2001 IN REVIEW
The young Czech Republic native finished in his highest year-end position, winning a career-best 20 matches and capturing his first ATP title...Began season in style with victory in Chennai, defeating Gonzalez, Kempes, No. 3 seed Pioline, Pless and Stoliarov in final...At Australian Open, scored impressive victories over Gaudenzi and Canas before losing to No. 2 Safin...Went 7-2 in January and remained in ATP Champions Race Top 10 throughout month...Won only two matches in next two months before arriving in Houston in April, when he advanced to SF (l. to H.T. Lee)...In May, reached third SF of season on clay at St. Poelten (l. to Hipfl)...Suffered opening round losses at Roland Garros (l. to Grosjean) and Wimbledon (l. to Pioline) before reaching QF at Bastad in July...Failed to win back-to-back matches in next nine events including Davis Cup for remainder of year (3-9)...Compiled 10-3 record on clay, 9-9 on hard courts, 0-1 on grass and 1-3 on carpet...Earned a career-high $259,704.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1995 - Advanced to QF at Pilzen Challenger in his second tournament...1996 - Performed well in his home country...In ATP debut, reached QF in Prague, losing to Ulhrach...Also a SF at Pilzen and Prostejov Challengers...1997 - Finished second at Czech-Moravian Satellite (43 ATP points) and third at Portugal #1 Satellite (28 points)...Reached first career Challenger final in Pilzen (l. to Santopadre) along with QF in three other Challengers (Prague, Oberstaufen, Skopje)...Lost to No. 7 Moya in 1st RD of Ostrava in one of two ATP appearances...1998 - Won first career Challenger title in Prague (d. Schranz) in April...Reached SF in Oberstaufen and Tel Aviv and QF in Napoli and Contrexeville Challengers...In lone ATP appearance, reached 2nd RD in Prague...1999 - Compiled a 24-13 match record in Challenger play, winning three titles in Prague (d. Lisnard), Lugano (d. Agenor) and Freudenstadt (d. Stanoytchev)...In his lone ATP outing of year in Prague, defeated Stepanek, Fromberg and Stanoytchev before losing to eventual winner Hrbaty...In doubles, reached final in Freudenstadt (w/Vik)...2000-Compiled best results in Challengers with 33-10 record...Opened season with biggest career victory over No. 2 Kafelnikov in Chennai...Made Grand Slam debut at Australian Open and lost to Ullyett in four sets in 1st RD...In September, won back-to-back Challenger titles in Freudenstadt (d. Andersen) and Graz (d. D. Sanchez) dropping only one set in 10 matches.
PERSONAL
Began playing tennis at age three with his father, Michal, who works in a school...Mother, Broniscava, is a housewife...Has one younger brother, Jacob...His family lives in a small town called Komenskeho, 15 minutes away from Prostejov, where he practices...Enjoys spending time with his family and friends...While growing up also played soccer and hockey...A big heavy metal music and his favorite group is Metallica...Finished as No. 9 ranked junior in world in 1996 when he reached SF at Roland Garros and won Czech junior championships... Also ranked No. 12 in 1995 junior rankings...Considers forehand as best shot and clay as favorite surface...Coached by Daniel Trcka, who also works with Jiri Novak.
