A Look Back at the
2012 Tennis
SEAS French (2009), and one final at the Australian Open (2007, lost to Roger Federer). Struggling with injuries for more than a year before deciding to retire, González played his last event in Miami in March. Mark Knowles (born Sept. 4, 1971 in Nassau, The Bahamas) joined the pro tour in 1992 and reached a high singles ranking of 96th in 1996. Knowles reached the doubles world number one ranking in June 2002, keeping the spot for a total of 65 weeks between 2002 and 2005. Partnering with Daniel Nestor for most of his career, and later Mahesh Bhupathi, Knowles won 55 doubles titles, including one year-end championship (2007), and three Grand Slam trophies (all with Nestor). He retired after competing in the U.S. Open doubles in August. Ivan Ljubicic (born March 19, 1979 in Banja Luka, Yugoslavia) turned professional in 1998, peaking at third in the world in singles in 2006 and ending two seasons in the top 10 (2005-2006). During his career, Ljubicic won 10 singles titles, including one Masters at Indian Wells (2010), and went past the fourth round twice in Grand Slam tournaments. Playing for his country, the Croatian partnered with Mario Ancic to win a Bronze Medal in doubles at the 2004 Athens Olympics Games and took part in one successful Davis Cup campaign (2005). Ljubicic played his last tournament in Monte Carlo in April. Peter Luczak (born Aug. 31, 1979 in Warsaw, Poland) joined the main circuit in 2000, peaking at 64th in the world in singles in 2009. Competing mainly on the ITF Men’s Circuit and the ATP Challenger Tour during his career, Luczak’s best result came with a Gold Medal in doubles (with Paul Hanley) at the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games. The Australian retired from the sport after losing in the second round of the Australian Open doubles last January.
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N Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Andy Roddick (born Aug. 30, 1982 in the United States) turned professional in 2000 and became the sixth American player to be ranked number one in the world in singles when he reached the top spot on Nov. 3, 2003, holding it for a single spell of 13 straight weeks. Roddick finished nine seasons in the ATP Rankings singles top 10 (2002-2010), including one year as number one (2003), and also reached the 50th ranking in doubles in 2010. As a junior, Roddick took two singles Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and the U.S. Open in 2000, finishing the season as junior world number one. Over his 12-year pro career, Roddick collected 32 singles titles, on every surface, among which five Masters and one Grand Slam title, at the U.S. Open (2003, defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero). Roddick’s other best results in majors came with four semifinals at the Australian Open (2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009), three finals at Wimbledon (2004, 2005 and 2009, all lost to Roger Federer), and another final at the U.S. Open (2006, lost to Federer). In doubles, Roddick won four titles including one Masters trophy. Part of the United States Davis Cup roster for 25 ties over 10 years, Roddick helped the U.S. Davis Cup team to a final in 2004, and a title (the country’s 32nd) in 2007. The American retired in September, after losing in the fourth round of the U.S. Open. Rainer Schüttler (born April 25, 1976 in Korbach, West Germany) turned professional in 1995, reaching a career-high singles rankings of fifth in 2004, and doubles ranking of 40th in 2005. Schüttler won four singles and four doubles titles during his stint on the main circuit, his best Grand Slam results coming with a final at the Australian Open (2003, lost to Andre Agassi), and a semifinal run at Wimbledon (2008). Alongside countryman Nicolas Kiefer, the German also took the Silver Medal in doubles at the 2004 Athens Olympics, losing the final in five sets. Schüttler last played at the Australian Open in January.
New York Tennis Magazine • January/February 2013 • NYTennisMag.com
Alexander Waske (born March 31, 1975 in Frankfurt, West Germany) turned professional in 2000 and reached a career-high ranking of 89th in singles and 84th in doubles. He won four ATP doubles titles and played his last doubles match on Oct. 15, 2012 in Vienna, partnering with Janko Tipsarevic.