In the nascent days of the Masters 1000 category, 1990 witnessed a remarkable achievement by Spanish tennis player Juan Aguilera Herrera, who conquered the Hamburg Open by defeating Boris Becker in straight sets.
This victory cemented Aguilera’s place in the sport, a player once lauded as an exceptional young talent by writer Javier Cercas. However, the tennis community recently received the somber news of Aguilera’s death at 63, after a prolonged illness. Among those deeply saddened by his passing is fellow Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal, who is one of the fourteen other Spanish players who followed in Juan’s footsteps.
Following the news, Nadal took to his Instagram story to leave a heartfelt message for the legend. Alongside a picture of Aguilera hoisting the Hamburg trophy in 1990, he wrote, “[Translated from Spanish] My most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Juan Aguilera, a great reference of our sport, who we will miss a lot 😔 Rest in Peace.”
Born in Barcelona on March 22, 1962, Juan Aguilera’s connection to tennis began remarkably early. He picked up a racket at just three years old and started receiving formal lessons from his godmother by the age of five, avoiding military service thanks to a lucky draw. His development as an athlete, however, was significantly shaped by the Club Tennis Barcino, a pivotal institution in his formative years. Trained by Lluís Bruguera, Sergi Bruguera’s father, Aguilera’s potential was evident early on.
As a teenager, Juan Aguilera was already making waves at Barcelona’s Club Tennis Barcino, alongside talents like Solers, Urpís, Margets, Docampos, and Casals. He reached the semifinals of the prestigious North American Orange Bowl tournament in 1980, setting the stage for his future success. This early promise was just the beginning of a remarkable journey.
He, 22 at the time, also reached a career-high ranking of No. 7 in September 1984. Growing up admiring the play of Spanish legends, Manolo Orantes and Pepe Higueras, Aguilera developed into a respected figure on the tour.
A true clay-court aficionado, Juan Aguilera thrived on the surface that favored strategic play, much like his compatriot Rafael Nadal. He notably avoided hard courts, never making the trip to Australia. His domain was the red dirt, where his intelligent, side-to-side play earned him five career titles. These included his first victories in Aix-en-Provence and Hamburg in 1984, followed by Bari in 1989, and culminating in his career peak in Nice, just before his long-sought triumph against Becker in Hamburg at the age of 28.
While fourteen other Spanish players would later follow in his footsteps, achieving significant success – from Rafael Nadal’s staggering 36 Masters 1000 titles to the multiple victories of the Bruguera and Corretja brothers, Moyá brothers, Ferrero, and now Carlos Alcaraz – Aguilera would forever hold the distinction of being the first Spaniard to conquer a Masters 1000 event, a feat that felt almost unimaginable at the time.
Despite his achievements, Aguilera remained humble, preferring a low-key life over the spotlight.
Juan Aguilera Herrera’s oh-so-unusual retirement
Following his recent passing, it’s poignant to recall Juan Aguilera Herrera reflecting on his earlier success at the 1984 Hamburg Open. “Everything seemed to hit all at once, with the loss of my father and a separation from my coach, Lluís Bruguera. My ranking plummeted, and I seriously contemplated quitting tennis. It was a painful era for me, and I struggled immensely, but my wife and true supporters helped me navigate those turbulent times.”
However, his return to Hamburg in 1990 marked a significant turning point, a rediscovery of his passion for the sport. As he himself stated, “I’m finding joy in tennis again; training and playing no longer feel like a burden.” In November 1992, at the National Championships in Palma de Mallorca, Herrera played his final match as a professional tennis player, bringing an end to a career.
As a few would remember his words, “I prefer a good sense of humor and a peaceful day-to-day life,” Aguilera once admitted. It was evident when, after retiring, he dedicated himself to coaching at a discreet school in Premià de Dalt. Interestingly, he often stated that he was more interested in people than in his fellow players.
As the tennis community bids farewell to this legend, they remember him as a “different” and “approachable” guy who left a lasting impact on the sport.