Career Novák turned professional in 1993 and won seven singles and 18 doubles titles during his career, winning $7,614,063 in prize money. For six years, he was the highest-ranked male Czech tennis player in the ATP rankings. On October 21, 2002, Novák reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 5. He retired in 2007.
Novák was the first player to face Roger Federer at Wimbledon . In this first-round match at the 1999 tournament, Novák defeated Federer in five sets.
Novák created a tennis school in the Czech Republic and one of his students was the fourteen year old Preet Chandi before she went on to be an adventurer.[2]
Significant finals
Grand Slam tournaments
Doubles: 2 (2 runner-ups)
Masters Series
Singles: 1 (1 runner-ups)
Doubles: 4 (3 titles, 1 runner-ups)
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record; .
Singles
Doubles
ATP career finals
Singles: 13 (7 titles, 6 runner-ups) Legend Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0) ATP World Tour Finals (0–0) ATP Masters Series (0–1) ATP Championship Series (1–2) ATP World Series (6–3)
Finals by surface Hard (2–5) Clay (4–1) Grass (0–0) Carpet (1–0)
Finals by setting Outdoors (6–4) Indoors (1–2)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score Win 1–0 Jan 1996 Auckland , New ZealandWorld Series Hard Brett Steven 6–4, 6–4 Loss 1–1 Mar 1996 Mexico City , MexicoWorld Series Clay Thomas Muster 6–7(3–7) , 2–6 Win 2–1 Nov 1998 Mexico City , MexicoInternational Series Clay Xavier Malisse 6–3, 6–3 Win 3–1 May 2001 Munich , GermanyInternational Series Clay Antony Dupuis 6–4, 7–5 Win 4–1 Jul 2001 Gstaad , SwitzerlandInternational Series Clay Juan Carlos Ferrero 6–1, 6–7(5–7) , 7–5 Loss 4–2 Oct 2002 Vienna , AustriaChampionship Series Hard (i) Roger Federer 4–6, 1–6, 6–3, 4–6 Loss 4–3 Oct 2002 Madrid , SpainMasters Series Hard (i) Andre Agassi walkover Loss 4–4 Feb 2003 Dubai , United Arab EmiratesChampionship Series Hard Roger Federer 1–6, 6–7(2–7) Win 5–4 Jul 2003 Gstaad , SwitzerlandInternational Series Clay Roger Federer 5–7, 6–3, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3 Loss 5–5 Sep 2003 Shanghai , ChinaInternational Series Hard Mark Philippoussis 2–6, 1–6 Win 6–5 Oct 2004 Tokyo , JapanChampionship Series Hard Taylor Dent 5–7, 6–1, 6–3 Win 7–5 Nov 2004 Basel , SwitzerlandInternational Series Carpet (i) David Nalbandian 5–7, 6–3, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2 Loss 7–6 Feb 2005 Delray Beach , United StatesInternational Series Hard Xavier Malisse 6–76 , 2–6
Doubles: 40 (18 titles, 22 runner-ups) Legend Grand Slam Tournaments (0–2) ATP World Tour Finals (0–0) ATP Masters Series (3–1) ATP Championship Series (3–4) ATP International Series (12–15)
Finals by surface Hard (5–11) Clay (11–7) Grass (0–1) Carpet (2–3)
Finals by setting Outdoors (15–14) Indoors (3–8)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score Loss 0–1 Aug 1995 Prague , Czech RepublicWorld Series Clay David Rikl Libor Pimek Byron Talbot 5–7, 6–1, 6–7 Win 1–1 Sep 1995 Bogotá , ColombiaWorld Series Clay David Rikl Steve Campbell MaliVai Washington 7–6, 6–2 Win 2–1 Oct 1995 Santiago , ChileWorld Series Clay David Rikl Shelby Cannon Francisco Montana 6–4, 4–6, 6–1 Loss 2–2 Nov 1995 Montevideo , UruguayWorld Series Clay David Rikl Emilio Sánchez Sergio Casal 6–2, 6–7, 6–7 Loss 2–3 Nov 1995 Buenos Aires , ArgentinaWorld Series Clay David Rikl Vince Spadea Christo van Rensburg 3–6, 3–6 Loss 2–4 Feb 1996 Dubai , United Arab EmiratesWorld Series Hard Karel Nováček Byron Black Grant Connell 0–6, 1–6 Win 3–4 Mar 1996 Casablanca , MoroccoWorld Series Clay David Rikl Tomás Carbonell Francisco Roig 7–6, 6–3 Win 4–4 Jul 1996 Gstaad , SwitzerlandWorld Series Clay Pavel Vízner Trevor Kronemann David Macpherson 4–6, 7–6, 7–6 Loss 4–5 Nov 1996 Moscow , RussiaWorld Series Carpet (i) David Rikl Rick Leach Andrei Olhovskiy 6–4, 1–6, 2–6 Win 5–5 Oct 1997 Ostrava , Czech RepublicWorld Series Carpet (i) David Rikl Donald Johnson Francisco Montana 6–2, 6–4 Win 6–5 Feb 1998 Split , CroatiaWorld Series Carpet (i) Martin Damm Fredrik Bergh Patrik Fredriksson 7–6, 6–2 Loss 6–6 Aug 1998 Umag , CroatiaWorld Series Clay David Rikl Neil Broad Pieter Norval 1–6, 6–3, 3–6 Win 7–6 Aug 1998 San Marino , San MarinoWorld Series Clay David Rikl Mariano Hood Sebastián Prieto 6–4, 7–6 Win 8–6 Aug 1998 Indianapolis , United StatesChampionship Series Hard David Rikl Mark Knowles Daniel Nestor 6–2, 7–6 Loss 8–7 Oct 1998 Mallorca , SpainWorld Series Clay David Rikl Pablo Albano Daniel Orsanic 6–7, 3–6 Win 9–7 Nov 1998 Mexico City , MexicoInternational Series Clay David Rikl Daniel Orsanic David Roditi 6–4, 6–2 Loss 9–8 Jan 1999 Auckland , New ZealandWorld Series Hard David Rikl Jeff Tarango Daniel Vacek 5–7, 5–7 Loss 9–9 Apr 1999 Estoril , PortugalInternational Series Clay David Rikl Tomás Carbonell Donald Johnson 3–6, 6–2, 1–6 Loss 9–10 Apr 1999 Monte Carlo , MonacoMasters Series Clay David Rikl Olivier Delaître Tim Henman 2–6, 3–6 Loss 9–11 Oct 1999 Basle , SwitzerlandWorld Series Carpet (i) David Rikl Aleksandar Kitinov Brent Haygarth 6–0, 4–6, 5–7 Win 10–11 Feb 2000 Dubai , United Arab EmiratesInternational Series Hard David Rikl Robbie Koenig Peter Tramacchi 6–2, 7–5 Win 11–11 Jul 2000 Gstaad , SwitzerlandInternational Series Clay David Rikl Jérôme Golmard Michael Kohlmann 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 Win 12–11 Jul 2000 Stuttgart , GermanyChampionship Series Clay David Rikl Lucas Arnold Ker Donald Johnson 5–7, 6–2, 6–3 Loss 12–12 Oct 2000 Vienna , AustriaChampionship Series Hard (i) David Rikl Yevgeny Kafelnikov Nenad Zimonjić 4–6, 4–6 Loss 12–13 Oct 2000 Moscow , RussiaInternational Series Carpet (i) David Rikl Jonas Björkman David Prinosil 2–6, 3–6 Win 13–13 Nov 2000 Stuttgart , GermanyMasters Series Hard (i) David Rikl Donald Johnson Piet Norval 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 Loss 13–14 Feb 2001 Copenhagen , DenmarkInternational Series Hard (i) David Rikl Wayne Black Kevin Ullyett 3–6, 3–6 Win 14–14 Apr 2001 Miami , United StatesMasters Series Hard David Rikl Jonas Björkman Todd Woodbridge 7–5, 7–6(7–3) Loss 14–15 Jul 2001 Wimbledon , United KingdomGrand Slam Grass David Rikl Donald Johnson Jared Palmer 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(6–8) Win 15–15 Aug 2001 Montreal , CanadaMasters Series Hard David Rikl Donald Johnson Jared Palmer 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 Loss 15–16 Oct 2001 Vienna , AustriaChampionship Series Hard (i) David Rikl Martin Damm Radek Štěpánek 3–6, 2–6 Loss 15–17 Jan 2002 Doha , QatarInternational Series Hard David Rikl Donald Johnson Jared Palmer 3–6, 6–7(5–7) Loss 15–18 Feb 2002 Copenhagen , DenmarkInternational Series Hard (i) Radek Štěpánek Julian Knowle Michael Kohlmann 6–7(8–10) , 5–7 Loss 15–19 Sep 2002 New York , United StatesGrand Slam Hard Radek Štěpánek Mahesh Bhupathi Max Mirnyi 3–6, 6–3, 4–6 Loss 15–20 Oct 2002 Vienna , AustriaChampionship Series Hard (i) Radek Štěpánek Joshua Eagle Sandon Stolle 4–6, 3–6 Loss 15–21 Jan 2004 Auckland , New ZealandInternational Series Hard Radek Štěpánek Mahesh Bhupathi Fabrice Santoro 6–4, 5–7, 3–6 Win 16–21 Jul 2004 Stuttgart , GermanyChampionship Series Clay Radek Štěpánek Simon Aspelin Todd Perry 6–2, 6–4 Loss 16–22 Oct 2004 Tokyo , JapanChampionship Series Hard Petr Pála Jared Palmer Pavel Vízner 1–5 ret. Win 17–22 Jul 2005 Umag , CroatiaInternational Series Clay Petr Pála Michal Mertiňák David Škoch 6–3, 6–3 Win 18–22 Jul 2006 Gstaad , SwitzerlandInternational Series Clay Andrei Pavel Marco Chiudinelli Jean-Claude Scherrer 6–3, 6–1
ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals
Singles: 13 (6–7) Legend ATP Challenger (6–7) ITF Futures (0–0)
Finals by surface Hard (1–1) Clay (5–6) Grass (0–0) Carpet (0–0)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score Win 1–0 Jul 1994 Prague , Czech RepublicChallenger Clay Albert Portas 6–2, 7–5 Win 2–0 Feb 1995 Mar del Plata , ArgentinaChallenger Clay Kris Goossens 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 Loss 2–1 Apr 1995 Birmingham , United StatesChallenger Clay Bohdan Ulihrach 4–6, 6–7 Win 3–1 May 1995 Budapest , HungaryChallenger Clay Félix Mantilla 6–1, 2–6, 6–2 Loss 3–2 Jul 1995 Oberstaufen , GermanyChallenger Clay Carlos Moyá 3–6, 4–6 Loss 3–3 Aug 1995 Graz , AustriaChallenger Clay Carlos Costa 4–6, 3–6 Loss 3–4 Sep 1995 Prostějov , Czech RepublicChallenger Clay Andrea Gaudenzi 4–6, 3–6 Win 4–4 Oct 1995 Lima , PeruChallenger Clay Nicolás Lapentti 7–6, 6–3 Win 5–4 Mar 1997 Indian Wells , United StatesChallenger Hard Slava Doseděl 7–6, 6–4 Loss 5–5 Nov 1997 Aachen , GermanyChallenger Hard Hendrik Dreekmann 7–5, 6–7, 3–6 Win 6–5 Jun 1998 Zagreb , CroatiaChallenger Clay Mariano Puerta 7–5, 6–1 Loss 6–6 Jun 2001 Prostějov , Czech RepublicChallenger Clay Bohdan Ulihrach 4–6, 7–6(7–5) , 3–6 Loss 6–7 Jun 2002 Prostějov , Czech RepublicChallenger Clay Guillermo Coria 3–6, 3–6
Doubles: 6 (5–1) Legend ATP Challenger (5–1) ITF Futures (0–0)
Finals by surface Hard (0–0) Clay (4–1) Grass (0–0) Carpet (1–0)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score Win 1–0 Dec 1994 Prostějov , Czech RepublicChallenger Carpet Radomír Vašek Sjeng Schalken Joost Winnink 6–7, 6–3, 6–4 Win 2–0 Jun 1995 Košice , SlovakiaChallenger Clay David Rikl Jeff Tarango Adrian Voinea 7–6, 6–2 Win 3–0 Jul 1995 Oberstaufen , GermanyChallenger Clay Tomáš Krupa Lorenzo Manta Patrick Mohr 4–6, 6–4, 6–3 Win 4–0 Jun 1997 Prostějov , Czech RepublicChallenger Clay David Rikl Scott Melville Diego Nargiso 6–4, 6–2 Loss 4–1 Apr 1998 Prague , Czech RepublicChallenger Clay Radek Štěpánek Joan Balcells Nenad Zimonjić 6–7, 6–7 Win 5–1 May 1998 Košice , SlovakiaChallenger Clay David Rikl Nebojsa Djordjevic Marcos Ondruska 7–6, 6–4
Top 10 wins Season 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Total Wins 0 0 0 1 4 0 1 3 2 3 3 4 0 0 21
# Player Rank Event Surface Rd Score 1996 1. Boris Becker 6 Basel , SwitzerlandHard (i) 2R 6–3, 7–6(7–4) 45 1997 2. Carlos Moyá 9 Dubai , United Arab EmiratesHard 1R 2–6, 6–0, 7–5 67 3. Richard Krajicek 6 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Hard QF 6–2, 6–2 67 4. Carlos Moyá6 Ostrava , Czech RepublicCarpet (i) 2R 6–4, 6–4 63 5. Sergi Bruguera 10 Moscow , RussiaCarpet (i) 1R 2–6, 6–1, 6–4 53 1999 6. Todd Martin 4 Vienna , AustriaCarpet (i) 1R 7–6(7–3) , 6–7(5–7) , 6–4 34 2000 7. Tim Henman 10 Davis Cup , Ostrava, Czech RepublicClay (i) RR 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 44 8. Pete Sampras 2 Davis Cup , Los Angeles, United StatesHard (i) RR 7–6(7–1) , 6–3, 6–2 39 9. Thomas Enqvist 7 Toronto , CanadaHard 3R 6–2, 1–6, 3–1, ret. 55 2001 10. Àlex Corretja 9 Gstaad , SwitzerlandClay SF 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 40 11. Juan Carlos Ferrero 5 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay F 6–1, 6–7(5–7) , 7–5 40 2002 12. Yevgeny Kafelnikov 4 Dubai , United Arab EmiratesHard QF 6–1, 6–1 17 13. Sébastien Grosjean 8 Davis Cup , Pau, FranceCarpet (i) RR 3–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–1 15 14. Andre Agassi 2 Tennis Masters Cup , Shanghai, ChinaHard (i) RR 7–5, 6–1 7 2003 15. Carlos Moyá4 World Team Cup , Düsseldorf, GermanyClay RR 4–6, 7–6(7–5) , 6–2 14 16. Roger Federer 3 Gstaad , SwitzerlandClay F 5–7, 6–3, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3 10 17. Juan Carlos Ferrero1 Paris , FranceCarpet (i) 3R 7–5, 7–5 18 2004 18. Tim Henman5 Summer Olympics , Athens, GreeceHard 1R 6–3, 6–3 24 19. Lleyton Hewitt 3 Tokyo , JapanHard SF 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 28 20. Tim Henman4 Basel , SwitzerlandCarpet (i) QF 7–6(7–5) , 7–5 20 21. David Nalbandian 10 Basel, Switzerland Carpet (i) F 5–7, 6–3, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2 20
Tennis records One of eleven players to beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon (1999); the other ten being Yevgeny Kafelnikov (2000), Tim Henman (2001), Mario Ančić (2002), Rafael Nadal (2008), Tomáš Berdych (2010), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (2011), Sergiy Stakhovsky (2013), Novak Djokovic (2014, 2015, 2019), Milos Raonic (2016), Kevin Anderson (2018) and Hubert Hurkacz (2021).
References
External links