2004 IN REVIEW
The Czech Republic veteran finished in Top 100 for eighth time in 10 years…Also posted a double digit win total (11) for ninth time in 10 years…Began year by reaching the 2nd RD in Doha (d. Kiefer, l. to Grosjean) and Australian Open (d. Burgsmuller, l. to Roddick)…Reached SF at Wroclaw Challenger (l. to Beck)…Reached 2nd RD at AMS Miami (d. Muller, l. to Hrbaty)…Then lost in 1st RD of six straight events, including Roland Garros and Wimbledon…In midst of that stretch, reached SF at Prague Challenger (l. to Hernych)…Reached 2nd RD at Stuttgart with win over Hanescu to snap the streak before falling to Pavel…Reached QF at Aschaffenburg Challenger…Finished year strong by reaching SF in Tokyo with wins over Okun, Nieminen, Kohlmann and Phau before falling to Dent…Reached 2nd RD at Vienna (l. to F. Lopez)…Closed the year by reaching QF at Basel with wins over Horna and Heuberger (l. to Massu).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1994-Winner at Oberstaufen Challenger (d. Arazi)...1995-Won his first ATP title at Prague (d. J. Sanchez)...Won his second title in Montevideo (d. Berasategui)...1996-Reached final in hometown of Prague (l. to Kafelnikov) and led his country to final of ATP World Team Championship (l. to Switzerland)...1997-Defeated No. 1 Sampras at AMS Indian Wells en route to first hard court final (l. to Chang)...Advanced to final in Prague (l. to Pioline) and won Prostejov Challenger (d. Meligeni)...1998-Won title in Umag (d. M. Norman)...1999-Had best year in Grand Slams, reaching 4th RD at Australian Open and Roland Garros...Injured patella tendon in left knee forcing him to miss last three months of season... 2000-Returned to Top 100 with 14 match wins on clay...His best result was SF in Umag...Won title at Szczecin Challenger (d. A. Martin)...
2001-Reached ATP finals in Doha (l. to Rios) as a qualifier and Bastad (l. to Gaudenzi)
…Won a career-best 37 matches and earned a career-high $504,871...2002-Finished in Top 100 for third consecutive year and for seventh time in his career...Advanced to SF in Doha and Palermo while reaching QF in Rotterdam, Halle and Vienna…2003- Won his first US Open match (d. Abel) since 1998 and lost to No. 5 Coria in 2nd RD...Followed with SF at Aschaffenburg Challenger…Played on Czech Republic Davis Cup team vs. Thailand and lost close three-set match to No. 11 Srichaphan in second singles rubber...Remained in Asia and won opening round matches in Bangkok (d. Sanguinetti) and Tokyo (d. Miranda) before losing in 2nd RD in both events...Finished season with QF at Bratislava Challenger.
PERSONAL
Began playing tennis at age six and at 14 he was playing at a club in Prague...For several years he was living in a lodging house at tennis club...As a kid, his ambition was to drive a truck or sell ice cream...Big fan of soccer club Slavia Prague and of ice hockey...Enjoys typical Czech meals with dumplings...Enjoys literature, fishing, soccer, hockey, playing cards...Favorite surface is clay...Has an 11-6 career Davis Cup record in singles in nine ties... Coached by Robert Krechler.
