Anna 
The tennis world is mourning the loss of former Top 10 player Juan Aguilera, who passed away at 63 on Tuesday in his hometown of Barcelona.
Aguilera turned professional after winning the Junior Spanish Championships in 1980. Over his career, he won five ATP Tour titles and reached No. 7 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 1984. He retired in 1991 and devoted himself to two of his great passions—literature and rock music.
Inspired by Spanish tennis legends like Manuel Orantes, Pepe Higueras, and Fernando Luna, Aguilera began playing at Club Tennis de la Salut in Barcelona. At 15, he took a break from tennis to focus on music. In the 1980s, he played guitar and drums for the rock band Palo.
Aguilera had a natural talent for tennis, displaying elegance and skill on the court. His one-handed backhand was a standout feature of his game, earning admiration from coaches who saw him as one of Spain’s most promising players.
Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, paid tribute to Aguilera on social media, writing, “My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Juan Aguilera, a great figure in our sport whom we will miss dearly. Rest in peace.”
Aguilera’s biggest career moment came in 1990 when he defeated world No. 3 Boris Becker 6-1, 6-0, 7-6 in the Hamburg final. To reach that final, he overcame top players like Goran Ivanisevic, Michael Chang, Jim Courier, Magnus Gustafsson, and Guy Forget. Aguilera originally had not planned to play in the tournament but entered the main draw after two players withdrew. That week turned out to be the highlight of his career.
After his victory over Becker in a rain-delayed final, Aguilera called it “the best match of my life.” The match was interrupted for over an hour when he led 6-1, 5-0. When play resumed, he completed his dominant performance to win the title.
Aguilera also won the Hamburg title in 1984 before it became an ATP Masters 1000 event. His other titles included Aix-en-Provence (1984), Bari (1989), and Nice (1990). He reached four more clay-court finals and made his best Grand Slam run at Roland Garros in 1984, reaching the fourth round.
Former player Tomás Carbonell, who reached No. 40 in the world and played alongside Aguilera, honored him with heartfelt words: “We have lost so much talent, both on and off the court. Joan was special in every way. Sensitive. Thoughtful. Clever. Impulsive. Talented. And above all, a heart too big for this world.”
After retiring, Aguilera dedicated himself to coaching. He worked at a club in Premia de Dalt, passing on his knowledge to young players and shaping the next generation of tennis talent.
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