Jan Hajek

2006 IN REVIEW

The Czech Republic No. 3 (behind Berdych, Stepanek) finished in Top 100 for first time by putting together outstanding Challenger results...He claimed four Challenger titles and compiled a 33-8 record to vault into Top 100 of ATP Rankings...Began season with a 2-2 Futures record in first two weeks but played just one more event until mid-March...Won title in first event back at Barletta Challenger (d. Galvani)...Reached back-to-back Challenger QF in March and April...Reached final at Prague Challenger (l. to Vik) in May...In next event, won biggest title at Prostejov Challenger, defeating countryman Berdych in 2nd RD and Hrbaty for title...Later in June, claimed title at Braunschweig Challenger (d. Vicente)...Following month, defeated Bozoljac to claim Poznan Challenger...Made ATP debut at New Haven (l. to Gicquel)...Won first career match in Grand Slam debut at US Open, defeating countryman Dlouhy before falling to Gonzalez...Also reached 2nd RD in Palermo (d. Ulihrach, l. to Verdasco)...Made Grand Slam doubles debut at US Open (w/Berdych) and l. to Knowles-Nestor... Reached SF in Palermo for second straight year (w/Cibulec)...Won title at Bergamo Challenger (w/Pospisil)... Earned a career-high $136,375.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2000 – One first career Futures title in Jamaica (d. Ortegren)…Doubles finalist in Polish Futures (w/ Leysek)…2001 – Posted a 33-20 Futures record…Claimed title in Slovak Challenger (d. Hasko)…Finalist at Futures events in Czech Republic (l. to Perez) and Poland (l. to Frystenberg)…2002 – Won three titles and reached two other finals while compiling a 35-10 Futures record…One title came in Poland (d. Frystenberg) and two were in Slovakia (d. Svarc and Novak)…Best Challenger result was a SF in Budadors (l. to Moyano)…Had three wins and three runner-up finishes in Futures doubles…2003 – Played first tournament in March, reaching SF at Kyoto Challenger (l. to Behr)…Also reached doubles final in Kyoto (w/ Wang)…2004 – In limited action, posted a Challengers record of 4-8 and a Futures mark of 7-4…2005 – Won a pair of Futures titles in the Czech Republic (d. Jecminek and Lacko)..Was 11-2 in Futures and 8-7 in Challengers…Made ATP doubles debut in Palermo (w/Pospisil) and reached SF with a win and a walkover…Reached Prostejov Challenger doubles final (w/ Masic).

PERSONAL

Began playing tennis at age six with his father, Svatopluk, who is a tennis coach; mother, Eva, is a school teacher... Has one younger sister, Radka, who is a student... Nicknamed Hajecek, Hajos and Gejza...Hobbies include playing soccer and watching hockey...Growing up, admired Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 Andre Agassi along with countryman, hockey superstar Jaromir Jagr...Considers clay his favorite surface and backhand his best shot...Says, his goal is "to get into Top 50 of ATP Rankings and to stay there as long as I can"...Coached by Jiri Novak.