Louk Sorensen facts for kids
_(14420298769).jpg) |
|
| Country (sports) |  Ireland |
|---|---|
| Residence | Stuttgart, Germany |
| Born | 7 January 1985 Schwäbisch Hall, Germany |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Turned pro | 2003 |
| Retired | 2015 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $ 199,032 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 5–6 (in ATP Tour, Grand Slam main draw matches and Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 175 (15 September 2014) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2010) |
| French Open | Q1 (2010) |
| Wimbledon | Q2 (2008) |
| US Open | 1R (2011) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 0–0 (in ATP (World) Tour and Grand Slam main draw matches, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 552 (12 December 2005) |
Louk Sorensen (born 7 January 1985) is a former professional tennis player from Ireland. He made history as the first Irish player to win a main draw match at a Grand Slam tennis event in the modern era. His father, Sean, was also a tennis player and the first Irishman to play in a Grand Slam main draw. Louk retired from playing tennis in 2015 and now works as a coach. He currently coaches Australian player John Millman.
Contents
About Louk Sorensen
Louk Sorensen's family has a strong connection to tennis. His father, Sean Sorensen, was the captain of the Irish Davis Cup team. Sean played at Wimbledon in 1977. Louk's older brother, Kevin, was also a professional tennis player. Kevin played for Ireland in the Davis Cup until 2006. Louk also has two sisters, Lisa and Josephine.
Louk grew up in Germany. Even though his parents later moved to Dublin, he stayed in Stuttgart. He trained there with German coach Carsten Arriens. Louk was an important part of the Irish Davis Cup team. He had a great record of 10 wins and 2 losses in singles matches. He first played for the team in July 2005. His family name, Sorensen, comes from Norway. His mother, Helga, has both German and Austrian family roots.
Louk's Tennis Journey
Louk Sorensen's professional tennis career began in 2003. He played in many tournaments around the world. He faced challenges like injuries but also achieved some big wins.
Early Career Highlights
Louk started his professional journey in September 2006. He played in a tournament in France. In February 2007, he won his first international title in Portugal. He then won another tournament in Dubai a week later.
In January 2008, Louk reached the final of a tournament in Portugal. He then won his first ATP Challenger event in Germany in March 2008. This win helped him reach his highest ranking of 246 in the world. He tried to qualify for Wimbledon that year. He won his first match but had to stop playing due to an injury in the next round.
Grand Slam Breakthrough
In January 2009, Louk tried to qualify for the Australian Open. He won his first qualifying match but lost in the second round.
The year 2010 was a big one for Louk. He qualified for his first main ATP tournament. Then, he became the first Irish tennis player to qualify for a Grand Slam since 1985. He made it into the main draw of the Australian Open. He then made history by winning his first-round match. He beat Lu Yen-hsun in four sets. This made him the first Irish player to win a Grand Slam main draw match in the modern era. In the second round, he played against the tall American player John Isner and lost. After this tournament, his ranking jumped to a new high of 213.
Battling Injuries and Comebacks
After his success at the Australian Open, Louk faced a tough time. He had a hamstring injury that kept him from playing for three months. He tried to come back in May 2010 but struggled with his fitness. He also tried to qualify for the French Open but lost early.
In May 2011, Louk thought about retiring from tennis because of his injuries. But he decided to come back in June. He played in a tournament in Germany and reached the quarterfinals. In July, he played in the qualifying rounds for the 2011 MercedesCup. He won two matches but lost in the final qualifying round.
Later in 2011, Louk played in the US Open. Even though his ranking had dropped, he used a special "protected ranking" to enter the qualifying stage. He won three tough matches to qualify for the main draw. This was his second time qualifying for a Grand Slam main draw. In the first round, he was supposed to play against a top player, but that player pulled out. Louk then played against Rogério Dutra da Silva. He had to stop playing during the match because of cramps.
Later Career and Retirement
The year 2012 was also difficult for Louk due to injuries. He played only a few tournaments. In 2013, after a year away from the game, he returned. He started playing in smaller tournaments again. He reached the final of a Challenger event in Turkey. This helped his ranking improve a lot.
In 2014, Louk continued to climb the rankings. He won his first title in over six years at a tournament in China. He also reached the semifinals of a Challenger event in Chile. He almost made it into the main draw of an ATP Tour event in Germany. He qualified for Wimbledon again but lost his first match. He then qualified for the 2014 MercedesCup. He won his first main draw match against a higher-ranked player. He played well in the second round but lost to a top 25 player. His ranking reached a new career-high of 211.
Louk's final professional event was in Glasgow in 2015. He lost in the qualifying rounds. After that, he officially retired from playing tennis.
Images for kids
-
Louk Sorensen playing tennis.
