Jozef Kovalík

Jozef Kovalík
Kovalík at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships
Country (sports) Slovakia
ResidenceBratislava, Slovakia
Born (1992-11-04) 4 November 1992 (age 32)
Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Turned pro2010
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money$ 2,084,332
Singles
Career record29–53
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 80 (22 October 2018)
Current rankingNo. 125 (18 November 2024)[1]
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open1R (2016, 2020)
French Open3R (2024)
Wimbledon1R (2019)
US Open1R (2016, 2019, 2020)
Doubles
Career record2–6
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 245 (2 April 2018)
Current rankingNo. 383 (18 November 2024)
Grand Slam doubles results
US Open2R (2019)
Last updated on: 20 November 2024.

Jozef Kovalík (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈjɔzef ˈkɔʋaliːk]; born 4 November 1992) is a Slovak professional tennis player who competes on the ATP Challenger Tour. He has a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 80 and a doubles ranking of No. 245 reached in 2018. He is currently the No. 1 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 & 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: Roland Garros, Wimbledon & Top 100 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: Challenger titles, first Major wins, back to top 125

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

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# P# DNQ A Z# PO G S B NMS NTI P NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

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 0 / 1 1–1
Miami Open A A A Q1 Q1 A A NH A A 0 / 0 0–0
Monte-Carlo Masters A A A A Q1 A A NH 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 0–0 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 2024 Career
Tournaments 0 0 0 9 6 6 9 6 6 3 4 1 50
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 3–4 29–53
Year-end ranking 339 202 259 117 165 85 139 131 148 137 228 125 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%

ATP Challenger and ITF Tour finals

Singles 29 (17–12)

Legend (singles)
ATP Challenger Tour (8–8)
ITF Futures Tour (9–4)
Titles by surface
Hard (1–3)
Clay (16–9)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Apr 2011 Turkey F14, Antalya Futures Hard Spain Arnau Brugués Davi 5–7, 2–6
Win 1–1 Jun 2011 Bosnia and Herzegovina F5, Kiseljak Futures Clay Bosnia and Herzegovina Aldin Šetkić 6–3, 6–4
Loss 1–2 Jul 2011 Estonia F2, Kuressaare Futures Clay Chile Hans Podlipnik Castillo 6–1, 2–6, 0–6
Win 2–2 Aug 2011 Slovakia F2, Tatranska Lomnica Futures Clay Czech Republic Daniel Lustig 6–2, 4–6, 6–3
Loss 2–3 Jan 2012 Israel F2, Eilat Futures Hard United Kingdom Daniel Smethurst 4–6, 2–6
Win 3–3 Jul 2012 Italy F15, Viterbo Futures Clay Italy Riccardo Bellotti 6–2, 4–6, 6–2
Win 4–3 Sep 2012 Italy F25, Trieste Futures Clay Switzerland Sandro Ehrat 7–6(7–2), 6–4
Win 5–3 Sep 2012 Serbia F12, Subotica Futures Clay Serbia Laslo Djere 3–6, 6–0, 6–3
Win 6–3 Sep 2012 Serbia F14, Sokobanja Futures Clay France Lucas Pouille 6–3, 5–7, 6–4
Loss 6–4 Apr 2013 Itajaí, Brasil Challenger Clay Brazil Rogério Dutra da Silva 6–4, 3–6, 1–6
Loss 6–5 Feb 2014 Turkey F3, Antalya Futures Hard Ukraine Artem Smirnov 6–7(4–7), 6–1, 4–6
Win 7–5 Mar 2014 Greece F1, Heraklion Futures Hard Czech Republic Jan Hernych 6–3, 7–6(8–6)
Win 8–5 Apr 2014 Greece F4, Heraklion Futures Hard Serbia Dejan Katic 6–0, 6–2
Win 9–5 Jun 2014 Slovenia F2, Maribor Futures Clay Belgium Julien Cagnina 7–6(7–2), 6–1
Win 10–5 Aug 2014 Meerbusch, Germany Challenger Clay Russia Andrey Kuznetsov 6–1, 6–4
Loss 10–6 Jun 2015 Mestre, Italy Challenger Clay Argentina Máximo González 1–6, 3–6
Win 11–6 Apr 2016 Napoli, Italy Challenger Clay Belgium Arthur De Greef 6–3, 6–2
Loss 11–7 May 2017 Rome, Italy Challenger Clay Italy Marco Cecchinato 4–6, 4–6
Loss 11–8 Oct 2017 Lima, Perù Challenger Clay Austria Gerald Melzer 5–7, 6–7(4–7)
Win 12–8 Jun 2018 Poprad, Slovakia Challenger Clay Belgium Arthur De Greef 6–4, 6–0
Loss 12–9 Oct 2018 Braunschweig, Germany Challenger Clay Germany Yannick Hanfmann 2–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win 13–9 Aug 2019 Szczecin, Poland Challenger Clay Argentina Guido Andreozzi 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–4
Loss 13–10 Oct 2019 Barcelona, Spain Challenger Clay Italy Salvatore Caruso 4–6, 2–6
Win 14–10 Nov 2019 Maia, Portugal Challenger Clay France Constant Lestienne 6–0, 6–4
Win 15–10 Sep 2022 Tulln an der Donau, Austria Challenger Clay Netherlands Jelle Sels 7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–3)
Loss 15–11 Oct 2022 Parma, Italy Challenger Clay Kazakhstan Timofey Skatov 5–7, 7–6(7–2), 4–6
Win 16–11 Mar 2024 Zadar, Croatia Challenger Clay Bulgaria Adrian Andreev 6–4, 6–2
Win 17–11 Apr 2024 Split, Croatia Challenger Clay Hungary Zsombor Piros 6–4, 5–7, 7–5
Loss 17–12 May 2024 Mauthausen, Austria Challenger Clay France Lucas Pouille 3–6, 3–6

Doubles

Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. 8 January 2012 São Paulo Hard Brazil José Pereira Brazil Fernando Romboli
Brazil Júlio Silva 		7–5, 6–2
Loss 2. 9 April 2017 Sophia Antipolis Clay Belarus Uladzimir Ignatik France Tristan Lamasine
Croatia Franko Škugor 		2–6, 2–6
Loss 3. 23 June 2017 Scheveningen Clay Greece Stefanos Tsitsipas Belgium Sander Gillé
Belgium Joran Vliegen 		2–6, 6–4, [10–12]
Win 4. 30 September 2017 Rome Clay Slovakia Martin Kližan Belgium Sander Gillé
Belgium Joran Vliegen 		6–3, 7–6(7–5)
Loss 5. 31 March 2018 Marbella Clay Slovakia Martin Kližan Argentina Guido Andreozzi
Uruguay Ariel Behar 		3–6, 4–6

Wins over top 10 players

# Player Rank Event Surface Rd Score
2017
1. Croatia Marin Čilić 6 Chennai, India Hard 2R 7–6(7–5), 5–7, 7–5

References

  1. ^ ATP Profile
  2. ^ "Rankings | Singles".
  3. ^ Josh Meiseles (17 August 2014). "Challenger Spotlight: Albert Montanes Celebrates Eighth Title". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  4. ^ "21-year-old Jozef Kovalik wins first ATP Challenger title". Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Nevyužil vedenie 6:1 a 3:1. Kovalíkovi nevyšiel debut v hlavnej súťaži" (in Slovak). 5 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Kovalík v grandslamovej premiére neuspel s Trungellitim". SME (in Slovak). Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Slovenský tenista vyhral prvý zápas na turnaji ATP". SME (in Slovak). Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Indian Wells : Herbert perd son combat face à Josef Kovalik" (in French). 12 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Kei Nishikori looking to turn win into streak". 13 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Kovalík v Indian Wells nestačil v 2. kole na Thiema". SME (in Slovak). 13 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Dominic Thiem, two tie-break to reach the third round". 13 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Basic Stuns Wawrinka To Reach Maiden ATP World Tour Final". 10 February 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Mayer Saves MP, Returns To Hamburg Final". 28 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Basilashvili Makes Top 40 Debut, Mover Of The Week". 30 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Kovalík debutuje v najlepšej stovke, Horanský si vylepšil kariérne maximum". SME (in Slovak). 30 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  16. ^ "#NextGenATP Rocha downs Basilashvili for maiden Challenger title". 25 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Lucas Pouille remporte le Challenger de Mathausen".
  18. ^ "Bu, 22, makes Chinese tennis history; Pouille returns to Challenger titletown". 13 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Rune's great escape after epic tie-break turnaround". 30 May 2024.