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Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

Another Spanish Lefty Says Adiós: Albert Ramos-Viñolas Retires from Tennis

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports | By Steen Kirby | Last updated Oct 10, 2025 6:00 AM ET

Living in the shadow of the left-handed greats of the “Spanish Armada”—the King of Clay Rafael Nadal, Fernando Verdasco with his powerful forehand, and serve-and-volley star Feliciano López—Albert Ramos-Viñolas was often overlooked. Yet he carved out his own niche on the ATP Tour, particularly on clay courts, where his left-handed topspin forehand and tactical patience allowed him to thrive.

Three Years on the Challenger Tour to Finalize His Legacy

After a challenging 2023, which saw him struggle at the ATP Tour level with a 12-26 record, Ramos-Viñolas played just 12 tour-level matches across his final two seasons (2024–25). Instead, he focused on the ATP Challenger Tour, compiling an overall positive record and capturing his last professional title at the 2024 Modena Challenger on clay.

Among his notable 2024 results was qualifying for the Madrid Masters, defeating fellow veteran Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut and the recently retired Diego Schwartzman in the opening round of qualifying.

In 2025, Ramos achieved his final Grand Slam main draw appearance at the French Open, where he faced top-10 player Casper Ruud and, at age 37, was outmatched in talent and fitness. Having already announced his impending retirement, the Valencia Challenger served as his final professional stage. There, he notched two wins, including a remarkable upset over top seed Pedro Martínez, before falling in the quarterfinals. At this point, Ramos could no longer physically challenge the tour’s elite.

Albert Ramos-Viñolas in 2016–17: At the Peak of His Powers

Although Ramos debuted on the ATP Tour in 2010, it wasn’t until 2016–17 that he compiled a winning record. Those years—and 2019—were the only seasons in which he won more main-level matches than he lost, though only one of his four career ATP titles came during this period.

The 2015 season foreshadowed his rise when he stunned Roger Federer at the Shanghai Masters, in three sets, as a qualifier on hard courts—a career-peak match. In 2016, he reached the French Open quarterfinals, defeating big server Milos Raonic, whose game struggled against Ramos’ heavy topspin on clay. That run helped him break into the ATP top 20.

In 2017, Ramos made a surprise run to the Monte Carlo Masters final, upsetting Andy Murray and Marin Čilić before falling to the unbeatable Nadal in the championship match. He would continue to notch top-10 wins in Rome, Córdoba, and Monte Carlo in subsequent seasons, but 2016 and 2017 were his most prolific, with over 30 tour-level wins each year.

A Clay Court Specialist from an Older Era

All but one of Albert Ramos-Viñolas’ ATP finals came on clay. He finished 4–7 in ATP finals on the surface, claiming titles at Bastad (over Verdasco) in 2016, Gstaad in 2019, Estoril in 2021, and Córdoba in 2022. His last final came in Gstaad in 2023.

Ramos was a throwback player to an earlier era of surface specialists. He won 54% of his tour-level matches on clay, but under 40% on every other surface. As courts became faster and bounces lower, his topspin-heavy, grinding style could be outmatched, yet on clay he was always formidable. While the modern tour often rewards raw power, Ramos thrived on patience, variety, and court craft—a reminder that tennis is as much about intelligence and touch as it is about speed.