Martín de la Puente Bio
Martín de la Puente Riobó is a Spanish professional wheelchair tennis player born on 22 June 1999 in Vigo, Spain. Competing on the international circuit since his early teens, he has built a reputation as one of the leading doubles specialists in the sport, highlighted by his rise to the world No. 1 ranking in doubles in November 2022. He is widely recognized for capturing the 2022 US Open men’s doubles title and for consistently reaching the latter stages of Grand Slam and Paralympic events.
Beyond his on-court results, De la Puente is admired for the resilience he has shown in his personal journey. Diagnosed with Proteus syndrome at birth, he had his left foot amputated at the age of eight, and began playing wheelchair tennis when he was ten. Drawing inspiration from fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal, he has turned those early challenges into a sustained professional career that continues to influence the next generation of Spanish wheelchair tennis players.
Early Life and Background
Martín de la Puente Riobó was born on 22 June 1999 in Vigo, a coastal city in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain. From birth he was diagnosed with Proteus syndrome, a rare condition that causes atypical growth of bones, skin, and other tissues. As a result of the condition, the fingers on one of his hands developed larger than those on the other, a physical detail that became part of his everyday life from early childhood.
When he was eight years old, De la Puente underwent the amputation of his left foot, a decision tied directly to managing the effects of Proteus syndrome. The procedure marked a turning point in his young life, and within two years he discovered wheelchair tennis, beginning to play the sport at the age of ten. Growing up in Vigo, he found in the sport both a physical outlet and a competitive focus, and he quickly committed to training and competition.
A defining influence during his formative years was the Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal, whom De la Puente has publicly cited as his idol. Nadal’s relentless work ethic, fighting spirit, and record of overcoming adversity resonated deeply with the young Galician player. That admiration helped shape De la Puente’s mentality as he transitioned from a casual wheelchair tennis participant into a competitive junior with professional ambitions.
Path to Tennis
De la Puente began competing in organized wheelchair tennis events as a teenager, building experience on Spanish and European junior circuits. His competitive start in the sport is dated to 2014, when he entered his first significant tournaments and began accumulating the results that would eventually push him toward the senior international stage. Early exposure to high-level competition allowed him to refine his game and adjust to the demands of professional travel and scheduling.
As he progressed, De la Puente increasingly focused on doubles play, an area where his court awareness, anticipation, and communication skills proved particularly effective. Working alongside experienced partners, he gained exposure to Grand Slam and Paralympic environments, treating each major event as a learning opportunity. This period of development laid the groundwork for the breakthrough results that would soon arrive on the biggest stages of the sport.
Martín de la Puente Career
Early Career (2014–2020)
De la Puente’s early career was marked by steady progression through the wheelchair tennis rankings, beginning in 2014. He quickly established himself in junior and development-level events, using these competitions to gain match experience and to adjust to the rhythm of a professional schedule. His commitment to training and his consistency in regional tournaments helped him earn selection opportunities on the international stage.
By the mid-2010s, De la Puente had advanced far enough to represent Spain at the Paralympic Games. He reached the doubles quarterfinals at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, an impressive achievement for a teenager competing against seasoned veterans. He returned to the Paralympic stage at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, again reaching the doubles quarterfinals, confirming that he had become a reliable contributor to Spain’s wheelchair tennis efforts on the sport’s biggest multi-sport platform.
Grand Slam Breakthrough (2021–2023)
The 2021 and 2022 seasons represented a clear step up for De la Puente, as he began making deeper runs in major events and collecting significant titles. His crowning moment came at the 2022 US Open, where he partnered with France’s Nicolas Peifer to win the men’s doubles championship. The title cemented his status as one of the elite doubles players in the world and provided the results that elevated his ranking.
That success was confirmed in November 2022, when De la Puente reached the world No. 1 position in the wheelchair tennis doubles rankings. The achievement reflected a season of consistent results at the highest level and demonstrated that his US Open victory was no isolated event. Throughout this period, he also continued to compete at Grand Slam singles events, building experience that would later translate into deeper individual runs.
In 2023, De la Puente advanced to the final of the French Open wheelchair men’s doubles alongside Argentina’s Gustavo Fernández, narrowly missing a second major title but reinforcing his position among the leading doubles players on tour. Across the 2021 to 2023 stretch, he combined major final appearances with strong week-to-week results, establishing himself as a fixture in the late stages of the biggest tournaments on the calendar.
2024 Summer Paralympics Era
The 2024 Summer Paralympics marked a defining chapter in De la Puente’s career. He became only the second Spanish tennis paralympic player to reach the singles quarterfinals, following Daniel Caverzaschi’s achievement at the previous Games. He then pushed past that milestone by becoming the first Spanish tennis paralympic player to reach the singles semifinals, a historic result that highlighted both his individual growth and the rising standard of Spanish wheelchair tennis.
In doubles at the same Games, De la Puente partnered with Daniel Caverzaschi, and the duo advanced to the doubles semifinals for the first time for the Spanish tennis paralympic team. Their campaign concluded with a bronze medal in the men’s doubles event, earning Spain its first-ever medal in wheelchair tennis at the Paralympic Games. The medal provided a fitting culmination to years of incremental progress and gave De la Puente a tangible reward for his perseverance.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most significant milestones in De la Puente’s career are his 2022 US Open men’s doubles title with Nicolas Peifer, his rise to the world No. 1 doubles ranking in November 2022, his runner-up finish at the 2023 French Open men’s doubles, and his bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Paralympics with Daniel Caverzaschi. He is also the first Spanish tennis paralympic player to reach a singles semifinal at the Paralympics, a record that places him at the forefront of his country’s wheelchair tennis history.
Martín de la Puente Career Wins
De la Puente has built his reputation primarily on the doubles court, where his major victories and deep Grand Slam runs have defined his professional résumé. His most prestigious title to date is the 2022 US Open men’s doubles championship, won alongside Nicolas Peifer. He has also reached additional major finals and medal matches, including the 2023 French Open men’s doubles final and the 2024 Paralympic men’s doubles bronze medal match.
Grand Slam Highlights
At Grand Slam events, De la Puente is a US Open doubles champion from 2022 and a French Open doubles finalist from 2023, both accomplishments reached in partnership with experienced international players. These results demonstrate his ability to perform on the sport’s biggest stages and his consistency in reaching the closing rounds of major draws.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his major finals and Paralympic medal, De la Puente has delivered strong performances across ATP, ITF, and Paralympic events throughout his career. His quarterfinal appearances at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Paralympics, his semifinal run in singles at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, and his consistent presence in later rounds of tour-level events round out a versatile résumé that continues to grow with each season.
Martín de la Puente Family
Personal Life
De la Puente was born with Proteus syndrome, a rare condition that affected the growth of his fingers on one hand and ultimately required the amputation of his left foot when he was eight years old. These early experiences shaped his approach to the sport and to life, and he has spoken about drawing motivation from fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal, whom he considers his idol. Public details about his broader family life remain limited, and he is primarily known through his competitive achievements and his openness about his medical journey.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, De la Puente enters the year as one of the most established doubles players in wheelchair tennis, with a Grand Slam title, a former world No. 1 ranking, and a Paralympic medal on his résumé. His experience at the top of the game, combined with the confidence gained from his 2024 Summer Paralympics results, positions him as a contender at every major event on the calendar.
On court, his continued focus on doubles will likely keep him among the leading teams on tour, while his singles development, sharpened by his historic 2024 semifinal run, gives him additional pathways to deep tournament results. His familiarity with high-pressure environments and his track record of performing in major finals suggest that 2025 could bring further Grand Slam opportunities and additional ranking milestones.
Off the court, his bronze medal in Paris represents a significant benchmark for Spanish wheelchair tennis, and his presence in the sport continues to inspire younger players in Spain and across Europe. Whether adding to his Grand Slam tally, chasing a return to the world No. 1 doubles ranking, or contributing to Spanish success in future international team competitions, De la Puente remains a central figure in the global wheelchair tennis landscape as the 2025 season unfolds.