Olivier Rochus facts for kids
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| Country (sports) |  Belgium |
|---|---|
| Residence | Dion-Valmont, Belgium |
| Born | 18 January 1981 Namur, Belgium |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Turned pro | 1999 |
| Retired | 2014 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $4,809,475 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 238–276 |
| Career titles | 2 |
| Highest ranking | No. 24 (17 October 2005) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 4R (2005) |
| French Open | 3R (2001, 2006) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (2003) |
| US Open | 4R (2004) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 98–121 |
| Career titles | 2 |
| Highest ranking | No. 29 (5 July 2004) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) |
| French Open | W (2004) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2005) |
| US Open | 3R (2006, 2009) |
Olivier Rochus (born 18 January 1981) is a former professional tennis player from Belgium. He was known for being one of the shortest players on the ATP World Tour, standing at 1.68 meters (about 5 feet 6 inches) tall.
During his career, Olivier won two singles titles. He also achieved a big win in doubles, taking home the French Open doubles title in 2004 with his partner, fellow Belgian Xavier Malisse. His highest ranking in singles was world No. 24. Olivier is the younger brother of Christophe Rochus, who was also a top tennis player.
Contents
Olivier Rochus's Tennis Journey
Early Career and Junior Success
Olivier Rochus started playing tennis at a young age. As a junior player, he teamed up with future tennis legend Roger Federer. Together, they won the boys' doubles title at Wimbledon in 1998.
Olivier had a strong junior career. He reached the quarterfinals or better in all four major junior Grand Slam tournaments. This early success showed he had a lot of talent.
Becoming a Professional Player (1999–2008)
Olivier turned professional in 1999. He won his first singles title in Palermo, Italy, in 2000. In that tournament, he even beat his older brother, Christophe, in the semifinals!
He also represented Belgium in the Olympic Games twice, playing in both singles and doubles at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympics.
In May 2006, Olivier reached the final of a tournament in Munich, Germany. He played against another Belgian player, Kristof Vliegen, and won the match. Later that year, he had a very close match against world No. 1, Roger Federer, at the Gerry Weber Open. Olivier had chances to win but eventually lost in a tough three-set match.
Later Years in Tennis (2009–2014)
In 2009, Olivier continued to play well. He reached the final of the Stockholm Open in Sweden, but lost to Marcos Baghdatis.
A big moment in 2010 was at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. Olivier surprised many by defeating Novak Djokovic, who was ranked No. 2 in the world at the time. He also beat Robin Söderling, who had been a finalist at the French Open the year before.
Olivier reached two more singles finals in 2010 and 2011, both at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in the United States. He lost both of those matches. In 2012, he made it to another final in Auckland, New Zealand, but was defeated by David Ferrer.
By 2013, Olivier mostly played on the ATP Challenger Tour, which is a level below the main ATP Tour. He retired from professional tennis in 2014.
Career Highlights
Olivier Rochus won two singles titles and two doubles titles during his professional career. His most notable doubles victory was winning the French Open in 2004.
He also had some impressive wins against top-ranked players. He beat players like Magnus Norman, Marat Safin, Albert Costa, Guillermo Coria, Carlos Moyá, Nikolay Davydenko, Novak Djokovic, and Robin Söderling. These wins showed he could compete with the very best in the world.
See also
In Spanish: Olivier Rochus para niños
