Robert Farah Explained

Robert Farah
Residence:Pereira, Colombia
Birth Date:1987 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Montreal, Quebec, Canada[1]
College:University of Southern California
Turnedpro:2010
Retired:2023
Plays:Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Careerprizemoney:$4,924,608
Singlesrecord:4–9 (at ATP Tour and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
Singlestitles:0
Highestsinglesranking:No. 163 (6 June 2011)
Australianopenresult:Q2 (2011)
Frenchopenresult:Q2 (2011, 2012)
Wimbledonresult:Q2 (2011, 2012)
Usopenresult:1R (2011)
Doublesrecord:354–223 (at ATP Tour and Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
Doublestitles:19
Highestdoublesranking:No. 1 (15 July 2019)
Australianopendoublesresult:F (2018)
Frenchopendoublesresult:SF (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021)
Wimbledondoublesresult:W (2019)
Usopendoublesresult:W (2019)
Olympicsdoublesresult:QF (2021)
Othertournamentsdoubles:yes
Masterscupdoublesresult:SF (2018, 2019)
Australianopenmixedresult:QF (2019)
Frenchopenmixedresult:F (2017)
Wimbledonmixedresult:F (2016)
Usopenmixedresult:SF (2016)
Medaltemplates-Expand:yes
Updated:19 January 2024

Robert Charbel Farah Maksoud (pronounced as /es/;[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 Wimbledon Championships and the US Open in 2019 in men's doubles, alongside compatriot Juan Sebastián Cabal. 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.[4]

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.[5]

2023: 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.[6]

Personal life

Farah is the son of a family of Lebanese descent.[7] 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). 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.[8]

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.[9] 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".[10]

Performance timelines

Doubles

Current through the 2023 US Open.

Tournament20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023SRW-L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAA2RQF1R2R3R3Rbgcolor=thistleF1RA2R2R3R0 / 1118–11
French OpenAA3R3R1R1R1Rbgcolor=yellowSFQFbgcolor=yellowSFbgcolor=yellowSFbgcolor=yellowSF1R2R0 / 1224–12
WimbledonA3R1R3RA2R2R2R3Rbgcolor=limeWstyle=color:#767676NHQFbgcolor=yellowSF1R1 / 1122–10
US OpenA2R1R1R2R2R1RAbgcolor=yellowSFbgcolor=limeW2R1Rbgcolor=yellowSF2R1 / 1219–11
Win–loss0–03–23–47–41–33–43–47–314–416–25–28–49–44–42 / 4683-44
Year-end championship
ATP Finalsdid not qualifybgcolor=yellowSFbgcolor=yellowSFDNQRRDNQ0 / 34–7
National representation
Summer Olympicsnot heldAnot held2Rnot heldQFnot held0 / 23–2
Davis CupPOZ1Z1POPOPOZ1POPORRRRPOQR0 / 216–8
ATP Tour Masters 1000
Indian Wells MastersAAAAA2R1RA1RQFstyle=color:#767676NH1R2R1R0 / 74–7
Miami OpenAAAAbgcolor=thistleF2RA1RQF2Rstyle=color:#767676NH2R1R2R0 / 89–8
Monte-Carlo MastersAAAA2R1Rbgcolor=yellowSFAQF2Rstyle=color:#767676NHbgcolor=yellowSFbgcolor=thistleF2R0 / 814–8
Madrid OpenAAAAbgcolor=yellowSFA1R2Rbgcolor=yellowSF1Rstyle=color:#767676NH2Rbgcolor=thistleF1R0 / 89–8
Italian OpenAAAA1RQF1RAbgcolor=limeWbgcolor=limeW2R1R2R1R2 / 913–7
Canadian OpenAAAAAAAA2R1Rstyle=color:#767676NHQF1RA0 / 41–4
Cincinnati MastersAAAAA2RAAbgcolor=thistleFbgcolor=thistleF1Rbgcolor=yellowSF1RA0 / 69–6
Shanghai MastersAAAAQFQF2R2Rbgcolor=yellowSFQFnot heldA0 / 610–6
Paris MastersAAAA2R2R1R2R2R2R2RQFAA0 / 85–8
Win–loss0–00–00–00–011–68–74–63–413–816–81–37–89–72–52 / 6474–62
Career statistics
Titles0000224215030019
Finals0011655547242042
Overall win–loss0–14–316–1421–1735–2037–2433–2133–1539–2351–2014–1038–2024–207–15353-223
Year-end ranking160836448232730275style=background:lime1style=background:lime11029

Mixed doubles

Tournament2011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023SRW–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAAAA1R2R1R1RQFA2R1RA0 / 74–6
French OpenAAA2R2R1RFSF2RNHQFAA0 / 711–7
WimbledonA1R2R1RAFA2RANHAQFA0 / 67–6
US OpenAAA2R1RSFAAANHAAA0 / 34–3
style=text-align:leftWin–loss0–00–11–12–31–38–44–23–33–20–02–12–20–00 / 2326–22

Major finals

Grand Slam finals

Doubles: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner-up)

OutcomeYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
LossHard Juan Sebastián Cabal Oliver Marach
Mate Pavić
4–6, 4–6
WinGrass Juan Sebastián Cabal Nicolas Mahut
Édouard Roger-Vasselin
6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5), 7–6(8–6), 6–7(5–7), 6–3
Win2019US OpenHard Juan Sebastián Cabal Marcel Granollers
Horacio Zeballos
6–4, 7–5

Mixed doubles: 2 (2 runners-up)

OutcomeYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss2016WimbledonGrass Anna-Lena Grönefeld Heather Watson
Henri Kontinen
6–7(5–7), 4–6
Loss2017French OpenClay Anna-Lena Grönefeld Gabriela Dabrowski
Rohan Bopanna
6–2, 2–6, [10–12]

Masters 1000 finals

Doubles: 7 (2 titles, 5 runner-ups)

OutcomeYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss2014Miami OpenHard Juan Sebastián Cabal6–7(8–10), 4–6
Win2018Italian OpenClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Pablo Carreño Busta
João Sousa
3–6, 6–4, [10–4]
Loss2018Cincinnati MastersHard Juan Sebastián Cabal6–4, 3–6, [6–10]
Win2019Italian Open (2)Clay Juan Sebastián Cabal Raven Klaasen
Michael Venus
6–1, 6–3
Loss2019Cincinnati MastersHard Juan Sebastián Cabal6–4, 4–6, [6–10]
Loss2022Monte-Carlo MastersClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Rajeev Ram
Joe Salisbury
4–6, 6–3, [7–10]
Loss2022Madrid OpenClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Wesley Koolhof
Neal Skupski
7–6(7–4), 4–6, [5–10]

ATP career finals

Doubles: 42 (19 titles, 23 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (2–1)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (2–5)
ATP World Tour 500 Series (6–4)
ATP World Tour 250 Series (9–13)
Finals by surface
Hard (5–9)
Clay (12–14)
Grass (2–0)
Finals by setting
Outdoor (16–22)
Indoor (3–1)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Swiss Open,
Switzerland
250 SeriesClay Santiago Giraldo Marcel Granollers
Marc López
4–6, 6–7(9–11)
Loss0–2Open de Nice Côte d'Azur,
France
250 SeriesClay Johan Brunström
Raven Klaasen
3–6, 2–6
Loss0–3Brisbane International,
Australia
250 SeriesHard Juan Sebastián Cabal Mariusz Fyrstenberg
Daniel Nestor
7–6(7–4), 4–6, [7–10]
Loss0–4Chile Open,
Chile
250 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Oliver Marach
Florin Mergea
3–6, 4–6
Win1–4Rio Open,
Brazil
500 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal David Marrero
Marcelo Melo
6–4, 6–2
Loss1–5Brasil Open,
Brazil
250 SeriesClay (i) Juan Sebastián Cabal Guillermo García-López
Philipp Oswald
7–5, 4–6, [13–15]
Loss1–6Miami Open,
United States
Masters 1000Hard Juan Sebastián Cabal Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
6–7(8–10), 4–6
Win2–6Winston-Salem Open,
United States
250 SeriesHard Juan Sebastián Cabal Jamie Murray
John Peers
6–3, 6–4
Win3–6Brasil Open,
Brazil
250 SeriesClay (i) Juan Sebastián Cabal Paolo Lorenzi
Diego Schwartzman
6–4, 6–2
Win4–6Geneva Open,
Switzerland
250 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Raven Klaasen
Lu Yen-hsun
7–5, 4–6, [10–7]
Loss4–7Swedish Open,
Sweden
250 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Jérémy Chardy
Łukasz Kubot
7–6(8–6), 3–6, [8–10]
Loss4–8German Open,
Germany
500 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Jamie Murray
John Peers
6–2, 3–6, [8–10]
Loss4–9Japan Open,
Japan
500 SeriesHard Juan Sebastián Cabal Raven Klaasen
Marcelo Melo
6–7(5–7), 6–3, [7–10]
Win5–9Argentina Open,
Argentina
250 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Íñigo Cervantes
Paolo Lorenzi
6–3, 6–0
Win6–9Rio Open,
Brazil (2)
500 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Pablo Carreño Busta
David Marrero
7–6(7–5), 6–1
Loss6–10Bavarian International,
Germany
250 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Henri Kontinen
John Peers
3–6, 6–3, [7–10]
Win7–10Open de Nice Côte d'Azur,
France
250 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Mate Pavić
Michael Venus
4–6, 6–4, [10–8]
Win8–10Kremlin Cup,
Russia
250 SeriesHard (i) Juan Sebastián Cabal Julian Knowle
Jürgen Melzer
7–5, 4–6, [10–5]
Win9–10Argentina Open,
Argentina (2)
250 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Santiago González
David Marrero
6–1, 6–4
Loss9–11Rio Open,
Brazil
500 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Pablo Carreño Busta
Pablo Cuevas
4–6, 7–5, [8–10]
Loss9–12Hungarian Open,
Hungary
250 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Brian Baker
Nikola Mektić
6–7(2–7), 4–6
Win10–12Bavarian International,
Germany
250 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Jérémy Chardy
Fabrice Martin
6–3, 6–3
Loss10–13Geneva Open,
Switzerland
250 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Jean-Julien Rojer
Horia Tecău
6–2, 6–7(9–11), [6–10]
Loss10–14Australian Open,
Australia
Grand SlamHard Juan Sebastián Cabal Oliver Marach
Mate Pavić
4–6, 4–6
Loss10–15Argentina Open,
Argentina
250 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Andrés Molteni
Horacio Zeballos
3–6, 7–5, [3–10]
Win11–15Italian Open,
Italy
Masters 1000Clay Juan Sebastián Cabal Pablo Carreño Busta
João Sousa
3–6, 6–4, [10–4]
Loss11–16Cincinnati Masters,
United States
Masters 1000Hard Juan Sebastián Cabal Jamie Murray
Bruno Soares
6–4, 3–6, [6–10]
Loss11–17Sydney International,
Australia
250 SeriesHard Juan Sebastián Cabal Jamie Murray
Bruno Soares
4–6, 3–6
Win12–17Barcelona Open,
Spain
500 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Jamie Murray
Bruno Soares
6–4, 7–6(7–4)
Win13–17Italian Open,
Italy (2)
Masters 1000Clay Juan Sebastián Cabal Raven Klaasen
Michael Venus
6–1, 6–3
Win14–17Eastbourne International,
United Kingdom
250 SeriesGrass Juan Sebastián Cabal Maximo González
Horacio Zeballos
3–6, 7–6(7–4), [10–6]
Win15–17Wimbledon Championships,
United Kingdom
Grand SlamGrass Juan Sebastián Cabal Nicolas Mahut
6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5), 7–6(8–6), 6–7(5–7), 6–3
Loss15–18Cincinnati Masters,
United States
Masters 1000Hard Juan Sebastián Cabal6–4, 4–6, [6–10]
Win16–18US Open,
United States
Grand SlamHard Juan Sebastián Cabal Marcel Granollers
Horacio Zeballos
6–4, 7–5
Loss16–19Mexican Open,
Mexico
500 SeriesHard Juan Sebastián Cabal Łukasz Kubot
Marcelo Melo
6–7(6–8), 7–6(7–4), [9–11]
Loss16–20Forte Village Sardegna Open,
Italy
250 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Marcus Daniell
Philipp Oswald
3–6, 4–6
Loss16–21Great Ocean Road Open,
Australia
250 SeriesHard Juan Sebastián Cabal Jamie Murray
Bruno Soares
3–6, 6–7(7–9)
Win17–21Dubai Tennis Championships,
United Arab Emirates
500 SeriesHard Juan Sebastián Cabal Nikola Mektić
Mate Pavić
7–6(7–0), 7–6(7–4)
Win18–21style=background:#D4F1C5Barcelona Open,
Spain
style=background:#D4F1C5500 SeriesClay Juan Sebastián Cabal Kevin Krawietz
Horia Tecău
6–4, 6–2
Win19–21style=background:#D4F1C5Vienna Open,
Austria
style=background:#D4F1C5500 SeriesHard (i) Juan Sebastián Cabal Rajeev Ram
Joe Salisbury
6–4, 6–2
Loss19–22Monte-Carlo Masters,
Monaco
Masters 1000Clay Juan Sebastián Cabal Rajeev Ram
Joe Salisbury
4–6, 6–3, [7–10]
Loss19–23style=background:#E9E9E9Madrid Open,
Spain
style=background:#E9E9E9Masters 1000Clay Juan Sebastián Cabal Wesley Koolhof
Neal Skupski
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)
OutcomeNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Winner1.7 June 2010Maracaibo, VenezuelaHard Iván Miranda6–3, 7–6(7–3)
Winner2.21 June 2010Barquisimeto, VenezuelaHard Iván Endara6–4, 6–2
Winner3.12 July 2010Bogotá, ColombiaClay Carlos Salamanca6–3, 2–6, 7–6(7–3)
Runner–up4.16 September 2011Aguascalientes, MexicoClay Juan Sebastián Cabal6–4, 7–6(7–3)
Runner–up5.6 August 2012Aptos, USAHard Steve Johnson6–3, 6–3

Notes and References

  1. http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Fa/R/Robert-Farah.aspx ATPtennis.com – Players – Profiles – Profile
  2. Web site: SALUDO ROBERT FARAH. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Qi_aI3wACJ8 . 2021-12-21 . live. fedecoltenis. YouTube. 2014-09-11. 2018-01-24. es.
  3. Web site: #BajemosElTono – Robert Farah, tenista profesional. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/JSxo0c-xWhA . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Ministerio TIC Colombia. 2017-07-07. 2018-01-24. es.
  4. Web site: Robert Farah Player Profile. USC Athletics. 2018-01-31.
  5. Web site: Colombian History: Cabal/Farah Triumph in Wimbledon Final Thriller. ATP Tour. 13 July 2019.
  6. Web site: 3 September 2023 . Cabal/Farah Say Adios to the Big Stage . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230903133829/https://www.atptour.com/en/news/cabal-farah-feature-us-open-2023 . 3 September 2023 . 7 September 2023 . Association of Tennis Professionals.
  7. Web site: Robert Farah, a Colombian-Lebanese with tennis in his genes. Lorientlejour.com. 19 July 2019 . 2019.
  8. Web site: Robert Farah suspended for three months for endorsing betting. BBC Sport. 13 July 2018. 20 August 2018.
  9. Web site: The truth behind World No.1's mysterious Aussie Open exit . 7news.com.au . 14 January 2020 . 14 January 2020.
  10. Web site: Robert Farah: No ban for doubles champion despite positive test. BBC Sport. 26 February 2020 . 10 February 2020.