page_title: Fred Gil
section_title: 2004–2007: Early career and ATP debut
hierarchical_section_title: Fred Gil / Career / 2004–2007: Early career and ATP debut
caption_attribution_description: Frederico Gil tennis
context_page_description: João Frederico Limpo Franco Gil, known as Fred Gil, is a Portuguese professional tennis player, who currently competes in the ITF Men's Circuit. He is ranked no. 432 in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals, as of 10 April 2017.
  Gil made some Portuguese tennis major breakthroughs during his career. At the 2010 Estoril Open, he was the first Portuguese to reach an ATP Tour final, and in April 2011, he achieved a career-high singles world ranking of 62 – the highest ever for a Portuguese player until he was surpassed by Rui Machado in September that same year. Gil was the first Portuguese man to reach the third round in a Grand Slam singles event and the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 event. He was the first Portuguese to hit one million dollars in career prize money. In 2009, Gil became the second Portuguese player to reach the singles top 100, and in October 2010, he and Rui Machado were the first Portuguese duo to rank inside the top 100 simultaneously. Gil is currently coached by Vasco Antunes.
context_section_description: 2004 was Gil's first full season at a professional tour. His first Futures doubles final came in Albufeira in March, and in April he won his first title – a Futures doubles event in Lagos. For the remaining season, Gil was runner-up in another Futures doubles event and won one Satellite doubles title. He was also runner-up in a Satellite singles event. At the 2004 Estoril Open, Gil made his ATP Tour debut playing the doubles event alongside Bernardo Mota and reached the quarterfinals. Gil was called for the Portugal Davis Cup team for the first time this season. Playing in the Europe/Africa Zone Group II, he won two matches in his debut against Tunisia in April, but lost all his three matches against Serbia and Montenegro later in July.
  Gil began 2005 season with two straight singles titles and one doubles runner-up at Futures tournaments in Faro and Lagos between February and March. Later in October, he won a third title in Futures singles in Caracas. He also won two singles titles and one doubles title out of two finals at Futures level. In July, Gil entered the main draw of a Challenger tournament for the first time in Tolyatti. He played regularly at that level the rest of the season and reached his first doubles final in Bogotá. At ATP Tour level, Gil entered again in the Estoril Open doubles event and lost in the first round with Leonardo Tavares. At Davis Cup, Gil consolidated his place in the National team with 3 more participations. He won six matches out seven against Estonia, Algeria and Slovenia teams, with his only loss coming against Algeria's Lamine Ouahab. His performance contributed for Portugal's promotion to the Europe/Africa Zone Group I.
  In 2006, Gil made his ATP Tour debut in a singles event at the 2006 Estoril Open. After defeating David Luque-Velasco in the first round, Gil upset world no. 33 Dmitry Tursunov in the second round. He fell in the quarterfinals to then world no. 4 and eventual champion David Nalbandian. In the doubles event, Gil teamed up with Gonçalo Nicau and lost in the first round. In June, he won his first Challenger singles titles in Sassuolo and was runner-up in the doubles event at the Milan Challenger. Earlier in May, Gil played his last Futures tournaments until 2013. At this level, he added two more singles titles and one doubles title in 2006. At the Davis Cup, Gil entered two rounds. After losing his two matches against Luxembourg in the first round, he helped Portugal remain in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I for the following season with three wins over Morocco.
  Gil made his first attempt to enter the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament at the 2007 French Open, but lost in the final match of the qualifying rounds. He entered his first ATP tournament outside of Portugal at the Grand Prix Hassan II, where he lost in the first round to Julien Benneteau. At the Estoril Open, Gil was defeated by Richard Gasquet in the second round. The Challenger Tour remained Gil's main focus in 2007. He won one singles titles in Seville in September, and reached four doubles finals (Bogotá, Karlsruhe, Fürth and Manerbio). The 2007 Davis Cup edition was not successful for Gil, as he lost all his five matches against Georgia and Netherlands. Consequently, Portugal was relegated to the Europe/Africa Zone Group II in 2008.
caption: Fred Gil playing for Portugal Davis Cup team in 2006.
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