Jiri Novak

Began playing tennis at age six... Runner-up in singles and doubles winner at the European Championships in Lisbon in 1993... Also a QF at the Wimbledon juniors that year... Enjoys hockey and soccer... Played goalkeeper for NHL players against ATP players in annual street hockey challenge in Montreal in 2001... Played in 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics Games... Has a 26-7 career Davis Cup record (16-5 in singles) in 16 ties since 1996... Considers forehand as best shot and clay his best surface, winning four of his five career titles on it... Wife, Katerina (married June 4, 1999); son, Jakub (born Dec. 16, 1998); twins Jiri Jr. and daughter Katerina (born May 23, 2001)... Coached by Czech Republic Davis Cup captain Jan Kukal.

2005 -- The Czech Republic veteran finished in Top 50 for sixth time in seven years, highlighted by a runner-up in his first tournament... Did not drop a set en route to his first career ATP final on U.S. soil in Delray Beach before falling to Malisse in straight sets... In late February, advanced to QF in Acapulco (l. to Calleri)... One month later, reached 4th RD in Miami (l. to T. Johansson), his best ATP Masters Series result of season... On grass, equaled his best result at Wimbledon with a 3rd RD showing (l. to Mirnyi)... In July, returned to clay and advanced to SF in Umag (l. to Moya)... Did not win back-to-back matches rest of season... Compiled records of 10-13 on clay, 8-9 on hard, 2-2 on grass and 1-2 on carpet... Went 0-4 vs. Top 10 opponents... In doubles, won his 17th career title in Umag (w/Pala).

2004 -- The No. 1 Czech Republic player for sixth straight year won two ATP titles and finished in Top 25…Opened season with SF in Auckland (l. to Nadal) and followed with 3rd RD at Australian Open (l. to Pavel in five sets)…In May, turned in a QF showing at AMS Rome (l. to Costa) and took eventual Roland Garros champion Gaudio to five sets in 2nd RD in Paris…Moved on to grass courts and reached SF in Halle (l. to Federer)… Returned to clay in July and advanced to consecutive QF in Gstaad, Stuttgart and Umag…His best stretch came after his 3rd RD exit at US Open (l. to Agassi), as he finished season by winning 13 of last 16 matches…In October, advanced to SF in Shanghai (l. to Canas) and followed with title in Tokyo (d. No. 3 Hewitt in SF, d. Dent in F)…Three weeks later captured title with five-set win over Nalbandian in Basel…Compiled records of 19-10 on hard, 14-9 on clay, 5-1 on carpet and 3-2 on grass…In doubles, captured title in Stuttgart (w/Stepanek) and reached final in Auckland (w/Stepanek) and Tokyo (w/Pala).

2003 -- Appeared in a career-high three ATP finals, winning one ATP title... Began with a runner-up in Dubai (l. to Federer)...At Roland Garros, turned in his best Grand Slam result by reaching 4th RD (l. to Moya)...On grass, compiled a 6-3 mark with QF in Halle and ‘s-Hertogenbosch and career-best 3rd RD at Wimbledon... Returned to clay in July in Gstaad and captured his fifth career ATP title over newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Federer in five sets...Went 4-1 in five-set matches during year...Advanced to 3rd RD (or better) at US Open for fifth consecutive year (l. to El Aynaoui in five sets)...Then helped his country back into Davis Cup World Group for 2004 by winning both of his matches against Thailand...Followed up by reaching his 10th career ATP final in Shanghai (l. to Philippoussis)…Closed season at AMS Paris where he defeated No. 1 Ferrero in 3rd RD and Arazi in QF before losing to Pavel in SF...Came within one match win in Paris of finishing in Top 10 for second straight year...Compiled 21-12 record on hard and 15-9 on clay. 

2002 -- Became first player from his country to finish in Top 10 since Petr Korda in 1992...Also, first player from Czech Republic to appear in year-end championship since Korda in ‘92...Won a career-high 53 matches, besting his previous total of 31 in 1996...Reached two finals and six other SF, including a final four spot at Australian Open (l. to T. Johansson), his best Grand Slam result...On clay, advanced to SF at AMS Roma (l. to eventual winner Agassi)...In July, reached SF in Stuttgart and in first summer hard court event at AMS Toronto followed with SF...In October, jumped from 11th to 5th in INDESIT ATP Race after back-to-back runner-up performances in Vienna (l. to Federer) and AMS Madrid (withdrew vs. Agassi)...Injured his right hamstring in SF win over Santoro in Madrid and was forced to pull out of his first Tennis Masters final...Qualified for his first Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai and went 1-2 in round robin play, beating Agassi in opening match...In doubles, reached four finals, including his second Grand Slam event at US Open (w/Stepanek)...Finished No. 21 in doubles...Turned in a career-best 33-14 record on hard courts (7-10 previous year) and went 15-7 on clay...Earned a career-high $1,454,130.

2001 -- Finished in Top 35 for first time in his career, winning two ATP singles and two doubles titles...Also reached his first Grand Slam doubles final...In May in Munich captured his third career ATP title (d. Dupuis)...After slow start, compiled a 28-11 mark from May through rest of year...In doubles, reached his first Grand Slam final at All England Club, losing to Johnson-Palmer in four sets...Returned to clay in Gstaad and posted impressive wins over Coria, Mantilla, Kratochvil, Corretja and Ferrero in final to win his second title...Following week in Stuttgart, reached SF...Helped his country return to Davis Cup World Group in 2002 by winning singles (d. Pavel) and doubles matches (w/Rikl)...Closed indoor circuit with QF in Moscow and AMS Paris...Compiled career-best 15-4 mark on clay...Finished No. 3 in ATP Doubles Race (w/Rikl) and No. 8 in doubles individually after winning AMS titles in Miami and Montreal...Also a finalist in Copenhagen and Vienna (all w/Rikl).  

2000 -- His best finish in singles was SF in Toronto...Also reached QF in four other events, three on clay...Compiled a 3-1 Davis Cup record in singles, posting straight-sets wins over Henman in 1st RD and Sampras in QF...In doubles, reached seven finals and finished a year-end best No. 10...Won titles in Dubai, Gstaad, Stuttgart and AMS Stuttgart, finishing No. 5 on ATP Doubles Race (all w/Rikl). 

1999 -- Finished as No. 1 player from Czech Republic...His best singles result was SF on clay in Stuttgart...Reached 4th RD at US Open...In doubles, reached four finals, including AMS Monte Carlo (all w/Rikl)...Served as alternate at ATP World Doubles Championship. 

1998 -- Captured first ATP title in two years in Mexico City (d. Malisse) and won career-best four doubles titles (three w/Rikl).

1997 -- Reached SF in Auckland and Dubai and QF in Indianapolis and Ostrava...Defeated No. 9 Moya and No. 6 Krajicek in Dubai...Won Indian Wells Challenger (d. Dosedel)...Missed more than two months from mid-March until early June with a blood virus.

1996 -- Won first ATP title in Auckland (d. Steven) and reached another final in Mexico City (l. to Muster)...Posted first Top 10 win over Becker in Basel.

1995 -- Captured three of seven Challenger finals (all on clay)...In doubles, won first ATP titles in Bogota and Santiago (w/Rikl) along with two Challengers.

1994 -- Won first career Challenger title in Prague-1...In doubles, won Prostejov (w/Vasek).