Juan Ignacio Galarza Croatia Nikola Mektić
Croatia Antonio Šančić 		5–7, 1–6
Win 11–7 Oct 2016 Lima, Peru Challenger Clay Peru Sergio Galdós Uruguay Ariel Behar
Chile Gonzalo Lama 		6–2, 7–6(9–7)
Loss 11–8 Apr 2017 Tallahassee, United States Challenger Clay Argentina Máximo González United States Scott Lipsky
India Leander Paes 		6–4, 6–7(5–7), [7–10]

Junior Grand Slam finals

[edit]

Doubles: 1 (1 title)

[edit]
Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponent Score
Win 2005 French Open Clay Argentina Emiliano Massa Ukraine Sergey Bubka
France Jérémy Chardy 		2–6, 6–3, 6–4

Performance timelines

[edit]
Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# P# DNQ A Z# PO G S B NMS NTI P NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Singles

[edit]

Current through the 2021 Wimbledon Championships.

Tournament 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 SR W–L Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open Q2 A A 1R 1R 1R 1R 2R 2R 1R A 2R 2R 1R A 0 / 10 4–10 29%
French Open Q1 A 2R 3R 3R 3R 1R 3R 3R 1R Q2 1R 4R Q3 Q1 0 / 10 14–10 58%
Wimbledon Q2 Q1 2R 1R Q1 1R 2R 4R 3R 1R A 1R 2R NH Q1 0 / 9 8–9 47%
US Open Q2 Q2 2R 1R A 3R 2R 3R 1R A 3R 1R 1R 1R A 0 / 10 8–10 47%
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 3–3 2–4 2–2 4–4 2–4 8–4 5–4 0–3 2–1 1–4 5–4 0–2 0–0 0 / 39 34–39 47%
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Indian Wells A A A 1R A 2R 3R A A 3R A 4R 2R NH A 0 / 6 9–6 60%
Miami A A Q1 1R A 1R 1R A 3R 1R A 2R 3R NH A 0 / 7 5–7 42%
Monte Carlo A A A A A Q1 A Q1 A A A A Q1 NH A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Madrid A A A 2R A A A Q1 3R 1R A 3R Q1 NH A 0 / 4 5–4 56%
Rome A A A 1R A A A A 2R 1R A 1R A Q2 A 0 / 4 1–4 20%
Canada A A 2R 1R A Q1 A A 2R A A A A NH A 0 / 3 2–3 40%
Cincinnati A A A A A Q2 A A 1R A A 3R A A A 0 / 2 2–2 50%
Shanghai NH Q1 A A A A 2R 2R A Q2 1R A NH 0 / 3 2–3 40%
Paris A A A A A A A 1R 2R A A A A A A 0 / 2 1–2 33%
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 1–1 1–5 0–0 1–2 2–2 1–2 8–7 2–4 0–0 8–6 3–2 0–0 0–0 0 / 31 27–31 47%
National representation
Davis Cup A A QF SF A A SF PO SF W 1R A QF QR A
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 1 / 7 11–4 73%
Career statistics
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Career
Tournaments 0 1 18 19 7 14 18 21 23 15 9 25 18 7 1 196
Titles–Finals 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 2 / 5
Overall win–loss 0–0 1–1 17–18 13–21 4–7 14–14 13–18 28–20 28–23 12–15 11–8 22–25 16–18 0–8 0–1 2 / 196 179–197 48%
Win % – 50% 49% 38% 36% 50% 42% 58% 55% 44% 58% 47% 47% 0% 0% 47.61%
Year-end ranking 179 115 75 94 78 72 95 28 35 139 52 56 92 135 $7,035,089

Doubles

[edit]
Tournament 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 SR W–L Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A 3R 1R 2R 1R 1R 2R 1R A 2R SF 2R A 0 / 10 10–10 50%
French Open A 2R A 1R 1R 1R 3R 2R A 3R 1R 2R A 0 / 9 7–9 44%
Wimbledon 1R 2R A 1R 1R 1R 1R 1R A 3R 2R NH A 0 / 9 4–9 31%
US Open 1R 2R A 2R 1R QF QF A 3R 2R QF A A 0 / 9 13–9 59%
Win–loss 0–2 5–4 0–1 2–4 0–4 2–4 6–4 1–3 2–1 6–4 8–4 2–2 0–0 0 / 37 34–37 48%

Top-10 wins per season

[edit]
  • He has a 2–32 record against players who were, at the time the match was played, ranked in the top 10.
# Player Rank Event Surface Rd Score LMR
2014
1. Spain David Ferrer 7 Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany Clay F 6–7(3–7), 6–1, 7–6(7–4) 46
2018
2. South Africa Kevin Anderson 8 Queen's Club Championships, London, United Kingdom Grass 1R 7–6(7–4), 4–6, 7–6(7–3) 36

Personal life

[edit]

Mayer is married to fellow Argentinian Milagros Aventin.[8]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Leonardo Mayer

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Leonardo Mayer is an Argentine coach and former professional player, renowned for his powerful baseline game on clay courts and his pivotal role in Argentina's 2016 championship victory. Born on May 15, 1987, in , , Mayer achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 21 on June 22, 2015, and won two ATP 500 titles during his career. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches tall and favoring his forehand, he turned professional in 2003 after a successful junior career that included a No. 2 ranking and the 2005 boys' doubles title. Mayer's early career was marked by steady progress on the ATP Challenger Tour, where he honed his skills on his preferred clay surface, eventually breaking into the top 100 by 2009. He secured his first ATP singles title at the 2014 Hamburg Open, defeating in the final, and added a second in 2017 at the same event by beating Florian Mayer. Over his 18-year professional career, Mayer reached three additional finals on clay, amassed 179 match wins on the , and finished in the top 100 in 10 seasons from 2009 to 2019 (excluding 2016). His resilience was evident in endurance tests, including the longest Davis Cup singles match in history—a 6-hour, 43-minute marathon win against João Souza in 2015. A key member of Argentina's team, Mayer compiled an 11-match winning streak from 2013 to 2016, culminating in the nation's first-ever title in 2016 after defeating in the final. His contributions extended to notable performances in Grand Slams, including a fourth-round appearance at the 2016 and a third-round appearance at the 2017 US Open, where he lost to top seed . Post-2019, injuries and the challenges of the hampered his consistency, leading to a gradual decline in rankings. Mayer announced his retirement from professional tennis on October 7, 2021, at age 34, after nearly two decades on the tour, citing enjoyment of family life and barbecues as factors in his decision. Since retiring, he has transitioned into coaching, currently guiding rising Argentine talent Román Andrés Burruchaga, a 2024 French Open quarterfinalist, drawing on his experience from training alongside stars like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

Early life

Family background

Leonardo Mayer was born on May 15, 1987, in , a city in northeastern . He grew up in this regional capital, surrounded by a close-knit that provided a stable foundation during his early years. Mayer is the son of Orlando Mayer, a banker, and Estela Mayer, a teacher, whose professions reflected a middle-class socioeconomic background in . He has two older brothers, and Walter, and a sister, Veronica, contributing to a family environment marked by support and typical provincial life in .

Introduction to tennis and junior career

Mayer began playing at the age of 9 in his hometown of , . With encouragement from his family—including his parents Orlando and Estela, and siblings Gabriel, Walter, and Veronica—he developed an early passion for the sport on clay courts. As a junior, Mayer showed significant promise, reaching a career-high No. 2 ranking in the ITF junior standings on June 6, 2005. His standout achievement came at the , where he partnered with compatriot Emiliano Massa to claim the boys' doubles title, overcoming the eighth-seeded duo of Sergei Bubka and 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 in the final. This victory highlighted his competitive edge in doubles and contributed to his rapid rise in the junior ranks. By late 2005, following his junior successes, Mayer shifted focus toward professional competition, building on a foundation that positioned him for entry into lower-level pro events while still eligible for junior tournaments.

Professional career

Early career

Mayer turned professional in 2003 at the age of 16. His junior success, including the 2005 boys' doubles title with partner Mariano Kestelboim, provided a launchpad for his transition to the professional circuit. Mayer's early professional steps involved competing in lower-level events, primarily on clay courts in . He made his Challenger-level debut at the 2005 Buenos Aires Challenger, entering the main draw and advancing to the round of 32 before losing. Throughout 2003 to 2006, he frequently entered qualifiers and received wild cards for South American ITF Futures and challengers, such as those in and , gaining experience against more established professionals. His first notable professional wins came in these lower-tier events, including victories over players who would later reach the top 100, helping build his competitive foundation. Mayer's ranking progressed steadily during this period, starting outside the top 1,000 in early at No. 1,441 before climbing to No. 699 by the end of 2005. He broke into the top 500 in May 2006 and continued improving, ending the year at No. 246 and reaching No. 179 by late 2007. The transition from proved challenging, marked by injuries that interrupted his momentum, such as a retirement in the 2007 Challenger due to physical issues. These setbacks, combined with the financial demands of traveling and competing independently, tested his resolve in the initial years of his pro career.

2005–2008: ITF and Challenger entry

Mayer turned professional in 2003 at age 16, primarily competing in ITF Futures tournaments on clay courts across , including events in , , and starting in 2003. These early appearances helped him gain experience against regional opponents, though he faced challenges in advancing deep into draws. By the end of the year, his ATP singles ranking stood at No. 699. In , Mayer continued focusing on ITF Futures in and , entering multiple clay-court events such as the Argentina F9 in and Brazil F6 in . He began transitioning to Challenger-level competition in , marking the start of his progression toward higher-tier professional play. His ranking improved to No. 246 by year-end, reflecting consistent participation and gradual results. The 2007 season represented a breakthrough for Mayer in the Challenger Tour. He claimed his first Challenger title at the Cuenca Challenger in , defeating top seed 6–3, 6–2 in the final. Earlier that year, he reached the quarterfinals at the Campos do Jordão Challenger in , upsetting higher-ranked players en route before falling to a local competitor. Mayer capped the year with a second Challenger victory at the Puebla Challenger in , where he beat Dawid Olejniczak 6–1, 6–4 in straight sets. These successes on clay propelled his ranking to No. 179 by December. Mayer built on this momentum in 2008, reaching the semifinals at the Challenger in after defeating Santiago Gonzalez in the quarterfinals, though he lost to Nicolas Massu 5–7, 6–4, 6–3. He secured his third Challenger title at the Open in , overcoming João Souza in a three-set semifinal before defeating Sergio Roitman 6–4, 7–5 in the final. Throughout the period, Mayer demonstrated a clear preference for clay surfaces, with all his titles coming on the dirt and the majority of his matches played there. His ranking climbed to a then-career high of No. 115 by the end of 2008.

2009–2013: ATP Tour debut and development

Mayer made his debut in February 2009 at the Abierto Mexicano in , where he qualified for the main draw and secured his first victory by defeating eighth seed Carlos Moya 6-4, 7-5 in the second round. He advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to second seed Gael Monfils 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, marking a promising start to his professional career on clay. During this period, Mayer focused on building consistency through the Challenger circuit, where he won seven singles titles, including the 2011 São Léo Open in (defeating Nikola Ćirić 7-5, 7-6(7) in the final) and the 2010 Cali's Seguros Bolivar Open. His strong performance on clay, honed from earlier ITF successes, propelled him into the top 100 for the first time in July 2010 at No. 99, with a career-high ranking of No. 51 achieved in June 2010. These results reflected his developing baseline game and endurance in longer matches. Mayer's integration into the ATP Tour brought occasional highlights, such as reaching the quarterfinals at the 2013 in , where he defeated in three sets before losing to . However, a injury in 2012 limited his schedule, causing him to miss several events and slowing his momentum. Despite these setbacks, Mayer ended 2013 with a peak ranking of No. 57 in April, establishing stability in the top 100 and setting the stage for further breakthroughs.

2014: First ATP title and top-30 entry

Mayer began 2014 with strong form on clay, reaching the final of the ATP 250 event in , where he fell to top seed 6–2, 6–4. He followed this with a third-round appearance at the , defeating qualifiers James Duckworth and Teymuraz Gabashvili before losing to defending champion 6–1, 6–7(3), 6–2. Transitioning to grass, Mayer advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time in his career, upsetting 14th seed in the second round 7–6(8), 6–2, 6–3, then beating Andrey in the third round, only to be defeated by 11th seed 6–4, 7–6(8), 6–2. The highlight of Mayer's season came at the ATP 500 tournament in , where the unseeded Argentine captured his maiden ATP title. In the first round, he defeated wild card Tobias Kamke 6–3, 6–4. Mayer continued his run by edging 10th seed Guillermo García-López 7–6(1), 7–6(3) in the second round, then dominating 6–1, 7–5 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he upset seventh seed 7–5, 6–4 to reach his second ATP final of the year. Facing top seed in the final, Mayer came from a set down to win 6–7(3), 6–1, 7–6(4) in a tense two-hour, 20-minute match, securing his first career title and his biggest victory over the world No. 7. The Hamburg triumph marked a significant , propelling Mayer into the top 30 of the for the first time, reaching No. 27 on July 21, 2014. This success capped a resurgent clay-court swing that included consistent deep runs, building on his prior top-100 experience to establish him as an emerging force on the tour.

2015: Career-high No. 21 ranking

In 2015, Leonardo Mayer achieved his career-high singles ranking of world No. 21 on June 22, capping a breakthrough year marked by consistent performances on the . Building on the momentum from his 2014 Hamburg title, Mayer demonstrated improved stability, compiling an overall win-loss record of 28–23 across the season. This progress was supported by a coaching change, as he began working with Francisco Yunis, a veteran Argentine coach who had previously guided other top players like . Mayer's clay-court form remained strong, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Open de Nice Côte d'Azur, where he defeated Borna Coric in the semifinals before losing to in the final 6–7(8), 7–5, 7–6(2). At the , he advanced to the third round—his best Grand Slam showing at the time—defeating 3–6, 7–6(5), 6–2, 6–3 and 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(1), 6–1 before losing to seventh seed 6–3, 6–2, 6–4. Other solid clay results underscored his reliability in the top 50. On faster surfaces, Mayer showed adaptability, reaching the semifinals at the Sydney International to start the year and making quarterfinals at the Nottingham Open on grass, where he upset Jiří Veselý in the second round. These efforts, combined with Yunis's guidance, solidified Mayer's position as one of Argentina's top players, though he fell short of claiming a second ATP title.

2016: Davis Cup championship

In 2016, Leonardo Mayer played a key role in Argentina's historic Davis Cup triumph, their first title since the competition's inception in 1900. During the World Group semi-final against Great Britain in Glasgow, Mayer secured the decisive victory in the fifth rubber, defeating Dan Evans 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 on indoor hard courts to advance Argentina to the final. This win came after Juan Martín del Potro leveled the tie by beating Andy Murray in singles, with Mayer's resilience in overcoming an early set deficit proving instrumental in ending Great Britain's reign as champions. The final took place in Zagreb, Croatia, where Argentina faced the host nation on indoor clay at the Dom Sportova arena. Mayer partnered del Potro in the doubles rubber, but they fell to and 7-6(2), 6-7(4), 3-6, giving a 2-1 lead after the first three matches. Despite the doubles loss, Argentina staged a comeback, with del Potro defeating Čilić 6-7(4), 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 in the fourth rubber, followed by ' straight-sets win over 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to clinch the 3-2 victory. Mayer's contributions throughout the year, including an 11-match unbeaten streak in singles from 2013, underscored his reliability in team competition. The triumph evoked profound national pride, marking Argentina's breakthrough after three previous final losses in 1981, 2008, and 2011. Mayer later reflected on the emotional weight of the win, noting the long-awaited success for Argentine tennis. On the individual front, Mayer maintained a top-50 ranking for much of the year, starting at No. 41 in January before fluctuations due to injuries and form. He also captured the Aix-en-Provence Challenger title on clay, defeating Pablo Carreño Busta 6-2, 7-6(9-7) in the final to bolster his confidence ahead of the Davis Cup campaign.

2017: Second ATP title

In 2017, Leonardo Mayer experienced a notable resurgence on the , culminating in his second career singles title at the German Open in , an ATP 500 event on clay. Entering the main draw as a after losing in qualifying, Mayer defeated top seed Albert Ramos-Viñolas in the second round, 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-6(5), before advancing past in the quarterfinals, 6-3, 7-6(8), and in the semifinals, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2. In the final, he overcame home favorite Florian Mayer in a three-set battle, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, securing the title and becoming the second consecutive to win an ATP event following Fabio Fognini's triumph in Bastad the previous week. Earlier in the year, Mayer managed a minor issue that had lingered from late 2016, allowing him to compete consistently on clay courts following his contributions to Argentina's 2016 victory. At the , seeded 23rd, he reached the third round, defeating Jiri Vesely in the first round before falling to Marin Cilic 6-1, 6-4, 6-1. Additionally, he progressed to the final of the Challenger in May, where he was defeated by Tristan Lamasine 5–7, 6–3, 6–4, contributing to his steady accumulation of ranking points. Mayer's Hamburg success propelled him back into the top 50, climbing from No. 69 in April to a peak of No. 36 in August before finishing the year at No. 52. In doubles, partnering with Pablo Carreno Busta, he reached the final of the Bucharest Open, an ATP 250 event, but lost to and Horia Tecau, 6-4, 6-4, marking a solid supporting performance to his singles campaign.

2018–2019: Major tournament results

In , Mayer experienced a mixed year in major tournaments, marked by early exits in the Grand Slams but a strong showing on clay at the ATP 500 event in . At the Australian Open, he advanced to the second round before falling to top seed in straight sets, 6–3, 6–4, 7–6(4). His campaign ended abruptly in the first round with a 6–1, 6–4, 6–1 defeat to Julien Benneteau. On grass at Wimbledon, Mayer pushed Jan-Lennard to five sets in the opening round but ultimately lost 3–6, 6–7(5), 7–6(2), 7–6(2), 6–1. The US Open was similarly challenging, as he retired injured due to in the first round against after dropping the first two sets 6–4, 6–4 and winning the third 6–4. Despite these setbacks, Mayer reached his third consecutive final in , saving a in the semifinals against Jozef Kovalik before losing the title match to qualifier 6–4, 0–6, 7–5; this performance helped him end the year ranked No. 56. The 2019 season saw Mayer achieve his best Grand Slam result to date in singles at the , while also making a notable doubles run at the Australian Open. In , he reached the second round in singles, defeating qualifier before losing to 7–6(3), 6–3, 7–6(5); in doubles, partnering João Sousa, they advanced to the semifinals—their deepest Grand Slam run as a pair—before falling to Henri Kontinen and 6–7(5), 6–4, 7–6(4). At the on his preferred clay surface, Mayer progressed to the fourth round for the first time, upsetting Benoit Paire 6–1, 6–4, 6–4 in the second round and outlasting in a four-set marathon 3–6, 7–6(5), 6–4, 7–6(4) in the third, only to be defeated convincingly by [Roger Federer](/page/Roger Federer) 6–2, 6–3, 6–3 in the round of 16. His Wimbledon singles run ended in the second round after beating 6–1, 7–6(12), 6–2, followed by a five-set loss to 4–6, 6–3, 6–7(3), 6–4, 6–4. At the US Open, Mayer exited in the first round to qualifier Antoine Hoang 7–6(4), 7–6(4), 6–2. Throughout the year, his ranking fluctuated between the 50s and 100s, closing at No. 92, reflecting consistent but title-less efforts primarily on clay courts.

2020–2021: Form struggles and retirement

Mayer's 2020 season was heavily disrupted by the , which led to a shortened schedule and widespread tournament cancellations. He secured no titles and endured early exits across the year, including a first-round defeat at the Australian Open to Tommy Paul in four sets. His performance resulted in a 0–8 win-loss record in ATP singles matches, contributing to a sharp decline in his ranking to a year-end position of No. 135. Overall, Mayer played 17 singles matches that year, reflecting limited activity amid the global disruptions. Entering 2021, Mayer mounted a brief comeback attempt, focusing primarily on the Challenger circuit where he compiled a 7–11 singles record. His sole appearance came at the in , where he fell in the first round to . Mayer also represented Argentina in the World Group I qualifier against Belarus, held in , helping secure a 4–1 team victory that advanced the nation to group stage. On October 7, 2021, Mayer, then 34 years old, announced his retirement from professional tennis after nearly two decades on the circuit. He cited a desire to prioritize time and the accumulated fatigue from his career as key factors in the decision. His farewell coincided with the tie in , marking the end of a career that had previously peaked at No. 21 in 2015.

Playing style

Groundstrokes and baseline game

Mayer employed a right-handed game with a one-handed , a noted for its aesthetic appeal and effectiveness when he was in peak form. His served as his preferred weapon, providing consistent power and control from the baseline, particularly on slower surfaces where extended rallies favored his . As a baseline-oriented player, Mayer thrived in prolonged exchanges, leveraging solid footwork and defensive consistency to wear down opponents. This approach proved most effective on clay, his favored surface, where he compiled a career ATP record of 93 wins and 85 losses for a 52.2% win rate—his highest across all surfaces. His tactical emphasis on error minimization and rally construction contributed to key successes, including ATP titles in (2014) and (2017), both contested on clay. On faster courts, however, occasional mobility lapses exposed vulnerabilities in his groundstroke reliability.

Serve, return, and net play

Mayer's serve averaged around 120 mph on first delivery, lacking the overpowering pace of top servers, which limited its dominance on faster surfaces. His first serve landed at a 61% rate, winning 73% of those points, while the second serve, often vulnerable to aggressive returns, secured 52% of points and contributed to a career double-fault rate of approximately 4-5%. In his return game, Mayer employed an aggressive approach, targeting deep returns particularly on opponents' second serves, where he won 48% of points and converted 37% of break opportunities overall. This style proved effective against big servers on clay, his preferred surface, allowing him to neutralize power and set up baseline exchanges. His one-handed provided stability in these returns. Mayer approached the infrequently in singles, doing so in under 10% of points as a baseline-oriented player, and occasionally struggled with volleys under . In doubles, however, he demonstrated greater comfort and competence at the . Over his , he refined his return depth to enhance break chances, though his serve-return dynamic remained solid rather than elite, hindering success on hard courts.

Career finals

ATP singles finals

Leonardo Mayer competed in five ATP singles finals over his career, achieving a 2–3 record, with all appearances occurring on clay courts—a surface that complemented his strong baseline game and endurance. These finals highlighted his ability to perform in extended rallies and capitalize on slower conditions, though he faced formidable opponents in the deciding matches. His victories came at the Hamburg Open in both and , events where he demonstrated resilience against higher-ranked players. The following table summarizes Mayer's ATP singles finals:
YearTournamentSurfaceOpponentResultScore
2014Vina del Mar (ATP 250)ClayRunner-up2–6, 4–6
2014 (ATP 500)ClayWinner6–7(3), 6–1, 7–6(4)
2015 (ATP 250)ClayRunner-up7–6(8), 5–7, 6–7(2)
2017 (ATP 500)ClayFlorian MayerWinner6–4, 4–6, 6–3
2018 (ATP 500)ClayRunner-up4–6, 6–0, 5–7
In the 2014 Vina del Mar final, Mayer, in his first ATP final, upset second seed Tommy Robredo in the semifinals before falling to top seed Fognini in straight sets. His Hamburg triumph later that year featured a key semifinal upset over seventh seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, paving the way for the come-from-behind victory over world No. 7 Ferrer in the final. At Nice in 2015, Mayer saved multiple break points in the semifinals against Borna Coric to reach the final, where he pushed emerging talent Thiem to three tiebreakers. Entering the 2017 Hamburg event as a lucky loser after losing in qualifying, Mayer stunned 16-year-old Rudolf Molleker in the first round and world No. 54 Damir Dzumhur in the quarters en route to defeating compatriot Florian Mayer in an all-Argentine final matchup. In 2018, as defending champion in Hamburg, Mayer overcame qualifier Oscar Otte in the semifinals but was edged out by qualifier Basilashvili in a topsy-turvy final that saw him dominate the second set. These performances underscored Mayer's clay-court prowess, though his finals record reflected challenges against top-tier servers and counterpunchers.

ATP doubles finals

Mayer reached five ATP doubles finals during his career, compiling a 1–4 record. His sole title came early in his professional tenure, partnering with Austrian Oliver Marach to win the 2011 on clay. Subsequent appearances saw him fall short against strong international pairs, often in close contests that went to super tie-breaks or deciding sets. Mayer frequently teamed with fellow South Americans later in his career, including compatriot and Andrés Molteni.
YearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreOutcome
2010Pacific Coast Championships (San Jose)Hard (i)Benjamin Becker (Germany)Mardy Fish / Sam Querrey ()6–7(3–7), 5–7Runner-up https://www.grandslamhistory.com/winners/atp/sap-open-san-jose/mens-doubles
2011 (Buenos Aires)ClayOliver Marach ()Franco Ferreiro / André Sá ()7–6(8–6), 6–3Winner https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/results-archive?year=2011
2012HardPablo Andújar ()Santiago González / Scott Lipsky (Mexico / )3–6, 6–4, [2–10]Runner-up https://www.grandslamhistory.com/winners/atp/winston-salem-open/mens-doubles
2018 InternationalHardHoracio Zeballos ()Henri Kontinen / John Peers ( / )6–3, 3–6, [2–10]Runner-up https://www.brisbaneinternational.com.au/history/honour-roll/
2020ClayAndrés Molteni ()Marcelo Demoliner / Matwé Middelkoop ( / )3–6, 6–7(4–7)Runner-up https://americanpress.com/2020/02/10/bc-ten-atp-world-tour-montpellier-results/

Other finals

Challenger and ITF singles finals

Mayer competed in 22 Challenger and ITF singles finals during his career, compiling a record of 10 titles and 12 runner-up finishes. These matches played a pivotal role in his , providing essential ranking points and match experience that facilitated his entry into the ATP top 100 in 2009. The vast majority of these finals—18 in total—were contested on clay courts, aligning with Mayer's baseline-oriented playing style and the prevalence of clay events in and . Notable opponents in these finals included compatriot Sergio Roitman, Colombian Santiago Giraldo, and Brazilian João Souza, highlighting competitive rivalries within Latin American circuits. His earliest success came at the ITF level with a title at the M15 Futures in 2006, marking the start of his ascent from junior to ranks. Transitioning to Challengers, Mayer secured his first title at the 2008 Challenger on clay, defeating Sergio Roitman 6–4, 7–5 in the final to earn 50 ranking points. This victory propelled him into the top 150 for the first time. In 2010, he reached the final of the Napoli Challenger (held in , ) but fell to Rui Machado 6–3, 6–4, demonstrating his growing competitiveness on European clay. The year 2011 proved particularly fruitful, with Mayer claiming three Challenger titles: the São Léo Open in São Leopoldo, (defeating Nikola Ćirić 7–5, 7–6(7–1) on clay), the Napoli Challenger (another clay event), and the Dortmund Challenger on clay courts. These wins, totaling over 150 ranking points, were instrumental in stabilizing his position inside the top 100. By 2013, Mayer captured multiple Challenger titles, including in , , where he defended his previous year's crown against 6–4, 7–5 on clay, bringing his Challenger tally to nine. Later successes included the 2016 Lima Challenger on clay and the 2014 Manerbio Challenger, where he edged Filip Krajinovic 7–6(3), 7–5 for his ninth Challenger crown after saving a match point in the semifinals. These achievements underscored Mayer's resilience and consistency in developmental tournaments, contributing significantly to his career-high ranking of No. 21 in 2015.

Challenger and ITF doubles finals

Mayer competed in 19 doubles finals at the Challenger and ITF levels, compiling an 11–8 record that highlighted his versatility in team competition during the early and mid-stages of his career. These matches often featured partnerships with compatriots like , as well as international players such as Sergio Galdós and , fostering his development as a reliable doubles competitor. Predominantly played on clay surfaces—aligning with his baseline-oriented style—these finals included key victories against emerging talents who later succeeded on the , such as Ariel Behar and Gonzalo Lama. Representative titles include the 2007 ITF Futures event in , where Mayer partnered with to claim the crown, and the 2010 Naples Challenger, won alongside Eduardo Schwank in a straight-sets final against local favorites. Another standout achievement was the 2016 Lima Challenger triumph with Galdós, defeating and 6–2, 7–6(9–7) in the final on clay.
YearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreOutcome
2007ITF Buenos Aires (Futures)ClayTBDTBDWin
2010 ChallengerClayEduardo SchwankTBDTBDWin
2016Lima ChallengerClaySergio GaldósAriel Behar / Gonzalo Lama6–2, 7–6(9–7)Win
These accomplishments contributed significantly to Mayer's doubles progression, elevating his to a career-high No. 48 on , 2019.

Junior Grand Slam finals

Mayer's junior Grand Slam career culminated in his only final appearance at the 2005 in boys' doubles, where he partnered with fellow Argentine Emiliano Massa to claim the title. As the top seeds, they defeated Sergei Bubka of and Jérémy Chardy of in a three-set match, securing the victory after dropping the opening set. This success on clay courts at age 18 aligned with Mayer's emerging strengths and foreshadowed his professional emphasis on the surface. The win propelled him to a career-high junior ranking of No. 2 the following month and provided a significant boost as he transitioned to the professional circuit. Mayer did not reach any junior Grand Slam singles finals.

Performance timelines

Singles

Mayer's singles career on the spanned from 2005 to 2021, with his Grand Slam and Masters 1000 performances reflecting steady improvement on clay surfaces, where he achieved his deepest runs. His best Grand Slam result was reaching the quarterfinals at the 2016 . He also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2014 and the in 2019. He also advanced to the round of 16 at ATP Masters 1000 events on four occasions, including Indian Wells and in 2015. The following table details his year-by-year results in the four Grand Slams and his best result at an ATP Masters 1000 event, along with his ATP singles win-loss record for that year. Notation includes A for absent, Q# for qualifying rounds, and #R for main draw rounds reached (1R = first round, etc.).
YearAustralian OpenFrench OpenWimbledonUS OpenMasters 1000 (best)Win–Loss
2005AAAAA0–0
2006AAAAA0–0
2007AQ1AAA0–5
2008AQ2AAA6–10
20091R1R1R1R2R16–23
20101R2R1R1R2R13–19
20111R3R1R2RQF30–19
20121R2R1R1R3R18–20
2013A2R1RA2R15–18
20141R3R4R3RR1632–19
20152R3R2R1RR1628–19
20161RQF1R1R3R21–22
20171R2RA3RR3224–19
20182R2R1R1RR3219–22
20192R4R1R1RR3218–20
20201R1RNH1RR641–9
2021AAQ1AA0–1
Mayer retired in 2021 after several injury-related withdrawals, including from the and . His career ATP singles win-loss record is 179–197 (47.6%).

Doubles

Leonardo Mayer's doubles career on the was marked by steady participation in major tournaments, though he achieved his deepest run at the , where he partnered with to reach the semifinals, defeating the in the round of 16 before losing to Henri Kontinen and in the semifinals. His overall performance in Grand Slams was modest, with no further quarterfinal appearances and limited progression beyond the second round in other events. Mayer's doubles ranking peaked at No. 48 in January 2019, reflecting his best period of form that year. Mayer's career doubles record stands at 110–124, yielding a 47.0% win percentage, with one ATP Tour doubles title to his name. He frequently partnered with fellow Argentines or international players in majors, but partnerships varied year to year, with Sousa being a key collaborator during his career highlight. In ATP Masters 1000 events, Mayer's results were similarly unremarkable, typically exiting in the first or second round, though he reached the quarterfinals at the 2015 Open with and the 2019 Indian Wells Masters with . The following table summarizes Mayer's performance in Grand Slam doubles tournaments from 2005 to 2021. Results are denoted as follows: W (winner), F (finalist), SF (semifinalist), QF (quarterfinalist), R# (round of #), 1R (first round), A (absent), NH (not held), and Q# (qualifying round). Partners are noted only for notable deep runs.
YearWimbledonUS Open
2005AAAA
2006AAAA
2007AAAA
2008AAAA
2009AAA1R
2010AAAA
2011AAAA
20121RAAA
20131R1RAA
2014A1RAA
20151R3RA1R
2016A1RA1R
2017A1RA1R
20181R2RA1R
2019SF (w/ J. Sousa)1R2R1R
20202R2RNHA
2021AAAA

Records and notable achievements

Highest rankings and win-loss records

Mayer reached his career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 21 on June 22, 2015. In doubles, he attained a peak ranking of No. 48 on January 28, 2019. At the level, Mayer recorded 179 wins and 197 losses in singles matches. His singles performance varied by surface, with a 93–85 record on clay (where he secured both of his ATP titles), 70–93 on hard courts, and 16–19 on grass. Mayer claimed two ATP singles titles ( in 2014 and 2017) and one ATP doubles title (Rio de Janeiro in 2016). He also won 10 Challenger singles titles throughout his career. Mayer's professional career earnings totaled $7,035,294 in from singles and doubles combined.

Top-10 wins

Leonardo Mayer achieved two career victories over players ranked in the top 10 of the ATP singles rankings at the time of the matches, both of which were notable upsets, with Mayer ranked No. 46 for the 2014 final and No. 38 for the 2018 match. These wins highlight his competitive prowess on different surfaces, with one on clay and one on grass, underscoring his ability to perform against higher-ranked opponents in key tournaments.
#PlayerRankEventSurfaceRoundScore
1No. 72014 Hamburg European Open, ClayFinal6–7(3), 6–1, 7–6(4)
2Kevin AndersonNo. 82018 Fever-Tree Championships, / GrassRound of 327–6(4), 4–6, 7–6(3)

Davis Cup contributions

Leonardo Mayer represented in the over several years, primarily from 2013 to 2017, participating in 12 ties, the majority in the World Group. His overall record stood at 11 wins and 3 losses in singles, with a 3–3 record in doubles. Mayer achieved an impressive 11-match in the competition from 2013 to 2016, underscoring his reliability as a team player. This streak played a key role in Argentina's successful run to their first title in . In the 2015 World Group quarterfinal against , Mayer secured a straight-sets singles victory over Filip Krajinovic (6-4, 6-2, 6-1), giving Argentina an early 1-0 lead on home clay in . He then partnered with Carlos Berlocq to win the doubles rubber against Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic 6-2, 6-4, 6-1, clinching the tie 3-0 and advancing to the semifinals. Earlier that year, in the first-round tie against , Mayer delivered one of the most enduring performances in history by defeating Joao Souza 7-6(4), 7-6(5), 5-7, 5-7, 15-13 in a record 6 hours and 42 minutes, the longest singles rubber ever played in the competition. This epic win leveled the tie at 2-1, allowing to progress. In the 2016 semifinal versus , Mayer clinched the decisive fifth rubber against Dan Evans 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 on indoor hard courts in , propelling to the final despite the absence of key players like Juan Martin del Potro in that match. During the 2016 final against in , Mayer teamed with del Potro for doubles but fell to Marin Cilic and 7-6(2), 7-6(4), 6-3, leaving trailing 2-1 before their comeback victory in the reverse singles. The following year, in the World Group first-round tie against , Mayer and Berlocq prevailed in doubles over and Simone Bolelli 6-3, 6-3, contributing to a 4-1 team win on . Known for his strong baseline game on clay, Mayer proved a dependable option for in high-stakes home ties, bolstering the team's depth during their championship campaign.

Other career milestones

Mayer first entered the ATP top 100 rankings in July 2009, after winning Challenger titles in and . In 2014, he secured his maiden ATP title at the Hamburg Open, defeating world No. 7 6-7(3), 6–1, 7–6(4) in the final for his career's biggest victory to that point; reaching the final after defeating 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinal. Mayer's 2017 Hamburg triumph as a lucky loser ranked No. 101 marked a unique milestone, as he became the first player in ATP 500 history to win the title from that position and the first to contest an all-outside-top-100 final since 2013 in Bogota. That same year, following his title run, Mayer jumped 89 spots from No. 138 to No. 49, re-entering the top 50 for the first time since 2016. In recognition of his breakout season, which included a career-high No. 21 , Mayer received the Olimpia de Plata award from Argentina's Circle of Sports Journalists as the nation's top player.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Leonardo Mayer married his longtime partner, Milagros Aventin, on December 14, 2019, in a ceremony in , . Aventin provided essential support throughout Mayer's professional career, often accompanying him to tournaments, particularly after the birth of their son. The couple welcomed their first child, son Valentino, in February 2017. Mayer has described his children as his "biggest trophies," highlighting their central role in his life. Family considerations, including more time at home for barbecues and daily activities with his wife and son, were key factors in his decision to retire from professional in 2021. Mayer maintains relationships with his siblings—brothers and Walter, and sister Veronica—as part of his family-oriented life. He has expressed gratitude for Aventin's unwavering presence during his travels, noting that she was "part of all my experiences."

Post-retirement activities

Following his retirement from professional in October 2021, Leonardo Mayer returned to his hometown of , , to prioritize family life with his wife Milagros and their three children. He described embracing the role of a , handling household tasks such as gardening and childcare—activities he had previously sacrificed for his career. Mayer highlighted the simple pleasures of this new phase, noting that frequent barbecues and relaxed time at home were key factors in his decision to retire, allowing him to "eat whatever I want" without the strict regimen of professional athletics. Mayer has remained connected to through coaching, fulfilling his stated intention upon retirement to "stay linked to the sport by teaching and forming players." Since 2022, he has served as assistant coach (subcapitán) for Argentina's team under captain , contributing to preparations and strategy in international ties, including series against the , , and in 2022–2023. In this role, Mayer helps adapt to newer generations of players while drawing on his experience as a 2016 champion. In addition to his national team duties, Mayer mentors emerging Argentine talent, notably serving as the primary coach for professional player Román Andrés Burruchaga, who has achieved a career-high ATP singles of No. 105 as of November 2025. He provides guidance on consistency and match performance. As part of Coria's technical staff, Mayer supported Argentina's qualifiers against in , expressing optimism about the team's potential. Through 2025, Mayer has maintained a low-profile , balancing his commitments with priorities in , with no reported involvement in major business ventures, exhibitions, or media commentary beyond occasional Davis Cup-related interviews. In a June 2025 discussion, he reflected positively on his retirement transition, underscoring a focus on work-life equilibrium.

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