Jurgen Melzer; A look at the Bank Austria Tennis Trophy winner this season
Born on 22 May 1981 in the city of Vienna, Jurgen Melzer is a professional tennis player from Austria. He achieved his career high ranking of world number twelve back in October this year. The twenty-nine-year old Melzer is a left-handed player, however, like the world number one Rafael Nadal, is right handed in everyday life.
He captured the boy's singles competition at Wimbledon back in 1999. However, for many years, Melzer was famous as one of the best contenders on the ATP World Tour to have not gone past round three of a major event. He ended this streak when the professional tennis player from Austria made his way into the semi final round of the 2010 French Open in Roland Garros. Melzer has also had success in doubles, grabbing Wimbledon this season along with his partner, Philipp Petzschner.
The Vienna born, started off his 2010 campaign by playing in the year’s opening Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open in Melbourne. He, however, could not even win his first round. The Austrian next advanced into the semi final round of Zagreb before losing to the eventual winner Marin Cilic.
After a final-eight run in Rotterdam, where Melzer was bundled out of the tournament by the world number three Nikolay Davydenko of Serbia, he successfully advanced into the semi final round in Dubai, before falling down at the hands of Mikhail Youzhny.
Later in the season, the World number twelve once again made it into the quarters at the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid, however once again he could not go beyond that round as the Austrian was toppled by Nicolas Almagro of Spain.
The left-handed next competed at the 2010 French Open in Roland Garros and posted his career best major run by advancing into the final four for the first time in his career. He reached the semi final round after getting the better David Ferrer, Teymuraz Gabashvili and Novak Djokovic on his way. The Austrian, however, was eventually beaten by the four-time winner Rafael Nadal in straight sets, who went on to capture his fifth crown in the end.
Jurgen continued his excellent form at the grass court Grand Slam tournament in London as well, where he reached the fourth round before losing to the world number two Roger Federer of Switzerland in their first ever encounter on the tour. However, in the same competition, the 1.83 metres tall, Melzer recorded his biggest success by capturing the Men’s doubles trophy, teaming up with Philipp Petzschner of Germany.
After competing in a few clay court events, advancing into the title battle in one and posting good results in the others, Jurgen moved on to the hard court year. He was crushed in the opening round of Montreal by Peter Polansky and by Ernests Gulbis in round two of the ATP Cincinnati Masters.
The Deutsch-Wagram resident next took part at the year’s final major, the United States Open in New York. Melzer successfully breezed into the fourth round on the third occasion in a row at a Grand Slam event, having never been past the third round prior to Roland Garros. He met the Swiss tennis maestro, Roger Federer for a place in the final-eight, having previously faced him in the round four of Wimbledon. The Swiss once again swept him aside in three sets. The final score line was 6-3 7-6 6-3.
At the Shanghai Rolex Open in China, Jurgen Melzer, who made his debut on the ATP World Tour back in 1999, posted the greatest victory of his career against the world number one Rafael Nadal in the third round. This was his first win versus Rafa and the first time he had defeated a reigning number one. He then, was hammered down by Juan Monaco of Argentina in the final-eight round.
In other recent news, the world number twelve from Austria captured his third career crown in Vienna as he successfully defended his title at the 2010 Bank Austria Tennis Trophy, after beating his compatriot Andreas Haider-Maurer in a title battle. The final score line was 6-7(10), 7-6(4), 6-4.
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