Grega Žemlja

Grega Žemlja
Country (sports)  Slovenia
Residence Kranj, Slovenia
Born (1986-09-29) 29 September 1986
Jesenice, Slovenia
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coach(es) Žiga Janškovec
Prize money $ 1,123,145
Official website grega-zemlja.com
Singles
Career record 46–48
Career titles 0
6 Challengers, 11 Futures
Highest ranking No. 43 (15 July 2013)
Current ranking No. 179 (1 February 2016)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open 1R (2010, 2011, 2013)
French Open 2R (2010, 2013)
Wimbledon 3R (2013)
US Open 3R (2012)
Doubles
Career record 15–20
Career titles 0
1 Challenger, 3 Futures
Highest ranking No. 252 (21 November 2011)
Current ranking No. 560 (1 February 2016)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open 1R (2013)
French Open 2R (2013)
Wimbledon 1R (2013)
US Open 1R (2013)
Team competitions
Davis Cup 18-12 (singles)
12-10 (doubles)
Last updated on: 6 February 2016.

Grega Žemlja (born 29 September 1986) is a tennis player from Slovenia.

He has won five singles titles and one doubles title on the ATP Challenger Tour. In 2012, he reached the third round of the US Open, the first Slovenian male player ever to reach that stage in a Grand Slam tournament. He is also the first Slovenian ATP player who in 2013 reached third round at Wimbledon. He reached his highest ATP ranking, no. 43, in singles on May 22, 2013, becoming the first Slovene ATP player in top 50. He became the first Slovene player earning over 1 million US dollars in prize money, and he is the highest-paid Slovene player in history. He represents his country as a member of Slovenia Davis Cup team.

Tennis career

2009

2009 was Žemlja's first year at the main draw on the ATP Tour. For the first time in his career he qualified for the main draw of Wimbledon where he lost in first round against Albert Montañés. He was the second Slovenian male player ever to play in the main draw of the Grand Slam tournament.

2010

For the first time in his career he qualified for the main draw of the Australian Open where he lost in first round against Benjamin Becker. He became the first ever Slovenian male player to play in the main draw of Australian Open.

Žemlja qualified for the 2010 French Open and scored a major upset over the #26 seed Juan Mónaco 7–6(8–6), 3–6, 7–5, 6–3, in his first ever Grand Slam victory. He became the first Slovenian male player to win a single match in the Grand Slam tournament. He also became the first Slovenian male player to perform in three different Grand Slam tournaments on three different surfaces.

For the first time in his career he participated in the ATP World Tour 500 series tournament at 2010 Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. where he lost the second round match against Andy Roddick.

Together with Slovenia Davis Cup Team he won the 2010 Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II, ensuring Slovenia to advance to Europe/Africa Zone Group I.

2011

For the second consecutive year, he qualified for the main draw of Australian Open where he lost the first round match against Marcos Baghdatis in five sets.

As a lucky loser, he also qualified for the 2011 Wimbledon Championships. He became the first Slovenian male player to win a single match in the main draw of Wimbledon, but lost his second round match against Gaël Monfils.

2012

He played at 2012 Qatar Open in Doha and lost 2–6, 3–6 against Roger Federer in second round.

He received a wild card to participate in the 2012 Wimbledon Championships,[1] where he lost the second round match against Fernando Verdasco.

On August 6, 2012 he entered the top 100 of the ATP Rankings.

For the first time in his career he qualified for the main draw of the US Open. Beating Ricardo Mello and Cedrik-Marcel Stebe in first two rounds, he became the first Slovenian male player ever to reach the third round of the Grand Slam tournament. In the third round[2] he lost against Janko Tipsarević.

At 2012 Erste Bank Open tournament in Vienna, Austria, he reached his and Slovenian first male historic ATP Final,[3] where he lost 5-7, 3-6 to Juan Martín del Potro. With that result he became the first Slovenian male tennis player to reach TOP 50 on ATP rankings.

2013

At 2013 Australian Open for the first time he directly entered Grand Slam tournament. He lost 6–7(6–8), 6–7(5–7), 0-1 retiring in 1st round against Marcel Granollers. He also played his first Men's Doubles Grand Slam tournament.

He played against Roger Federer for the second time in his career in Rotterdam at 2013 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament of ATP 500 series. He lost 3-6, 1-6 in 1st round.

For he first time in his career he played in main draw of ATP 1000 Masters series at 2013 Miami Masters. As a first Slovenian he reached 3R and lost 4-6, 4-6 against Gilles Simon.

At 2013 French Open he reached second round where he lost 1-6, 7-5, 1-6, 4-6 against Kei Nishikori. In Men's Doubles partnering Aljaž Bedene they lost 5-7, 1-6 against Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi/Jean-Julien Rojer in 2nd round. This is the first historic win in 1st round of Grand Slam Slovenian Men's Doubles and first Slovene Men's Doubles performance in Rolland Garros.

At 2013 Wimbledon Championships, he beat Michael Russell and 29th seed Grigor Dimitrov, becoming the first Slovene player in the third round of Wimbledon, where he lost in straight sets to Juan Martin del Potro. Partnering Aljaž Bedene in the first round of men's doubles they lost against Sanchai Ratiwatana and Sonchat Ratiwatana. This was the first Slovene men's doubles team at Wimbledon.

ATP career finals

Singles: 1 (1 runner-up)

Legend (Singles)
Grand Slam tournaments(0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0)
ATP World Tour 500 Series (0–0)
ATP World Tour 250 Series (0–1)
Titles by Surface
Hard (0–1)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Runner-up 1. 21 October 2012 Erste Bank Open, Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Argentina Juan Martín del Potro 5–7, 3–6

Davis Cup

Singles performances (18–10)

Edition Round Date Against Surface Opponent Result Outcome
2005 Europe/Africa Zone Group II 1R 3-04-2005 Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Hard (I) Ivory Coast Valentin Sanon 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 Win
QF 7-15-2005 Latvia Latvia Clay Latvia Ernests Gulbis 5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 6–4 Win
SF 9-25-2005 Portugal Portugal Clay Portugal Rui Machado 3–6, 3–6, 6–2, 4–6 Loss
2006 Europe/Africa Zone Group II 1R 4-07-2006 Algeria Algeria Clay Algeria Slimane Saoudi 7–5, 6–2 Win
4-09-2006 Algeria Lamine Ouahab 3–6, 6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 4–6 Loss
RPO 7-21-2006 Republic of Ireland Ireland Grass Republic of Ireland Kevin Sorensen 6–2, 7–5, 6–1 Win
7-23-2006 Republic of Ireland Conor Niland 6–4, 6–2 Win
2007 Europe/Africa Zone Group II 1R 4-06-2007 Estonia Estonia Carpet (I) Estonia Jurgen Zopp 4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–3), 6–3 Win
4-08-2007 Estonia Mait Kunnap 6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 6–7(2–7), 6–3 Win
QF 7-22-2007 Morocco Morocco Hard Morocco Younes El Aynaoui 6–7(2–7), 2–6, 4–6 Loss
2008 Europe/Africa Zone Group II RPO 7-18-2008 Tunisia Tunisia Clay Tunisia Malek Jaziri 3–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 Win
2009 Europe/Africa Zone Group II 1R 3-06-2009 Egypt Egypt Carpet (I) Egypt Sherif Sabry 7–5, 7–6(8–6), 6–2 Win
QF 7-10-2009 Lithuania Lithuania Clay Lithuania Ričardas Berankis 6–1, 6–4, 6–3 Win
7-12-2009 Lithuania Dovydas Sakinis 6–4, 2–6, 6–1 Win
SF 9-18-2009 Latvia Latvia Carpet (I) Latvia Andis Juška 6–1, 6–1, 6–4 Win
9-20-2009 Latvia Ernests Gulbis 2–6, 6–3, 3–6, 5–7 Loss
2010 Europe/Africa Zone Group II 1R 3-05-2010 Norway Norway Hard (I) Norway Erling Tveit 6–2, 6–2, 7–6(7–2) Win
QF 7-09-2010 Bulgaria Bulgaria Clay Bulgaria Todor Enev 6–2, 6–1 Win
SF 9-17-2010 Lithuania Lithuania Hard (I) Lithuania Ričardas Berankis 7–6(7–2), 6–4, 6–3 Win
9-19-2010 Lithuania Laurynas Grigelis 6–3, 7–6(7–4), 6–3 Win
2011 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 1R 3-04-2011 Finland Finland Clay (I) Finland Jarkko Nieminen 6–3, 3–6, 4–6, 3–6 Loss
3-06-2011 Finland Micke Kontinen 2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–3 Win
2R 7-08-2011 Italy Italy Clay Italy Fabio Fognini 6–1, 4–6, 4–6, 4–6 Loss
7-10-2011 Italy Simone Bolelli 5–7, 3–6 Loss
2012 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 1R 2-10-2012 Denmark Denmark Hard (I) Denmark Kristian Pless 6–0, 6–1, 6–4 Win
2R 4-06-2012 South Africa South Africa Hard South Africa Izak van der Merwe 1–6, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6 Loss
2013 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 1R 1-02-2013 Poland Poland Hard (I) Poland Łukasz Kubot 3-6, 2-6, 0-6 Loss
3-02-2013 Poland Jerzy Janowicz 6–7(4–7), 3–6, 3–6 Loss

Doubles performances (11–8)

Edition Round Date Partnering Against Surface Opponents Result Outcome
2005 Europe/Africa Zone Group II 1R 3-05-2005 Slovenia Rok Jarc Ivory Coast Ivory Coast Hard (I) Ivory Coast Claude N'Goran
Ivory Coast Valentin Sanon
6–2, 6–2 ret. Win
SF 9-24-2005 Portugal Portugal Clay Portugal Frederico Gil
Portugal Leonardo Tavares
4–6, 2–6, 4–6 Loss
2006 Europe/Africa Zone Group II 1R 4-08-2006 Slovenia Rok Jarc Algeria Algeria Clay Algeria Lamine Ouahab
Algeria Slimane Saoudi
2–6, 2–6, 4–6 Loss
RPO 7-22-2006 Slovenia Luka Gregorc Republic of Ireland Ireland Grass Republic of Ireland James Cluskey
Republic of Ireland Stephen Nugent
6–7(7–9), 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 7–5 Win
2007 Europe/Africa Zone Group II 1R 4-07-2007 Slovenia Luka Gregorc Estonia Estonia Clay (I) Estonia Mait Kunnap
Estonia Jurgen Zopp
2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 4–6 Loss
QF 7-21-2007 Morocco Morocco Hard Morocco Reda El Amrani
Morocco Younes El Aynaoui
6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 Win
2008 Europe/Africa Zone Group II 1R 4-12-2008 Slovenia Marko Tkalec Cyprus Cyprus Hard Cyprus Marcos Baghdatis
Cyprus Photos Kallias
6–7(4–7), 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 1–6 Loss
RPO 7-19-2008 Slovenia Luka Gregorc Tunisia Tunisia Clay Tunisia Haithem Abid
Tunisia Malek Jaziri
6–3, 5–7, 6–7(5–7), 5–7 Loss
2009 Europe/Africa Zone Group II 1R 3-07-2009 Slovenia Marko Tkalec Egypt Egypt Carpet (I) Egypt Karim Maamoun
Egypt Sherif Sabry
6–2, 6–3, 6–3 Win
QF 7-19-2009 Slovenia Andrej Kračman Lithuania Lithuania Clay Lithuania Ričardas Berankis
Lithuania Vadim Pinko
7–6(7–2), 6–3, 6–3 Win
SF 9-19-2009 Slovenia Luka Gregorc Latvia Latvia Carpet (I) Latvia Ernests Gulbis
Latvia Deniss Pavlovs
6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 6–4 Win
2010 Europe/Africa Zone Group II 1R 3-06-2010 Slovenia Luka Gregorc Norway Norway Hard (I) Norway Erling Tveit
Norway Stian Boretti
7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–5), 7–5 Win
QF 7-10-2010 Bulgaria Bulgaria Clay Bulgaria Grigor Dimitrov
Bulgaria Ivaylo Traykov
6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–2), 7–6(14–12), 6–3 Win
SF 9-18-2010 Lithuania Lithuania Hard (I) Lithuania Ričardas Berankis
Lithuania Laurynas Grigelis
7–5, 6–4, 1–6, 3–6, 3–6 Loss
2011 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 1R 3-05-2011 Slovenia Luka Gregorc Finland Finland Clay (I) Finland Harri Heliovaara
Finland Jarkko Nieminen
6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 Win
2R 7-09-2011 Slovenia Blaž Kavčič Italy Italy Clay Italy Simone Bolelli
Italy Daniele Bracciali
6–7, 6–7, 2–6 Loss
2012 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 1R 2-11-2012 Slovenia Blaž Kavčič Denmark Denmark Hard (I) Denmark Thomas Kromann
Denmark Frederik Nielsen
6–4, 6–7, 6–4, 7–5 Win
2R 4-07-2012 Slovenia Blaž Kavčič South Africa South Africa Hard South Africa Raven Klaasen
South Africa Izak van der Merwe
7–6(7–5), 6–7(4–7), 1–6, 4–6 Loss
2013 Europe/Africa Zone Group I 1R 2-02-2012 Slovenia Blaž Kavčič Poland Poland Hard (I) Poland Mariusz Fyrstenberg
Poland Marcin Matkowski
6–3, 2–6, 6–2, 4–6, 13-11 Win

Singles performance timeline

Tournament20052006 20072008200920102011201220132014Career W–L
Grand Slam Tournaments
Australian Open A A A A LQ 1R 1R LQ 1R A 0–3
French Open A A A A LQ 2R LQ LQ 2R 2–2
Wimbledon A A A A 1R LQ 2R 2R 3R 4–4
US Open A A LQ A LQ LQ LQ 3R 1R 2–2
Win–Loss 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–2 3–2 3–4 8–11
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Miami A A A A A A LQ LQ 3R 2–1
Montreal/Toronto A A A A A LQ A A 1R 0–1
Win–Loss 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 2–2
ATP World Tour 500 series
Rotterdam A A A A A A A A 1R 0–1
Barcelona A A A A A A A A 1R 0–1
Washington, D.C. A A A A A 2R A A 1R 1–2
Beijing A A A A A LQ 1R LQ A 0–1
Win–Loss 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 0–3 1–5
ATP World Tour 250 series
Doha A A A A A A A 2R 2R A 2–2
Auckland A A A A A A A A 1R A 0–1
Zagreb A A LQ LQ A A A 2R 2R 2–2
Casablanca A A A A A A A A QF 2–1
Munich A A A A A LQ A A 2R 1–1
Düsseldorf World Team Cup 2R 1–1
London/Queen's Club A A A A A LQ A A 3R 2–1
Eastbourne Not Held A A A A 1R 0-1
Newport A A A A A A A 1R A 0–1
Umag A A A A 1R LQ A A A 0–1
Winston-Salem A A A A A A A A 1R 0–1
St. Petersburg A A A A A A A 2R A 1–1
Kuala Lumpur A A A A A A A A 1R 0–1
Vienna A A A A A 2R LQ F A 5–2
Win–Loss 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–1 0–0 7–5 8–10 16–17
National Representation
Davis Cup 3R PO 2R PO 3R W 2R 2R 1R 18-10
Win–Loss 2–1 3–1 2–1 1–0 4–1 4–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 18–10
Statistics
Overall Win–Loss 2–1 3–1 2–1 1–0 4–3 7–4 2–6 11–8 13–21 45–45
Win % 67% 75% 67% 100% 57% 64% 25% 58% 38% 50%
Year End Ranking 335 340 323 267 175 142 116 55 121 N/A
* Statistics correct as of January 13, 2014.
ATP profile cites incorrect 44–45 W–L career singles statistics (correct is 45–45). His win 6–2, 6–2, 7–6(7–2) against Erling Tveit[4] (NOR) in 1R of 2010 EAG II (SLO vs. NOR) on March 5, 2010 is missing.
ATP profile cites incorrect 13–17 W–L career doubles statistics (correct is 14–17). His win 7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–5), 7–5 partnering Luka Gregorc vs. Stian Boretti/Erling Tveit[5] (NOR) in 1R of 2010 EAG II (SLO vs. NOR) on March 6, 2010 is not counted.

Head-to-head statistics

vs. Top 10 ranked players

Žemlja's win–loss record against players who have been ranked World No. 10 or higher:

Players who have been ranked World No. 1 are in boldface.
OpponentHighest rankingMatchesWonLostWin %Last match
Switzerland Roger Federer 1 3 0 3 0% Lost (3–6, 2-6, 5–7) at 2013 US Open 1R
United States Andy Roddick 1 1 0 1 0% Lost (7–6(8–6), 3–6, 7–5, 6–3) at 2010 Washington, D.C. 2R
Germany Tommy Haas 2 1 1 0 100% Won (6–4, 4–6, 6–2) at 2012 Vienna QF
Argentina Juan Martín del Potro 4 2 0 2 0% Lost (5–7, 6–7(3–7), 0-6) at 2013 Wimbledon 3R
France Gilles Simon 6 1 0 1 0% Lost (4–6, 4–6) at 2013 Miami 3R
Czech Republic Tomáš Berdych 6 1 0 1 0% Lost (3-6, 4-6) at 2013 London/Queen's Club 3R
France Gaël Monfils 7 1 0 1 0% Lost (6–4, 3–6, 3–6, 6–7(7–9)) at 2011 Wimbledon 2R
Spain Fernando Verdasco 7 1 0 1 0% Lost (6–7(4–7), 6–7(4–7), 6–3, 3–6) at 2012 Wimbledon 2R
France Richard Gasquet 7 1 0 1 0% Lost (7–6(9–7), 4–6, 6–7(3–7)) at 2013 Doha 2R
Russia Mikhail Youzhny 8 1 0 1 0% Lost (1–6, 3–6) at 2012 Zagreb 2R
Serbia Janko Tipsarević 8 3 1 2 33% Lost (4–6, 2–6) at 2013 Munich 2R
Cyprus Marcos Baghdatis 8 1 0 1 0% Lost (6–3, 5–7, 1–6, 6–4, 2–6) at 2011 Australian Open 1R
Croatia Marin Čilić 9 1 0 1 0% Lost (2–6, 3–6) at 2013 Zagreb 2R
Argentina Juan Mónaco 10 1 1 0 100% Won (7–6(8–6), 3–6, 7–5, 6–3) at 2010 French Open 1R
Total 19 3 16 16%
* Statistics correct as of January 13, 2014.

Full list

Žemlja's career win–loss record in singles matches on ATP World Tour, Grand Slam and Davis Cup Main Draw:

* ATP statistics doesn't include Walkovers (w/o), Qualifying matches, or matches at a Challenger or Futures event, Hopman Cup, or any other fraction of the exhibition event.
Players who have been ranked World No. 1 are in boldface.

45–45

From 4 March 2005 to 13 January 2014

References

External links

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