Denis Kudla reflects on memorable career: 'I didn't expect myself to do any of this'

When Denis Kudla was seven years old, he joined his father, Vladimir, and brother, Nikita, in taking up tennis. None of them had played the sport when one of Vladimir’s friends invited them out for a hit.

“I was a pretty crazy kid, and my parents saw the personality in me, and they said if I wasn't in something disciplined, I'd probably find myself in trouble. They probably weren't wrong.” Kudla told ATPTour.com. “It was all an accident. We were at a public park, Van Dyck Park, in Fairfax, Virginia, and then Joseph, a Filipino guy, came up to me, and he was like, ‘Your kid's really good’.”

Kudla was recommended to Burke Racquet Club and later the recently opened Junior Tennis Champions Center, where other stars including Frances Tiafoe have built their games. Renowned development coach Frank Salazar shaped Kudla's game for 10 years. By his mid-teens, Kudla was one of the best juniors in the world.

Sixteen years after turning professional as a 16-year-old, Kudla grew emotional Saturday evening at the United Cup in Sydney, where he brought to a close a career in which the American achieved more than he thought possible.

“It was super emotional last night. I would say I definitely cried multiple times. I'm not a crying person. I didn't expect emotions to take over. I thought that match was just to get on court and just participate and play,” Kudla said after partnering Desirae Krawczyk to a victory. “But then it just turned into a special moment. I didn't think I was going to retire in a stadium, a pretty full stadium too, and representing the country, which means everything to me.

“I'm glad that that happened, because it feels like I really am done. I'm really retired.”

^{Denis Kudla hugs Desirae Krawczyk after their win on Saturday at the United Cup. Photo: Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour}
Late in the evening, Kudla posted on social media announcing the end of his playing career. Many current and former pros flocked to the comments section to congratulate the 32-year-old, including Tiafoe, who shared a special message on his Instagram Story.

“Congrats on a dope career. I really appreciate you bro. More than you can ever imagine,” Tiafoe wrote. “You truly helped me believe that being a pro can be a reality. Especially coming out of the DMV where there are only a handful of guys to ever do it. Thanks for giving me game and support as a youngin’ and still to this day. Nothing but love for you.”

“That to me is super special, not only just saying thanks for the career, but a lot of compliments on just the person I am,” Kudla said. “I think that's something I've valued more and more with just being a good person and having relationships, and to know that even if these are people I talk to very rarely, they're acknowledging me, and there's a memory, and it's like, ‘Wow, maybe I did make an impact on some of these people’.”

Kudla was one of the most well-liked players among his peers, and he also set a standard with his work ethic and commitment. The nine-time ATP Challenger Tour champion enjoyed plenty of success, too.

The Kyiv-born Kudla climbed to a career-high No. 53 in the PIF ATP Rankings and played all the top players on the world’s biggest stages. He faced Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and more.

“I got to play the Big Four multiple times, all of them, except for Rafa, but still played them all. Got to play Centre Court at Wimbledon. Got to play on all the big stadiums, except for the French,” Kudla said. “Got to be Top 100, established myself. Now that I'm retired, I feel like I still played like 80 per cent of the Tour. I played a lot of legends.”

^{Novak Djokovic and Denis Kudla after their match at Wimbledon in 2021. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.}
Kudla reached the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2015 and the third round as a qualifier in 2021. His crisp backhand down the line and flat-hitting game always proved mettlesome on grass. He earned more than 36 per cent of his tour-level wins on the surface according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

While those moments were special for the American, he greatly enjoyed competing at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, his home event. After losing his first six matches at the tournament, the local favourite charged to the quarter-finals in 2015 and again in 2021. It was another feather in the cap of a player who simply hoped to one day crack the Top 100, and expected to get stuck in the 300-to-400 range.

“I didn't expect myself to do any of this. I think naturally, as individual athletes, we're so hard on ourselves, and we definitely doubt our ability a lot at times, unless you're a Top 5 guy,” Kudla said. “But it was definitely something special to reflect [on].”

Kudla began his newest chapter in December, coaching big-serving countryman Reilly Opelka. It is a challenge the 32-year-old is thrilled about taking on. It has been a time of change for Kudla, whose wife, Tyler, gave birth to their first child, Rush, last July.

“I talked to my wife again, and she's like, ‘Wow, you started your career, 16, a little teenager, long hair, and now you're a dad, bald, with the baby’,” Kudla said. “That's how I finished it. It's crazy how that works. But I think just the way I finished, I couldn't have asked for a better way to go out.”