Karol Kučera
![]() | This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (September 2015) |
Country (sports) | ![]() |
---|---|
Residence | Monte Carlo, Monaco |
Born | Bratislava, Czechoslovakia | 4 March 1974
Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in) |
Turned pro | 1992 |
Retired | 2005 |
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Coach | Miloslav Mečíř (1997-2001) Marian Vajda (2001-2005) |
Prize money | $5,061,125 |
Singles | |
Career record | 293–244 |
Career titles | 6 |
Highest ranking | No. 6 (14 September 1998) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1998) |
French Open | 3R (1996, 2000) |
Wimbledon | 4R (1999) |
US Open | QF (1998) |
Other tournaments | |
Tour Finals | RR (1998) |
Grand Slam Cup | SF (1998) |
Olympic Games | 2R (1996, 2000) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 34–41 |
Career titles | 0 |
Highest ranking | No. 131 (7 June 2004) |
Team competitions | |
Davis Cup | F (2005) |
Hopman Cup | W (1998) |
Karol Kučera (born 4 March 1974) is a retired ATP professional male tennis player from Slovakia. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 6 in September 1998, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open the same year.
Tennis career[]
Kučera turned professional in 1992. He was a member of the Czechoslovakian Galea Cup teams in 1991 and 1992 and the 1992 European championship squad. In 1993 he qualified for his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
In 1995 when Kučera won his first ATP title in Rosmalen. In 1996 he played in the Summer Olympics in Atlanta where he lost to eventual gold medalist Andre Agassi.
A year later he won his second ATP title in Ostrava defeating Magnus Norman. He was runner-up in two other tournaments in Nottingham on grass to Greg Rusedski and Stuttgart Outdoor to Álex Corretja on clay.
Kučera's best year was in 1998, where he finished the year in the top 10, ranked World No. 8, which qualified him in the ATP Tour World Championship in Hannover. During the year Kučera won 2 titles in Sydney defeating Tim Henman and New Haven defeating Goran Ivanišević.
He reached another two finals, losing to Gustavo Kuerten in Stuttgart Outdoor and to World No. 1 Pete Sampras in Vienna. Overall in 1998, Kučera compiled a career high 53 match victories and earning $1,402,557.
Kučera achieved his best Grand Slam result in 1998 reaching the semi-finals of Australian Open where on his way he defeated Sergi Bruguera, Daniel Vacek, Daniel Nestor, Richard Fromberg and defending champion Pete Sampras in the quarter-finals, losing to eventual champion Petr Korda in 4 sets.
In 1999, Kučera won his fifth ATP title in Basel defeating Tim Henman in the final. After 1999, Kučera struggled with form due to a right wrist and arm injury.
After some injury plagued years, Kučera found some form again in 2003 when he finished in the top 50 for the first time since 1999. During the year he won his sixth and final tour title in Copenhagen defeating Olivier Rochus in the final.
Recently, Kučera was one of the contributing members on the Slovakian team which reached the final of the Davis Cup in 2005, eventually losing to Croatia 2–3. He announced his retirement after the final.
Style of play[]
Miloslav Mečíř known as the "Big Cat" was Kučera's coach from 1997 to 2001. Kučera was nicknamed the "Little Cat" because of his deceptive style of play and his fluid movement around the court resembling his coach. Kučera was also coached for a time by Novak Djokovic's coach Marian Vajda.[1]
Career finals[]
Singles 12 (6–6)[]
Legend |
Grand Slam (0-0) |
Tennis Masters Cup (0-0) |
ATP Masters Series (0-0) |
ATP Championships Series (1-0) |
ATP World Series (5-6) |
Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | Aug 1994 | Umag, Croatia | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1–1 | Jun 1995 | Rosmalen, Netherlands | Grass | ![]() |
7–6(9–7), 7–6(7–4) |
Win | 2–1 | Oct 1997 | Ostrava, Czech Republic | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–2, retired |
Loss | 2–2 | Jun 1997 | Nottingham, Great Britain | Grass | ![]() |
4–6, 5–7 |
Loss | 2–3 | Jul 1997 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 5–7 |
Win | 3–3 | Jan 1998 | Sydney, Australia | Hard | ![]() |
7–5, 6–4 |
Loss | 3–4 | Jul 1998 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | ![]() |
6–4, 2–6, 4–6 |
Win | 4–4 | Aug 1998 | New Haven, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 5–7, 6–2 |
Loss | 4–5 | Oct 1998 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
3–6, 6–7(3–7), 1–6 |
Win | 5–5 | Oct 1999 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 7–6(12–10), 4–6, 4–6, 7–6(7–2) |
Win | 6–5 | Feb 2003 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Hard (i) | ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 6–4 |
Loss | 6–6 | Jan 2003 | Chennai, India | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 1–6 |
Doubles: 4 (0–4)[]
Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | 1994 | Umag, Croatia | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 0–2 | 1996 | Ostrava, Czech Republic | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7, 3–6 |
Loss | 0–3 | 1997 | Umag, Croatia | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7, 4–6 |
Loss | 0–4 | 1998 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 2–6 |
Singles performance timeline[]
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | SR | W–L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 3R | 2R | SF | QF | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | A | 0 / 10 | 15–10 |
French Open | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 3R | A | 1R | 1R | 2R | A | 0 / 11 | 6–11 |
Wimbledon | A | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 4R | 2R | A | A | 3R | 2R | 2R | 0 / 10 | 11–10 |
US Open | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | QF | A | 1R | A | 2R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 0 / 10 | 9–10 |
Win–Loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 6–4 | 1–4 | 9–4 | 7–3 | 3–4 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 5–4 | 4–4 | 2–2 | 0 / 41 | 41–41 |
Year-end championship | ||||||||||||||||||
ATP Tour World Championships | Did Not Qualify | RR | Did Not Qualify | 0 / 1 | 0–3 | |||||||||||||
Grand Slam Cup | Did Not Qualify | SF | DNQ | Not Held | 0 / 1 | 2–1 | ||||||||||||
ATP Masters Series | ||||||||||||||||||
Indian Wells | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | QF | 1R | A | 3R | A | A | A | 0 / 4 | 6–4 |
Miami | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | 3R | 4R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | A | 0 / 8 | 5–8 |
Monte Carlo | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | 2R | QF | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 5 | 3–5 |
Hamburg | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | 1R | 1R | SF | A | 1R | A | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 6 | 4–6 |
Rome | A | A | A | A | A | 3R | 1R | A | 1R | QF | 1R | A | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 6 | 5–6 |
Canada | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | QF | A | A | 0 / 2 | 4–2 |
Cincinnati | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 2 | 0–2 |
Madrid1 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | 2R | 2R | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | 0 / 4 | 2–4 |
Paris | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 3R | 2R | 1R | 2R | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 5 | 2–5 |
Win–Loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 6–6 | 8–6 | 4–8 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–8 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0 / 42 | 31–42 |
Year-end ranking | 862 | 352 | 210 | 159 | 54 | 79 | 63 | 24 | 8 | 17 | 73 | 101 | 83 | 40 | 91 | 310 |
1This event was held in Stockholm through 1994, Essen in 1995, and Stuttgart from 1996 through 2001.
Top 10 wins[]
Season | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | Total |
Wins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 28 |
# | Player | Rank | Event | Surface | Rd | Score | Kučera Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1994 | |||||||
1. | ![]() |
5 | Moscow, Russia | Carpet (i) | 1R | 3–6, 7–5, 6–4 | 62 |
1996 | |||||||
2. | ![]() |
9 | Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia | Hard | 2R | 6–1, 6–3, 6–0 | 76 |
3. | ![]() |
3 | Long Island, United States | Hard | QF | 6–4, 6–4 | 86 |
1997 | |||||||
4. | ![]() |
8 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | 3R | 6–4, 6–4 | 45 |
5. | ![]() |
9 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | QF | 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 | 45 |
6. | ![]() |
8 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet (i) | 1R | 6–3, 6–3 | 32 |
7. | ![]() |
6 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | 1R | 6–4, 7–5 | 32 |
8. | ![]() |
4 | Ostrava, Czech Republic | Carpet (i) | SF | 6–3, ret. | 32 |
9. | ![]() |
8 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | 2R | 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 | 25 |
1998 | |||||||
10. | ![]() |
1 | Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia | Hard | QF | 6–4, 6–2, 6–7(5–7), 6–3 | 20 |
11. | ![]() |
2 | Antwerp, Belgium | Hard | QF | 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 | 14 |
12. | ![]() |
2 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | SF | 6–1, 6–7(8–10), 6–4 | 16 |
13. | ![]() |
6 | New Haven, United States | Hard | SF | 7–6(8–6), 6–4 | 13 |
14. | ![]() |
8 | US Open, New York, United States | Hard | 4R | 6–3, 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 1–6, 6–3 | 9 |
1999 | |||||||
15. | ![]() |
8 | Rome, Italy | Clay | 3R | 4–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–3 | 12 |
16. | ![]() |
3 | World Team Cup, Düsseldorf, Germany | Clay | RR | 6–3, 7–6(7–5) | 12 |
17. | ![]() |
4 | Davis Cup, Moscow, Russia | Clay | RR | 6–1, 6–3, 6–4 | 13 |
18. | ![]() |
1 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet (i) | QF | 6–4, 7–5 | 20 |
19. | ![]() |
6 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet (i) | F | 6–4, 7–6(12–10), 4–6, 4–6, 7–6(7–2) | 20 |
2000 | |||||||
20. | ![]() |
4 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | 1R | 6–4, 0–6, 6–2 | 42 |
21. | ![]() |
1 | French Open, Paris, France | Clay | 2R | 2–6, 7–5, 6–1, 6–0 | 40 |
22. | ![]() |
7 | Queen's Club, London, United Kingdom | Grass | 2R | 3–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–3 | 36 |
23. | ![]() |
5 | Long Island, United States | Hard | 2R | 6–1, 6–3 | 45 |
24. | ![]() |
10 | Summer Olympics, Sydney, Australia | Hard | 1R | 6–3, 6–2 | 43 |
2001 | |||||||
25. | ![]() |
1 | Davis Cup, Bratislava, Slovakia | Hard (i) | RR | 3–6, 4–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–2 | 75 |
2002 | |||||||
26. | ![]() |
2 | St. Petersburg, Russia | Hard (i) | 2R | 6–4, 6–4 | 79 |
2003 | |||||||
27. | ![]() |
2 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | 3R | 6–3, 7–5 | 41 |
2005 | |||||||
28. | ![]() |
10 | Davis Cup, Bratislava, Slovakia | Hard (i) | RR | 4–6, 6–3, 2–1, ret. | 145 |
References[]
External links[]
- 1974 births
- Hopman Cup competitors
- Living people
- People from Monte Carlo
- Slovak male tennis players
- Slovak expatriates in Monaco
- Sportspeople from Bratislava
- Olympic tennis players of Slovakia
- Tennis players at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- Tennis players at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Tennis players at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Czechoslovak male tennis players