# Lee Hyung-taik

Lee Hyung-taik (Korean: 이형택, born 3 January 1976) is a former professional tennis player from South Korea. He won one singles title and achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 36, in August 2007.

## Personal life

Lee was born in a potato-farming village in Hoengseong County, South Korea. He began playing tennis at age nine with a school teacher. After retirement, he is running his own academy in Gangwon province in the tennis center at Song-ahm Sports Town in Chuncheon named "Lee Hyung Taik Tennis Academy", which opened on 12 September 2009.

## Tennis career
### 2000

With the help of Coach Hee June Choi, Lee made a splash at the US Open tournament, reaching the fourth round before losing to Pete Sampras. En route to his fourth-round appearance against Sampras, Lee defeated Jeff Tarango, 13th seed Franco Squillari, and future Australian Open runner-up Rainer Schüttler.

### 2003

In 2003, Lee became the first Korean to win ATP Tour singles and doubles titles by winning the singles tournament at the Sydney International as a qualifier (beating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final) and the doubles tournament at the Siebel Open in San Jose, California (partnering with Belarusian Vladimir Voltchkov).
At Wimbledon, he was defeated in the first round by eventual champion Roger Federer in straight sets.

### 2006

In the second round at Wimbledon, Lee was defeated by former champion and two-time semifinalist Lleyton Hewitt in five sets, including three tie-breakers. Lee had set points in the third set tie-breaker, but went on to lose the set after an incorrect line call. As Lee went on to win the fourth set the call probably prevented him winning the match against the eventual quarterfinalist.

### 2007

Lee matched his best Grand Slam performance by making the fourth round of the US Open tournament. In the first round, he was forced to five sets before defeating Dominik Hrbatý. Lee was pit against Guillermo Cañas, who was the fourteenth seed in the tournament, in the second round. He defeated Cañas in three sets, setting up a third round showdown against nineteenth seed Andy Murray. Lee got out to a quick two set advantage against Murray, eventually winning in four sets. In the fourth round, Lee played fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko, who defeated the Korean in three sets.
His fourth round showing at the US Open capped a very successful hardcourt series. During the US Open Series, Lee reached the semifinals at the Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles, the quarterfinals at the Indianapolis Tennis Championships and at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.
Lee set personal bests in a handful of categories, including match wins and money earned. He won a career-high 25 matches and earned $386,230. Overall, Lee compiled records of 16–15 on hard, 5–5 on clay, 3–3 on grass and 1–0 on carpet. In August, he achieved his career best ranking in singles as world No. 36 with the help of his coach, Hee June Choi.

### 2008

In the 2008 season, Lee had a disappointing losing streak and eventually fell out of the top 100. He did, however, match his best Masters Series result by making the fourth round of Indian Wells, beating Michaël Llodra, Jarkko Nieminen and No. 5 seed David Ferrer along the way.

### 2009

In 2009, Lee played one final time for Korea, in the Davis Cup play-off between Korea and China. He announced his retirement from pro tennis after the Davis Cup match, with Korea triumphing 3–2.

### Doubles

Lee sometimes played doubles alongside Korean-American player Kevin Kim. The pair reached the third round of the 2005 French Open.

## Playing style

Lee is right-handed and uses a single-handed backhand. He considers his backhand as his best shot. His favorite surface is hardcourt. He was coached by countryman and former ATP professional Yoon Yong-il (since March 2006).

## ATP career finals
### Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)

* Legend
* Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0)
* ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
* ATP Masters 1000 Series (0–0)
* ATP 500 Series (0–0)
* ATP 250 Series (1–1)
* Finals by surface
* Hard (1–0)
* Clay (0–1)
* Grass (0–0)
* Carpet (0–0)
* Finals by setting
* Outdoors (1–1)
* Indoors (0–0)
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | May 2001 | Houston, United States | World Series | Clay | Andy Roddick | 5–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 1–1 | Jan 2003 | Sydney, Australia | World Series | Hard | Juan Carlos Ferrero | 4–6, 7–6$^{(8–6)}$, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$ |

### Doubles: 1 (1 title)

* Legend
* Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0)
* ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
* ATP Masters 1000 Series (0–0)
* ATP 500 Series (0–0)
* ATP 250 Series (1–0)
* Finals by surface
* Hard (1–0)
* Clay (0–0)
* Grass (0–0)
* Carpet (0–0)
* Finals by setting
* Outdoors (0–0)
* Indoors (1–0)
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1–0 | Feb 2003 | San Jose, United States | World Series | Hard | Vladimir Voltchkov | Paul Goldstein Robert Kendrick | 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 |

## ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals
### Singles: 27 (22–5)

* Legend
* ATP Challenger (13–4)
* ITF Futures (9–1)
* Finals by surface
* Hard (16–3)
* Clay (1–1)
* Grass (0–0)
* Carpet (5–1)
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Win | 1–0 | May 1998 | Korea F1, Sogwipo | Futures | Hard | Paradorn Srichaphan | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | 2–0 | Jun 1998 | Korea F2, Sogwipo | Futures | Hard | Nir Welgreen | 6–0, 6–3 |
| Win | 3–0 | Jun 1998 | Canada F2, Montreal | Futures | Hard | Michael Russell | 6–0, 7–5 |
| Win | 4–0 | Jul 1998 | Canada F3, Boucherville | Futures | Hard | James Sekulov | 4–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
| Loss | 4–1 | Aug 1998 | Lexington, United States | Challenger | Hard | Paul Goldstein | 1–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 5–1 | Oct 1998 | Japan F4, Maishima | Futures | Carpet | Yoon Yong-Il | 7–6, 2–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 6–1 | Mar 1999 | Japan F1, Isawa | Futures | Clay | Gouichi Motomura | 7–6, 1–6, 5–2 ret. |
| Win | 7–1 | May 1999 | China F1, Beijing | Futures | Hard | Dmitriy Tomashevich | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 8–1 | May 1999 | China F2, Shenyang | Futures | Hard | Danai Udomchoke | 6–0, 6–0 |
| Loss | 8–2 | May 1999 | Korea F2, Seoul | Futures | Clay | Baek Seung-bok | 6–3, 2–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 9–2 | Oct 1999 | Japan F5, Kobe | Futures | Carpet | Kwon Oh-Hee | 6–1, 7–5 |
| Win | 10–2 | Nov 1999 | Yokohama, Japan | Challenger | Carpet | Paradorn Srichaphan | 6–3, 6–0 |
| Win | 11–2 | Aug 2000 | Bronx, United States | Challenger | Hard | Reginald Willems | 6–4, 6–1 |
| Win | 12–2 | Nov 2000 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Radek Štěpánek | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 12–3 | Nov 2000 | Osaka, Japan | Challenger | Hard | Michel Kratochvil | 6–2, 2–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 13–3 | Oct 2001 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Gouichi Motomura | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 14–3 | Dec 2002 | Yokohama, Japan | Challenger | Carpet | John van Lottum | 2–6, 7–6$^{(2–7)}$, 7–6$^{(8–6)}$ |
| Win | 15–3 | Sep 2003 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Dennis van Scheppingen | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | 16–3 | Sep 2004 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Jean-René Lisnard | 3–6, 7–5, 6–2 |
| Loss | 16–4 | Dec 2004 | Port Louis, Mauritius | Challenger | Hard | Andrei Pavel | 3–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 17–4 | Oct 2005 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Nicolas Thomann | 4–6, 6–1, 7–6$^{(8–6)}$ |
| Win | 18–4 | Jun 2006 | Busan, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Danai Udomchoke | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 19–4 | Jul 2006 | Lexington, United States | Challenger | Hard | Amer Delić | 5–7, 6–2, 6–3 |
| Win | 20–4 | Nov 2006 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Björn Phau | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Win | 21–4 | Oct 2008 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Ivo Minář | 6–4, 6–0 |
| Win | 22–4 | Nov 2008 | Yokohama, Japan | Challenger | Carpet | Go Soeda | 7–5, 6–3 |
| Loss | 22–5 | Nov 2008 | Toyota, Japan | Challenger | Carpet | Go Soeda | 2–6, 6–7$^{(7–9)}$ |

### Doubles: 22 (14–8)

* Legend
* ATP Challenger (5–4)
* ITF Futures (9–4)
* Finals by surface
* Hard (10–5)
* Clay (3–1)
* Grass (0–0)
* Carpet (1–2)
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1–0 | Oct 1996 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Clay | Yoon Yong-Il | Fredrik Bergh Patrik Fredriksson | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 2–0 | Mar 1998 | Philippines F2, Manila | Futures | Hard | Chen Chih-Jung | David Caldwell Chris Tontz | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Win | 3–0 | May 1998 | China F2, Tianjin | Futures | Hard | Yoon Yong-Il | Chen Chih-Jung Andrian Raturandang | 6–1, 5–7, 6–3 |
| Loss | 3–1 | Jul 1998 | Canada F3, Boucherville | Futures | Hard | Yoon Yong-Il | Tad Berkowitz Javier Gutierrez-Lima | 3–6, 6–1, 3–6 |
| Win | 4–1 | Oct 1998 | Japan F4, Maishima | Futures | Carpet | Yoon Yong-Il | Chen Chih-Jung Lin Bing-Chao | 6–4, 1–4 ret. |
| Loss | 4–2 | Mar 1999 | Kyoto, Japan | Challenger | Carpet | Giorgio Galimberti | Julian Knowle Lorenzo Manta | 1–6, 7–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 5–2 | Mar 1999 | Japan F1, Isawa | Futures | Clay | Kevin Kim | Mitty Arnold Todd Meringoff | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 5–3 | May 1999 | Korea F1, Seoul | Futures | Clay | Han Min-kyu | Chung Hee-Seok Chung Hee-sung | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 6–3 | May 1999 | Korea F2, Seoul | Futures | Clay | Kim Dong-Hyun | Han Min-kyu Lee Sang-Hoon | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 6–4 | Aug 1999 | Binghamton, United States | Challenger | Hard | Kevin Kim | Mitch Sprengelmeyer Jason Weir-Smith | 7–5, 4–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 6–5 | Oct 1999 | Japan F5, Kobe | Futures | Carpet | Danai Udomchoke | Tasuku Iwami Ryuso Tsujino | 5–7, 6–4, 4–6 |
| Win | 7–5 | May 2000 | Japan F4, Fukuoka | Futures | Hard | Yoon Yong-Il | Doug Bohaboy Alex Witt | 6–7$^{(4–7)}$, 7–5, 6–2 |
| Win | 8–5 | Jul 2000 | Granby, Canada | Challenger | Hard | Yoon Yong-Il | Frédéric Niemeyer Jerry Turek | 7–6$^{(7–3)}$, 6–3 |
| Win | 9–5 | Jul 2000 | Winnetka, United States | Challenger | Hard | Yoon Yong-Il | Matthew Breen Luke Smith | 2–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
| Loss | 9–6 | Aug 2000 | Bronx, United States | Challenger | Hard | Yoon Yong-Il | Petr Luxa Wesley Whitehouse | 6–3, 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 10–6 | Sep 2003 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Alex Kim | Alex Bogomolov Jr. Jeff Salzenstein | 1–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
| Win | 11–6 | May 2004 | Korea F1, Seogwipo | Futures | Hard | Im Kyu-Tae | Chung Hee-Seok Chung Hee-sung | 7–5, 6–4 |
| Win | 12–6 | Mar 2006 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Challenger | Hard | Cecil Mamiit | Jacob Adaktusson Dudi Sela | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Loss | 12–7 | Apr 2006 | Korea F3, Seogwipo | Futures | Hard | Chung Hee-Seok | Jun Woong-sun Kim Sun-Yong | 2–6, 0–6 |
| Win | 13–7 | Apr 2014 | Korea F1, Seoul | Futures | Hard | Lim Yong-kyu | Henrique Cunha Daniel Nguyen | 6–2, 4–6, [10–4] |
| Loss | 13–8 | May 2015 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Danai Udomchoke | Gong Maoxin Peng Hsien-yin | 4–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 14–8 | May 2015 | Korea F1, Daegu | Futures | Hard | Hong Seong Chan | Nam Jisung Song Min-kyu | 6–3, 6–3 |

## Performance timelines

Key :
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | P# | DNQ | A | Z# | PO | G | S | B | NMS | NTI | P | NH |

### Singles

| Tournament | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | SR | W–L | Win% |
| Grand Slam tournaments ||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | Q1 | A | A | Q1 | Q1 | 1R | A | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | Q1 | 0 / 7 | 2–7 | 22% |
| French Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 3R | 3R | Q1 | 1R | 2R | A | 0 / 6 | 5–6 | 45% |
| Wimbledon | A | A | A | A | Q2 | 1R | 2R | 1R | Q2 | 2R | 2R | 3R | 1R | A | 0 / 7 | 5–7 | 42% |
| US Open | A | A | Q1 | Q1 | 4R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 4R | 1R | A | 0 / 9 | 10–9 | 53% |
| Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 3–4 | 2–3 | 5–4 | 2–4 | 0–0 | 0 / 29 | 22–29 | 43% |
| Olympic Games ||||||||||||||||||
| Summer Olympics | A | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | 1R | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | 2R | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | 1R | NH | 0 / 3 | 1–3 | 25% |
| ATP Tour Masters 1000 ||||||||||||||||||
| Indian Wells | A | A | A | A | A | Q1 | Q1 | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | 1R | 4R | A | 0 / 5 | 3–5 | 38% |
| Miami | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | Q1 | 4R | 1R | 3R | A | 1R | 1R | A | 0 / 6 | 5–6 | 45% |
| Monte Carlo | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | 1R | A | 3R | 1R | A | 0 / 4 | 3–4 | 43% |
| Hamburg | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | NMS | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% |
| Rome | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% |
| Canada | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | 2R | 1R | A | A | 0 / 6 | 2–6 | 25% |
| Cincinnati | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | A | 2R | A | A | A | 0 / 4 | 3–4 | 43% |
| Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–6 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 0–0 | 0 / 27 | 16–27 | 37% |

### Doubles

| Tournament | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | SR | W–L | Win% |
| Grand Slam tournaments |||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 2R | A | 1R | 2R | 0 / 5 | 2–5 | 29% |
| French Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | 3R | A | 2R | 2R | 0 / 4 | 5–4 | 56% |
| Wimbledon | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | 1R | A | 1R | A | 0 / 3 | 0–3 | 0% |
| US Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | A | 2R | A | 0 / 2 | 2–2 | 50% |
| Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–4 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 0 / 14 | 9–14 | 39% |
| Olympic Games |||||||||||||||||
| Summer Olympics | 1R | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | 2R | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | A | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | A | 0 / 2 | 1–2 | 33% |

## Filmography
### Television shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2020 | King of Mask Singer | Contestant | as "Oriole" – (episode 273) |
| 2022 | Can't Cheat Blood | Participant | |
| 2022–2023 | Korea Badminton | Cast Member | |
| 2023 | Tomorrow's Winning Shot | Director | |