Jürgen Melzer facts for kids

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Jürgen Melzer
Singles
Melzer at Wimbledon in 2015
Country (sports)	Austria
Residence	Deutsch-Wagram, Austria
Born	(1981-05-22) 22 May 1981 (age 44) Vienna, Austria
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro	1999
Retired	2021
Plays	Left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money	US$10,739,212
Career record	350–334 (51.17% in ATP Tour events)
Career titles	5
Highest ranking	No. 8 (18 April 2011)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	4R (2011)
French Open	SF (2010)
Wimbledon	4R (2010, 2013)
US Open	4R (2010)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games	QF (2008)
Doubles
Career record	375–297 (55.8% in ATP Tour events)
Career titles	17
Highest ranking	No. 6 (27 November 2010)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	SF (2005)
French Open	QF (2005)
Wimbledon	W (2010)
US Open	W (2011)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour Finals	F (2020)
Olympic Games	2R (2008, 2012)
Mixed doubles
Career titles	1
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open	QF (2009)
French Open	2R (2006)
Wimbledon	W (2011)
US Open	1R (2008, 2011, 2012)
Team competitions
Davis Cup	QF (2012)

Jürgen Melzer, born on May 22, 1981, is an Austrian tennis coach and a former professional tennis player. He achieved a high singles ranking of world No. 8 in April 2011. In doubles, he reached world No. 6 in September 2010. Jürgen has a younger brother, Gerald Melzer, who also plays tennis. They even played doubles together in some tournaments.

In 1999, Jürgen won the boys' singles title at Wimbledon. For many years, he was known as a great player who hadn't gone past the third round in a major tournament. He changed this by reaching the semifinals of the 2010 French Open. There, he famously beat Novak Djokovic after being two sets down. As of July 2025, he is still the only player to have done this against Djokovic.

Melzer had even more success in doubles. He won the men's doubles title at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships and the 2011 US Open with his partner Philipp Petzschner. He also won the mixed doubles title at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships with Iveta Benešová.

Career Highlights
Significant Finals
Images for kids
See also

Career Highlights

Early Life and Junior Success

Jürgen Melzer is a left-handed tennis player, but he uses his right hand for everyday activities. He started playing junior tennis when he was 14 years old in September 1995.

At the 1999 Australian Open, Melzer won the doubles title with Kristian Pless. Later that year, at the 1999 Wimbledon Championships, he won the singles title. He beat Kristian Pless, who was the junior world No. 1 at the time, in the final match.

Melzer finished his junior career after his Wimbledon victory. He reached a high junior ranking of world No. 26 in singles and No. 24 in doubles.

Starting Professional Tennis

Melzer began playing in professional tournaments in 1998. In 1999, he played his first main-draw match at the 1999 CA-TennisTrophy in Vienna. He won his first match there before losing to a top-ranked player.

In 2000, he made his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon. In 2001, he reached his first professional final in Slovakia. He then won his first Challenger title in Germany. He also achieved his first win against a top-20 player, Fabrice Santoro.

In 2002, Melzer reached his first ATP Tour semifinals at the Croatia Open. He also won his first Grand Slam match at the US Open. A big moment was when he beat world No. 2, Tommy Haas, at the Vienna Open.

In 2003, Melzer reached his first ATP Tour final at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. He also had his first Wimbledon victory by upsetting Fernando González.

Climbing the Ranks (2004-2009)

In 2004, Melzer reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time at the Australian Open. He also had notable wins against top players like Tim Henman and Andre Agassi at Masters Series events. He reached the quarterfinals of the Hamburg Masters and the Canada Masters.

In 2005, he continued to reach the third round of Grand Slams, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon. He reached his second ATP tour final in Austria.

In 2006, Melzer won his first ATP Tour title at the Romanian Open. He defeated Filippo Volandri in the final. He also reached another final at the Moselle Open.

In 2007, he reached the final of the Tennis Channel Open. He later suffered a wrist injury that kept him out for two months.

Melzer at the 2008 US Open

In 2008, Melzer reached the quarterfinals at the 2008 Hypo Group Tennis International. He also made it to the third round of the French Open and Wimbledon. At the Beijing Olympics, he reached the quarterfinals, losing to Rafael Nadal. He finished the year back in the top 40.

Melzer at the 2009 US Open

In 2009, Melzer won his second career title at the Bank Austria-TennisTrophy in Vienna. He beat Marin Čilić in the final. He also had a big win against world No. 5, Juan Martín del Potro, at the Shanghai Masters.

Breakthrough Years (2010-2011)

Melzer at the 2010 US Open

The year 2010 was a big one for Melzer. He reached the semifinals of the French Open. He had an amazing comeback win against Novak Djokovic, winning after being two sets down. He eventually lost to Rafael Nadal.

At the 2010 Wimbledon Championships, he achieved his first Grand Slam title. He won the men's doubles with his partner Philipp Petzschner.

Melzer with the 2010 "Austrian Sportsman of the Year" trophy

In October 2010, he won his third career singles title, defending his Vienna Open championship. He also had a huge win against world No. 1, Rafael Nadal, at the Shanghai Masters. This was his first time beating a reigning world No. 1. He was named Austrian Sportsman of the Year in November 2010.

Melzer at Wimbledon in 2011

In 2011, Melzer reached the fourth round of the Australian Open. This result helped him enter the top 10 singles rankings for the first time. At the Monte-Carlo Masters, he beat Roger Federer to reach the semifinals.

He had another major success at the 2011 US Open. He and Philipp Petzschner won the men's doubles title, their second Grand Slam together. He also won the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon with Iveta Benešová.

Later Career and Retirement

In 2012, Melzer won the singles title at the Memphis tournament. He also reached the semifinals in doubles at Wimbledon.

In 2013, he won his fifth singles title at the Winston-Salem Open. He also made it to the fourth round of Wimbledon.

Jürgen Melzer with his brother Gerald in 2015

In 2015, Melzer played against his younger brother Gerald in Wimbledon qualifying. Jürgen won, but later said it was the "worst tennis day of my life."

In 2016, after a long injury break, Melzer upset world No. 9, Dominic Thiem, at the Austrian Open. This was his first win against a top-10 player in over five years.

Melzer at the 2018 US Open

In 2018, Melzer announced he would retire from singles tennis. His last singles match was at the Vienna Open. He won his 350th and final career singles match there against Milos Raonic.

He continued to play doubles. In 2019, he won the doubles title at the Sofia Open with Nikola Mektić. He also won two more doubles titles that year.

In 2020, he reached the final of the ATP Finals in doubles with Édouard Roger-Vasselin. They finished as runners-up.

Melzer officially retired from the ATP Tour in 2021. He played his final tournament at the Vienna Open in doubles.

Coaching Career

After retiring from playing, Jürgen Melzer became a coach. He now coaches fellow Austrian player Joel Schwärzler at the ÖTV performance center. In October 2023, Schwärzler won an important junior event called the ITF Junior Masters.

Significant Finals

Jürgen Melzer had a very successful career, especially in doubles. Here are some of his most important final matches:

Grand Slam Doubles Titles

2010 Wimbledon Championships: Won with Philipp Petzschner against Horia Tecău and Robert Lindstedt (6–1, 7–5, 7–5).
2011 US Open: Won with Philipp Petzschner against Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski (6–2, 6–2).