Manrique Leads Rojer to Wimbledon Title
Former University of Miami men’s tennis player Luis Fernando Manrique, from Biscayne Bay, Fla., coached Jean-Julien Rojer to the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Doubles Championship this weekend in England.
Rojer and Romanian Horia Tecau defeated Jamie Murray (brother of Andy) and John Peers 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4 to claim the title.
Manrique, who played at Miami from 2002 to 2005, has coached Rojer for many years, helping the Dutch player to the Sony Open Doubles Championship in 2013 and guiding him to a ranking as high as No. 8 in doubles, among other accomplishments.
Manrique, a native of Key Biscayne, Fla., enjoyed a successful four-year collegiate career at Miami. After graduation in 2005, Manrique entered the professional ranks where he earned a doubles ranking as high as No. 447 in the world.
Check out our recent conversation with Manrique, as he discusses his career and time spent at Miami.
HurricaneSports.com: Where do you live and what are you up to?
Manrique: I currently live in Miami, I haven’t left. I work in real estate but I’m also a coach of Top 10 doubles player Jean-Julian Rojer.
HS.com: What is your fondest memory of playing at Miami?
Manrique: There isn’t one that I can actually single out, but probably the fact of being able to play on a team. I always played tennis as an individual sport. The fact that being able to compete and play with others at the same time, that put it all together.
HS.com: Do you still keep in touch with any of your teammates?
Manrique: Not as much as I would like to. The young alums and everyone comes back at some point to Miami whether it’s a layover or a family trip or something. The fact that I live here, geographically, it’s always favorable to me to maintain contact with all of them. I keep in touch with Rudy Rake and Diego Ayala, who graduated a couple years before me, and Michael Myles and Arturo Zizold.
HS.com: How has having a degree from Miami helped you?
Manrique: Tremendously. After finishing my undergrad in business, I went on and played the pro tour for a couple years. I also earned my MBA here as well, in which I graduated in December 2012. It’s helped tremendously. I focus a lot on my business with Latin America. That being said, being in Miami, with the school, with the network I was able to build, has been very helpful to my career.
HS.com: Since leaving UM, have you followed the teams?
Manrique: I have a very good relationship with Mario Rincon. He did tremendous things for me as a player and as a person. I’m always constantly speaking to him. He’s someone I always call at all times during the school year, and we still maintain a good contact. When I was playing, he would always be very active in my life and very present. He’d be calling making sure how I was and making sure UM was here.
