Jozef Kovalík
1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Jozef Kovalík (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈjɔzef ˈkɔʋaliːk]; born 4 November 1992) is a Slovak professional tennis player who competes mainly on the ATP Challenger Tour. His highest ATP singles ranking was No. 80 reached on 22 October 2018, while his highest doubles ranking was No. 245 reached on 2 April 2018. He is currently the No. 2 Slovak player.[2]
Career
2010–2014: First Challenger title
Kovalík together with Filip Horanský won bronze medal in doubles at 2010 Summer Youth Olympics.
He won his first Challenger title on 17 August 2014, after beating second seed Andrey Kuznetsov.[3] He became the fourth player to win an ATP Challenger title while ranked outside the top 300.[4]
2016: ATP, Masters and Grand Slam debuts
He played his first match at ATP level on 5 January 2016 in Chennai, where he lost in the first round.[5] He played his first match at a Grand Slam at the 2016 Australian Open, where he lost to fellow qualifier Marco Trungelliti in the first round.[6]
At the 2016 BNP Paribas Open Kovalík won his first match at ATP level, defeating another qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the first round.[7][8] He lost in two tight tie-breaks in the subsequent round, to fellow up-and-coming talent Dominic Thiem.[9][10][11] Despite the loss his tennis was of an extremely high quality as he was able to win cheap points off his first serve, utilised an effective kicking second serve, and consistently hit his groundstrokes with great accuracy, power and depth.[citation needed] In addition he remained mentally composed on key points and played intelligent tennis throughout.[citation needed] During the match he was watched by fellow Slovak and coach of Novak Djokovic, Marián Vajda. [citation needed]
Kovalík won the 2016 Capri Watch Cup, his second title on the ATP Challenger Tour.
2017–2020: French Open, Top 100 and Wimbledon debuts
At the 2018 Sofia Open he had his best ATP tournament, reaching the semifinals and losing to Marius Copil in straight sets, 6–4, 6–2.[12] Kovalík reached another ATP level semifinal at 2018 German Open in Hamburg, where he lost to the defending champion Leonardo Mayer.[13] After the tournament, Kovalík reached the Top 100 for the first time.[14][15]
2024: Two Challenger titles, first Major wins, back to top 105
He won his first Challenger title of the season and first since 2022 in Zadar, Croatia defeating Adrian Andreev in the final.[16] Following a third final showing for the season at the 2024 Upper Austria Open in Mauthausen, where he lost to Lucas Pouille, Kovalik returned in the top 150 in the rankings on 20 May 2024.[17][18] At 31 years old, he entered the main draw of the 2024 French Open as a lucky loser, after more than three years of absence at the Grand Slam level and recorded his first Major wins over Marcos Giron and 18th seed Karen Khachanov.[19] As a result, he returned to No. 119 on 10 June 2024 and to No. 102 a month later on 15 July 2024.
Performance timelines
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | P# | DNQ | A | Z# | PO | G | S | B | NMS | NTI | P | NH |
Singles
Current through the 2024 French Open.
Tournament | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | SR | W–L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | Q2 | 1R | Q1 | Q2 | A | 1R | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | 0 / 2 | 0–2 |
French Open | Q2 | A | A | Q1 | 1R | 1R | 1R | Q1 | Q3 | Q1 | Q1 | 3R | 0 / 4 | 2–4 |
Wimbledon | Q1 | A | Q1 | Q3 | Q2 | Q1 | 1R | NH | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | 0 / 1 | 0–1 |
US Open | A | A | Q1 | 1R | Q1 | Q1 | 1R | 1R | A | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | 0 / 3 | 0–3 |
Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0 / 10 | 2–10 |
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 | ||||||||||||||
Indian Wells Masters | A | A | A | 2R | Q1 | A | Q1 | NH | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 1–1 | |
Miami Open | A | A | A | Q1 | Q1 | A | A | NH | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
Monte-Carlo Masters | A | A | A | A | Q1 | A | A | NH | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
Madrid Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | NH | A | A | Q1 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
Italian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Q3 | Q1 | A | Q1 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
Canadian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | NH | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | ||
Cincinnati Masters | A | A | A | A | A | Q1 | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | ||
Shanghai Masters | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | NH | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | ||||
Paris Masters | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | ||
Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 / 1 | 1–1 | |
National representation | ||||||||||||||
Davis Cup | A | A | A | PO | Z1 | Z1 | A | PO | 0 / 0 | 2–4 | ||||
Career statistics | ||||||||||||||
2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Career | |||
Tournaments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 50 | |
Titles / Finals | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | ||
Overall win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–9 | 3–6 | 7–6 | 1–9 | 1–6 | 6–6 | 1–3 | 3–4 | 2–1 | 28–50 | |
Year-end ranking | 339 | 202 | 259 | 117 | 165 | 85 | 139 | 131 | 148 | 137 | 228 | 34% |
Doubles
Current through the 2022 Melbourne Summer Set 1.
Tournament | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | SR | W–L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||
Australian Open | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 |
French Open | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 |
Wimbledon | A | A | NH | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |
US Open | A | 2R | A | A | 0 / 1 | 1–1 | |
Win–loss | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 / 1 | 1–1 |
Career statistics | |||||||
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Career | ||
Tournaments | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
Titles / Finals | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 | |
Overall win–loss | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–4 | |
Year-end ranking | 332 | 392 | 439 | 1009 | 20% |
Challenger and Futures finals
Singles 29 (17–12)
|
|
Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | Apr 2011 | Turkey F14, Antalya | Futures | Hard | ![]() | 5–7, 2–6 |
Win | 1–1 | Jun 2011 | Bosnia and Herzegovina F5, Kiseljak | Futures | Clay | ![]() | 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 1–2 | Jul 2011 | Estonia F2, Kuressaare | Futures | Clay | ![]() | 6–1, 2–6, 0–6 |
Win | 2–2 | Aug 2011 | Slovakia F2, Tatranska Lomnica | Futures | Clay | ![]() | 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 2–3 | Jan 2012 | Israel F2, Eilat | Futures | Hard | ![]() | 4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 3–3 | Jul 2012 | Italy F15, Viterbo | Futures | Clay | ![]() | 6–2, 4–6, 6–2 |
Win | 4–3 | Sep 2012 | Italy F25, Trieste | Futures | Clay | ![]() | 7–6(7–2), 6–4 |
Win | 5–3 | Sep 2012 | Serbia F12, Subotica | Futures | Clay | ![]() | 3–6, 6–0, 6–3 |
Win | 6–3 | Sep 2012 | Serbia F14, Sokobanja | Futures | Clay | ![]() | 6–3, 5–7, 6–4 |
Loss | 6–4 | Apr 2013 | Itajaí, Brasil | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 6–4, 3–6, 1–6 |
Loss | 6–5 | Feb 2014 | Turkey F3, Antalya | Futures | Hard | ![]() | 6–7(4–7), 6–1, 4–6 |
Win | 7–5 | Mar 2014 | Greece F1, Heraklion | Futures | Hard | ![]() | 6–3, 7–6(8–6) |
Win | 8–5 | Apr 2014 | Greece F4, Heraklion | Futures | Hard | ![]() | 6–0, 6–2 |
Win | 9–5 | Jun 2014 | Slovenia F2, Maribor | Futures | Clay | ![]() | 7–6(7–2), 6–1 |
Win | 10–5 | Aug 2014 | Meerbusch, Germany | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 6–1, 6–4 |
Loss | 10–6 | Jun 2015 | Mestre, Italy | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 1–6, 3–6 |
Win | 11–6 | Apr 2016 | Napoli, Italy | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 6–3, 6–2 |
Loss | 11–7 | May 2017 | Rome, Italy | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 11–8 | Oct 2017 | Lima, Perù | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 5–7, 6–7(4–7) |
Win | 12–8 | Jun 2018 | Poprad, Slovakia | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 6–4, 6–0 |
Loss | 12–9 | Oct 2018 | Braunschweig, Germany | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 2–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Win | 13–9 | Aug 2019 | Szczecin, Poland | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–4 |
Loss | 13–10 | Oct 2019 | Barcelona, Spain | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 14–10 | Nov 2019 | Maia, Portugal | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 6–0, 6–4 |
Win | 15–10 | Sep 2022 | Tulln an der Donau, Austria | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–3) |
Loss | 15–11 | Oct 2022 | Parma, Italy | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 5–7, 7–6(7–2), 4–6 |
Win | 16–11 | Mar 2024 | Zadar, Croatia | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 17–11 | Apr 2024 | Split, Croatia | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 6–4, 5–7, 7–5 |
Loss | 17–12 | May 2024 | Mauthausen, Austria | Challenger | Clay | ![]() | 3–6, 3–6 |
Doubles
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 1. | 8 January 2012 | São Paulo | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–2 |
Loss | 2. | 9 April 2017 | Sophia Antipolis | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 3. | 23 June 2017 | Scheveningen | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 6–4, [10–12] |
Win | 4. | 30 September 2017 | Rome | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 7–6(7–5) |
Loss | 5. | 31 March 2018 | Marbella | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 4–6 |
Wins over top 10 players
# | Player | Rank | Event | Surface | Rd | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | ||||||
1. | ![]() | 6 | Chennai, India | Hard | 2R | 7–6(7–5), 5–7, 7–5 |
References
- ^ ATP Profile
- ^ "Rankings | Singles".
- ^ Josh Meiseles (17 August 2014). "Challenger Spotlight: Albert Montanes Celebrates Eighth Title". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ "21-year-old Jozef Kovalik wins first ATP Challenger title". Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ "Nevyužil vedenie 6:1 a 3:1. Kovalíkovi nevyšiel debut v hlavnej súťaži" (in Slovak). 5 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ "Kovalík v grandslamovej premiére neuspel s Trungellitim". SME (in Slovak). Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ "Slovenský tenista vyhral prvý zápas na turnaji ATP". SME (in Slovak). Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- ^ "Indian Wells : Herbert perd son combat face à Josef Kovalik" (in French). 12 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Kei Nishikori looking to turn win into streak". 13 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Kovalík v Indian Wells nestačil v 2. kole na Thiema". SME (in Slovak). 13 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Dominic Thiem, two tie-break to reach the third round". 13 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Basic Stuns Wawrinka To Reach Maiden ATP World Tour Final". 10 February 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
- ^ "Mayer Saves MP, Returns To Hamburg Final". 28 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
- ^ "Basilashvili Makes Top 40 Debut, Mover Of The Week". 30 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ "Kovalík debutuje v najlepšej stovke, Horanský si vylepšil kariérne maximum". SME (in Slovak). 30 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ "#NextGenATP Rocha downs Basilashvili for maiden Challenger title". 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Lucas Pouille remporte le Challenger de Mathausen".
- ^ "Bu, 22, makes Chinese tennis history; Pouille returns to Challenger titletown". 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Rune's great escape after epic tie-break turnaround". 30 May 2024.
External links
- Jozef Kovalík at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Jozef Kovalík at the International Tennis Federation
- Jozef Kovalík at the Davis Cup
- Jozef Kovalík at Olympedia
- Jozef Kovalík at Olympics.com
- Jozef Kovalík at Olympic.sk (in Slovak)
- v
- t
- e
![Slovakia](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Flag_of_Slovakia.svg/23px-Flag_of_Slovakia.svg.png)
- 1. Lukas Klein (109
)
- 2. Jozef Kovalik (115
1)
- 3. Martin Klizan (323
20)
- 4. Alex Molcan (349
14)
- 5. Lukas Pokorny (486
3)
- 6. Milos Karol (678
5)
- 7. Peter Benjamin Privara (679
5)
- 8. Andrej Martin (680
5)
- 9. Norbert Gombos (681
118)
- 10. Tomas Lanik (916
2)