# Karol Kučera

Karol Kučera (Slovak pronunciation:; born 4 March 1974) is a Slovak tennis coach and former professional player. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 6 in September 1998, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open the same year.

## Tennis career

Kučera turned professional in 1992. He was a member of the Czechoslovakian Galea Cup teams in 1991 and 1992 and the 1992 European championship squad. In 1993 he qualified for his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
In 1995 when Kučera won his first ATP title in Rosmalen. In 1996 he played in the Summer Olympics in Atlanta where he lost to eventual gold medalist Andre Agassi.
A year later he won his second ATP title in Ostrava defeating Magnus Norman. He was runner-up in two other tournaments in Nottingham on grass to Greg Rusedski and Stuttgart Outdoor to Álex Corretja on clay.
Kučera's best year was in 1998, where he finished the year in the top 10, ranked World No. 8, which qualified him in the ATP Tour World Championship in Hannover. During the year Kučera won 2 titles in Sydney defeating Tim Henman and New Haven defeating Goran Ivanišević.
He reached another two finals, losing to Gustavo Kuerten in Stuttgart Outdoor and to World No. 1 Pete Sampras in Vienna. Overall in 1998, Kučera compiled a career high 53 match victories and earning $1,402,557.
Kučera achieved his best Grand Slam result in 1998 reaching the semi-finals of Australian Open where on his way he defeated Sergi Bruguera, Daniel Vacek, Daniel Nestor, Richard Fromberg and defending champion Pete Sampras in the quarter-finals, losing to eventual champion Petr Korda in 4 sets. Later the same year he reached the quarterfinals of the US Open.
In 1999, Kučera won his fifth ATP title in Basel defeating Tim Henman in the final. After 1999, Kučera struggled with form due to a right wrist and arm injury.
After some injury plagued years, Kučera found some form again in 2003 when he finished in the top 50 for the first time since 1999. During the year he won his sixth and final tour title in Copenhagen defeating Olivier Rochus in the final.
Later, Kučera was one of the contributing members on the Slovakian team which reached the final of the Davis Cup in 2005, eventually losing to Croatia 2–3. He announced his retirement after the final.

## Style of play

Miloslav Mečíř known as the "Big Cat" was Kučera's coach from 1997 to 2001. Kučera was nicknamed the "Little Cat" because of his deceptive style of play and his fluid movement around the court resembling his coach.
Kučera was also coached for a time by Novak Djokovic's coach Marian Vajda.

## Post-career

In 2020, Kučera was elected an MP of the National Council of Slovakia representing the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities movement, along with fellow former tennis players Ján Krošlák and Romana Tabak.

## Career finals
### Singles 12 (6–6)

* Legend
* Grand Slam (0-0)
* Tennis Masters Cup (0-0)
* ATP Masters Series (0-0)
* ATP Championships Series (1-0)
* ATP World Series (5-6)
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | Aug 1994 | Umag, Croatia | Clay | Alberto Berasategui | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 1–1 | Jun 1995 | Rosmalen, Netherlands | Grass | Anders Järryd | 7–6$^{(9–7)}$, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$ |
| Win | 2–1 | Oct 1997 | Ostrava, Czech Republic | Carpet (i) | Magnus Norman | 6–2, retired |
| Loss | 2–2 | Jun 1997 | Nottingham, Great Britain | Grass | Greg Rusedski | 4–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 2–3 | Jul 1997 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | Álex Corretja | 2–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 3–3 | Jan 1998 | Sydney, Australia | Hard | Tim Henman | 7–5, 6–4 |
| Loss | 3–4 | Jul 1998 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | Gustavo Kuerten | 6–4, 2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 4–4 | Aug 1998 | New Haven, U.S. | Hard | Goran Ivanišević | 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 |
| Loss | 4–5 | Oct 1998 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | Pete Sampras | 3–6, 6–7$^{(3–7)}$, 1–6 |
| Win | 5–5 | Oct 1999 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet (i) | Tim Henman | 6–4, 7–6$^{(12–10)}$, 4–6, 4–6, 7–6$^{(7–2)}$ |
| Win | 6–5 | Feb 2003 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Hard (i) | Olivier Rochus | 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–4 |
| Loss | 6–6 | Jan 2003 | Chennai, India | Hard | Paradorn Srichaphan | 3–6, 1–6 |

### Doubles: 4 (0–4)

| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | 1994 | Umag, Croatia | Clay | Paul Wekesa | Diego Pérez Francisco Roig | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 0–2 | 1996 | Ostrava, Czech Republic | Carpet (i) | Ján Krošlák | Sandon Stolle Cyril Suk | 6–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 0–3 | 1997 | Umag, Croatia | Clay | Dominik Hrbatý | Dinu Pescariu Davide Sanguinetti | 6–7, 4–6 |
| Loss | 0–4 | 1998 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Clay | Dominik Hrbatý | Jacco Eltingh Paul Haarhuis | 3–6, 2–6 |

## Singles performance timeline

Key :
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
| Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | SR | W–L |
| Grand Slam tournaments |||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 3R | 2R | SF | QF | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | A | 0 / 10 | 15–10 |
| French Open | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 3R | A | 1R | 1R | 2R | A | 0 / 11 | 6–11 |
| Wimbledon | A | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 4R | 2R | A | A | 3R | 2R | 2R | 0 / 10 | 11–10 |
| US Open | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | QF | A | 1R | A | 2R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 0 / 10 | 9–10 |
| Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 6–4 | 1–4 | 9–4 | 7–3 | 3–4 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 5–4 | 4–4 | 2–2 | 0 / 41 | 41–41 |
| Year-end championship |||||||||||||||||||
| ATP Tour World Championships | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | RR | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 0 / 1 | 0–3 |
| Grand Slam Cup | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | SF | DNQ | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | Not Held | 0 / 1 | 2–1 |
| ATP Masters Series |||||||||||||||||||
| Indian Wells | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | QF | 1R | A | 3R | A | A | A | 0 / 4 | 6–4 |
| Miami | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | 3R | 4R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | A | 0 / 8 | 5–8 |
| Monte Carlo | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | 2R | QF | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 5 | 3–5 |
| Hamburg | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | 1R | 1R | SF | A | 1R | A | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 6 | 4–6 |
| Rome | A | A | A | A | A | 3R | 1R | A | 1R | QF | 1R | A | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 6 | 5–6 |
| Canada | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | QF | A | A | 0 / 2 | 4–2 |
| Cincinnati | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 2 | 0–2 |
| Madrid$^1$ | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | 2R | 2R | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | 0 / 4 | 2–4 |
| Paris | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 3R | 2R | 1R | 2R | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 5 | 2–5 |
| Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 6–6 | 8–6 | 4–8 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–8 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0 / 42 | 31–42 |
| Year-end ranking | 862 | 352 | 210 | 159 | 54 | 79 | 63 | 24 | 8 | 17 | 73 | 101 | 83 | 40 | 91 | 310 | | |
$^1$This event was held in Stockholm through 1994, Essen in 1995, and Stuttgart from 1996 through 2001.

## Top 10 wins

| Season | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | Total |
| Wins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 28 |
| # | Player | Rank | Event | Surface | Rd | Score | Kučera Rank |
| 1994 ||||||||
| 1. | Sergi Bruguera | 5 | Moscow, Russia | Carpet (i) | 1R | 3–6, 7–5, 6–4 | 62 |
| 1996 ||||||||
| 2. | Wayne Ferreira | 9 | Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia | Hard | 2R | 6–1, 6–3, 6–0 | 76 |
| 3. | Michael Chang | 3 | Long Island, United States | Hard | QF | 6–4, 6–4 | 86 |
| 1997 ||||||||
| 4. | Marcelo Ríos | 8 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | 3R | 6–4, 6–4 | 45 |
| 5. | Sergi Bruguera | 9 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | QF | 6–3, 2–6, 7–5 | 45 |
| 6. | Goran Ivanišević | 8 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet (i) | 1R | 6–3, 6–3 | 32 |
| 7. | Yevgeny Kafelnikov | 6 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet (i) | 1R | 6–4, 7–5 | 32 |
| 8. | Goran Ivanišević | 4 | Ostrava, Czech Republic | Carpet (i) | SF | 6–3, ret. | 32 |
| 9. | Thomas Muster | 8 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | 2R | 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 | 25 |
| 1998 ||||||||
| 10. | Pete Sampras | 1 | Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia | Hard | QF | 6–4, 6–2, 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 6–3 | 20 |
| 11. | Petr Korda | 2 | Antwerp, Belgium | Hard | QF | 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 | 14 |
| 12. | Marcelo Ríos | 2 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | SF | 6–1, 6–7$^{(8–10)}$, 6–4 | 16 |
| 13. | Richard Krajicek | 6 | New Haven, United States | Hard | SF | 7–6$^{(8–6)}$, 6–4 | 13 |
| 14. | Andre Agassi | 8 | US Open, New York, United States | Hard | 4R | 6–3, 6–3, 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 1–6, 6–3 | 9 |
| 1999 ||||||||
| 15. | Tim Henman | 8 | Rome, Italy | Clay | 3R | 4–6, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 6–3 | 12 |
| 16. | Pat Rafter | 3 | World Team Cup, Düsseldorf, Germany | Clay | RR | 6–3, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ | 12 |
| 17. | Yevgeny Kafelnikov | 4 | Davis Cup, Moscow, Russia | Clay | RR | 6–1, 6–3, 6–4 | 13 |
| 18. | Andre Agassi | 1 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet (i) | QF | 6–4, 7–5 | 20 |
| 19. | Tim Henman | 6 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet (i) | F | 6–4, 7–6$^{(12–10)}$, 4–6, 4–6, 7–6$^{(7–2)}$ | 20 |
| 2000 ||||||||
| 20. | Gustavo Kuerten | 4 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | 1R | 6–4, 0–6, 6–2 | 42 |
| 21. | Andre Agassi | 1 | French Open, Paris, France | Clay | 2R | 2–6, 7–5, 6–1, 6–0 | 40 |
| 22. | Thomas Enqvist | 7 | Queen's Club, London, United Kingdom | Grass | 2R | 3–6, 7–6$^{(8–6)}$, 6–3 | 36 |
| 23. | Yevgeny Kafelnikov | 5 | Long Island, United States | Hard | 2R | 6–1, 6–3 | 45 |
| 24. | Tim Henman | 10 | Summer Olympics, Sydney, Australia | Hard | 1R | 6–3, 6–2 | 43 |
| 2001 ||||||||
| 25. | Marat Safin | 1 | Davis Cup, Bratislava, Slovakia | Hard (i) | RR | 3–6, 4–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–2 | 75 |
| 2002 ||||||||
| 26. | Andre Agassi | 2 | St. Petersburg, Russia | Hard (i) | 2R | 6–4, 6–4 | 79 |
| 2003 ||||||||
| 27. | Juan Carlos Ferrero | 2 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | 3R | 6–3, 7–5 | 41 |
| 2005 ||||||||
| 28. | Mariano Puerta | 10 | Davis Cup, Bratislava, Slovakia | Hard (i) | RR | 4–6, 6–3, 2–1, ret. | 145 |