Grega Žemlja
Grega Žemlja (born 29 September 1986) is a retired Slovenian tennis player. He has won five singles titles and one doubles title on the ATP Challenger Tour. In 2012, he reached the third round of the US Open, the first Slovenian male player ever to reach that stage in a Grand Slam tournament. He is also the first Slovenian ATP player who in 2013 reached third round at Wimbledon. He reached his highest ATP ranking of world No. 43 in singles in May 2013, becoming the first Slovene ATP player to reach the top 50. Žemlja also became the first Slovene player earning over 1 million US dollars in prize money, and he was the highest-paid Slovene player in history until he was passed by Blaž Kavčič. He represented his country as a member of Slovenia Davis Cup team.
.jpg.webp)
![]() | |
Country (sports) | ![]() |
---|---|
Residence | Kranj, Slovenia |
Born | Jesenice, SFR Yugoslavia | 29 September 1986
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
Turned pro | 2004 |
Retired | 2017 |
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Coach | Žiga Janškovec |
Prize money | $1,242,858 |
Official website | grega-zemlja |
Singles | |
Career record | 49–52 |
Career titles | 0 |
Highest ranking | No. 43 (15 July 2013) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | 1R (2010, 2011, 2013) |
French Open | 2R (2010, 2013) |
Wimbledon | 3R (2013) |
US Open | 3R (2012) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 15–24 |
Career titles | 0 |
Highest ranking | No. 252 (21 November 2011) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | 1R (2013) |
French Open | 2R (2013) |
Wimbledon | 1R (2013) |
US Open | 1R (2013) |
Tennis career
2009
2009 was Žemlja's first year at the main draw on the ATP Tour. For the first time in his career he qualified for the main draw of Wimbledon where he lost in first round against Albert Montañés. He was the second Slovenian male player ever to play in the main draw of the Grand Slam tournament.
2010
For the first time in his career he qualified for the main draw of the Australian Open where he lost in first round against Benjamin Becker. He became the first ever Slovenian male player to play in the main draw of Australian Open. Žemlja qualified for the 2010 French Open and scored an upset over the No. 26 seed Juan Mónaco, in his first ever Grand Slam victory. He became the first Slovenian male player to win a single match in the Grand Slam tournament. He also became the first Slovenian male player to perform in three different Grand Slam tournaments on three different surfaces.
For the first time in his career he participated in the ATP World Tour 500 series tournament at 2010 Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C. where he lost the second round match against Andy Roddick. Together with Slovenia Davis Cup Team he won the 2010 Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II, ensuring Slovenia to advance to Europe/Africa Zone Group I.
2011
For the second consecutive year, he qualified for the main draw of Australian Open where he lost the first round match against Marcos Baghdatis in five sets. As a lucky loser, he also qualified for the 2011 Wimbledon Championships. He became the first Slovenian male player to win a single match in the main draw of Wimbledon, but lost his second round match against Gaël Monfils.
2012
He played at 2012 Qatar Open in Doha and lost in straight sets against Roger Federer in second round. He received a wild card to participate in the 2012 Wimbledon Championships,[1] where he lost the second round match against Fernando Verdasco.
On 6 August 2012, he entered the top 100 of the ATP rankings. For the first time in his career he qualified for the main draw of the US Open. Beating Ricardo Mello and Cedrik-Marcel Stebe in first two rounds, he became the first Slovenian male player ever to reach the third round of the Grand Slam tournament. In the third round[2] he lost against Janko Tipsarević. At 2012 Erste Bank Open tournament in Vienna, Austria, he reached his and Slovenian first male historic ATP Final,[3] where he lost to Juan Martín del Potro. With that result he became the first Slovenian male tennis player to reach TOP 50 on ATP rankings.
2013
At 2013 Australian Open for the first time he directly entered Grand Slam tournament. He retired in the first round against Marcel Granollers. He also played his first men's doubles Grand Slam tournament.
He played against Roger Federer for the second time in his career in Rotterdam at 2013 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament of ATP 500 series. He lost in two sets in the first round. For the first time in his career he played in main draw of ATP 1000 Masters series at 2013 Miami Masters. As a first Slovenian he reached the third round and lost in two sets against Gilles Simon.
At 2013 French Open he reached second round where he lost in four sets against Kei Nishikori. In men's doubles partnering Aljaž Bedene they lost in two sets against Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi/Jean-Julien Rojer in the second round. This is the first historic win in the first round of Grand Slam Slovenian men's doubles and first Slovene men's doubles performance in the French Open.
At 2013 Wimbledon Championships, he beat Michael Russell and 29th seed Grigor Dimitrov, becoming the first Slovene player in the third round of Wimbledon, where he lost in straight sets to Juan Martín del Potro. Partnering Aljaž Bedene in the first round of men's doubles they lost against Sanchai Ratiwatana and Sonchat Ratiwatana. This was the first Slovene men's doubles team at Wimbledon.
ATP career finals
Singles: 1 (1 runner-up)
|
|
Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | Oct 2012 | Vienna Open, Austria | 250 Series | Hard (i) | ![]() |
5–7, 3–6 |
ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals
Singles: 38 (17–21)
|
|
Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1–0 | Jun 2004 | Slovenia F2, Maribor | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
6–7(1–7), 6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 1–1 | May 2005 | Hungary F1, Budapest | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
1–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 1–2 | May 2005 | Bosnia & Herzegovina F1, Sarajevo | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 3–6 |
Win | 2–2 | Jun 2005 | Slovenia F1, Kranj | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 6–3 |
Win | 3–2 | Jun 2005 | Slovenia F2, Maribor | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
6–1, 7–5 |
Win | 4–2 | Jun 2005 | Slovenia F3, Koper | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 4–3 | May 2006 | Bosnia & Herzegovina F1, Sarajevo | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 6–7(6–8) |
Win | 5–3 | Jun 2006 | Slovenia F1, Portorož | Futures | Hard | ![]() |
6–1, 6–0 |
Loss | 5–4 | Sep 2006 | Germany F15, Kempten | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 5–5 | Oct 2006 | Portugal F5, Ponta Delgada | Futures | Hard | ![]() |
4–6, 1–6 |
Loss | 5–6 | Feb 2007 | Australia F1, Wollongong | Futures | Hard | ![]() |
5–7, 1–6 |
Win | 6–6 | Oct 2007 | Germany F19, Leimen | Futures | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 7–5 |
Win | 7–6 | Mar 2008 | Croatia F3, Poreč | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 6–1 |
Win | 8–6 | Jun 2008 | Slovenia F1, Krško | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
Win | 9–6 | Jun 2008 | Slovenia F3, Koper | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
Loss | 9–7 | Jun 2008 | Recanati, Italy | Challenger | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 9–8 | Oct 2008 | Croatia F10, Dubrovnik | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 10–8 | Nov 2008 | Cancún, Mexico | Challenger | Clay | ![]() |
6–2, 6–1 |
Loss | 10–9 | Feb 2009 | Burnie, Australia | Challenger | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 10–10 | Sep 2009 | Ljubljana, Slovenia | Challenger | Clay | ![]() |
6–1, 6–7(4–7), 2–6 |
Loss | 10–11 | Nov 2009 | Cancún, Mexico | Challenger | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 5–7 |
Loss | 10–12 | Jan 2010 | Honolulu, United States | Challenger | Hard | ![]() |
0–6, 3–6 |
Win | 11–12 | Feb 2011 | Caloundra, Australia | Challenger | Hard | ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 6–3 |
Loss | 11–13 | Jun 2011 | Rijeka, Croatia | Challenger | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 0–6 |
Loss | 11–14 | Sep 2011 | Ljubljana, Slovenia | Challenger | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 11–15 | Nov 2011 | Salzburg, Austria | Challenger | Hard | ![]() |
7–6(8–6), 4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 12–15 | Jun 2012 | Nottingham, United Kingdom | Challenger | Grass | ![]() |
7–6(7–3), 4–6, 6–4 |
Win | 13–15 | Jul 2012 | Anning, China | Challenger | Clay | ![]() |
1–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
Win | 14–15 | Aug 2012 | Beijing, China | Challenger | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 6–0 |
Win | 15–15 | Jul 2013 | Portorož, Slovenia | Challenger | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 7–5 |
Loss | 15–16 | Feb 2015 | Iran F4, Kish | Futures | Hard | ![]() |
1–6, 4–6 |
Win | 16–16 | Mar 2015 | Iran F5, Kish | Futures | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 17–16 | Apr 2015 | China F4, Yuxi | Futures | Hard | ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 6–3 |
Loss | 17–17 | Aug 2015 | Portorož, Slovenia | Challenger | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 6–7(6–8) |
Loss | 17–18 | Oct 2015 | Las Vegas, United States | Challenger | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 3–6, 1–6 |
Loss | 17–19 | Apr 2016 | Gwangju, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 17–20 | Apr 2016 | Nanjing, China | Challenger | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 17–21 | Oct 2016 | Traralgon, Australia | Challenger | Hard | ![]() |
1–6, 2–6 |
Doubles: 14 (5–9)
|
|
Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | Jun 2004 | Slovenia F2, Maribor | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 1–6 |
Loss | 0–2 | Aug 2004 | Serbia & Montenegro F6, Niš | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
0–1 ret. |
Win | 1–2 | Nov 2004 | Tunisia F5, Monastir | Futures | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–3), 6–3 |
Loss | 1–3 | Dec 2004 | Tunisia F6, Mégrine | Futures | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(3–7), 3–6 |
Loss | 1–4 | May 2005 | Bosnia & Herzegovina F1, Sarajevo | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 5–7 |
Win | 2–4 | Jun 2005 | Slovenia F1, Kranj | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–3 |
Win | 3–4 | Oct 2005 | France F17, Saint-Dizier | Futures | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–0 |
Loss | 3–5 | Oct 2006 | Portugal F4, Albufeira | Futures | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 0–6 |
Loss | 3–6 | Feb 2007 | Australia F1, Wollongong | Futures | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–1, 2–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 3–7 | Apr 2007 | Italy F11, Padova | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(5–7), 2–6 |
Loss | 3–8 | Jun 2010 | Marburg, Germany | Challenger | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 4–8 | Sep 2011 | Ljubljana, Slovenia | Challenger | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–7(10–12), [12–10] |
Loss | 4–9 | Jun 2012 | Slovenia F1, Bled | Futures | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
walkover |
Win | 5–9 | Oct 2015 | Sacramento, United States | Challenger | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–1, 3–6, [10–3] |
Performance timeline
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Singles
Tournament | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | SR | W–L | Win% | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | Q1 | A | A | Q3 | 1R | 1R | Q2 | 1R | A | A | Q1 | Q1 | 0 / 3 | 0–3 | 0% | |||||||||
French Open | A | A | A | Q1 | 2R | Q1 | Q1 | 2R | Q1 | A | Q2 | Q1 | 0 / 2 | 2–2 | 50% | |||||||||
Wimbledon | A | A | A | 1R | Q2 | 2R | 2R | 3R | Q1 | A | Q2 | Q2 | 0 / 4 | 4–4 | 50% | |||||||||
US Open | A | Q1 | A | Q1 | Q1 | Q3 | 3R | 1R | A | A | Q1 | A | 0 / 2 | 2–2 | 50% | |||||||||
Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 3–4 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 / 11 | 8–11 | 42% | |||||||||
ATP Tour Masters 1000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Miami | A | A | A | A | A | Q2 | Q1 | 3R | A | A | Q2 | Q1 | 0 / 1 | 2–1 | 67% | |||||||||
Rome | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Q2 | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |||||||||
Canada | A | A | A | A | Q1 | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | |||||||||
Cincinnati | A | A | A | A | Q1 | A | A | Q2 | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |||||||||
Shanghai | A | A | A | A | Q2 | Q1 | Q2 | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |||||||||
Win–loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 / 2 | 2–2 | 50% |
Davis Cup
Singles performances (18–10)
Edition | Round | Date | Against | Surface | Opponent | Result | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 Europe/Africa Zone Group II | 1R | 3-04-2005 | ![]() |
Hard (I) | ![]() |
6–4, 6–4, 7–5 | Win |
QF | 7-15-2005 | ![]() |
Clay | ![]() |
5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 6–4 | Win | |
SF | 9-25-2005 | ![]() |
Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 3–6, 6–2, 4–6 | Loss | |
2006 Europe/Africa Zone Group II | 1R | 4-07-2006 | ![]() |
Clay | ![]() |
7–5, 6–2 | Win |
4-09-2006 | ![]() |
3–6, 6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 4–6 | Loss | ||||
RPO | 7-21-2006 | ![]() |
Grass | ![]() |
6–2, 7–5, 6–1 | Win | |
7-23-2006 | ![]() |
6–4, 6–2 | Win | ||||
2007 Europe/Africa Zone Group II | 1R | 4-06-2007 | ![]() |
Carpet (I) | ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–3), 6–3 | Win |
4-08-2007 | ![]() |
6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 6–7(2–7), 6–3 | Win | ||||
QF | 7-22-2007 | ![]() |
Hard | ![]() |
6–7(2–7), 2–6, 4–6 | Loss | |
2008 Europe/Africa Zone Group II | RPO | 7-18-2008 | ![]() |
Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Win |
2009 Europe/Africa Zone Group II | 1R | 3-06-2009 | ![]() |
Carpet (I) | ![]() |
7–5, 7–6(8–6), 6–2 | Win |
QF | 7-10-2009 | ![]() |
Clay | ![]() |
6–1, 6–4, 6–3 | Win | |
7-12-2009 | ![]() |
6–4, 2–6, 6–1 | Win | ||||
SF | 9-18-2009 | ![]() |
Carpet (I) | ![]() |
6–1, 6–1, 6–4 | Win | |
9-20-2009 | ![]() |
2–6, 6–3, 3–6, 5–7 | Loss | ||||
2010 Europe/Africa Zone Group II | 1R | 3-05-2010 | ![]() |
Hard (I) | ![]() |
6–2, 6–2, 7–6(7–2) | Win |
QF | 7-09-2010 | ![]() |
Clay | ![]() |
6–2, 6–1 | Win | |
SF | 9-17-2010 | ![]() |
Hard (I) | ![]() |
7–6(7–2), 6–4, 6–3 | Win | |
9-19-2010 | ![]() |
6–3, 7–6(7–4), 6–3 | Win | ||||
2011 Europe/Africa Zone Group I | 1R | 3-04-2011 | ![]() |
Clay (I) | ![]() |
6–3, 3–6, 4–6, 3–6 | Loss |
3-06-2011 | ![]() |
2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–3 | Win | ||||
2R | 7-08-2011 | ![]() |
Clay | ![]() |
6–1, 4–6, 4–6, 4–6 | Loss | |
7-10-2011 | ![]() |
5–7, 3–6 | Loss | ||||
2012 Europe/Africa Zone Group I | 1R | 2-10-2012 | ![]() |
Hard (I) | ![]() |
6–0, 6–1, 6–4 | Win |
2R | 4-06-2012 | ![]() |
Hard | ![]() |
1–6, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6 | Loss | |
2013 Europe/Africa Zone Group I | 1R | 1-02-2013 | ![]() |
Hard (I) | ![]() |
3–6, 2–6, 0–6 | Loss |
3-02-2013 | ![]() |
6–7(4–7), 3–6, 3–6 | Loss |
Doubles performances (11–8)
Edition | Round | Date | Partnering | Against | Surface | Opponents | Result | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 Europe/Africa Zone Group II | 1R | 3-05-2005 | ![]() |
![]() |
Hard (I) | ![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–2 ret. | Win |
SF | 9-24-2005 | ![]() |
Clay | ![]() ![]() |
4–6, 2–6, 4–6 | Loss | ||
2006 Europe/Africa Zone Group II | 1R | 4-08-2006 | ![]() |
![]() |
Clay | ![]() ![]() |
2–6, 2–6, 4–6 | Loss |
RPO | 7-22-2006 | ![]() |
![]() |
Grass | ![]() ![]() |
6–7(7–9), 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 7–5 | Win | |
2007 Europe/Africa Zone Group II | 1R | 4-07-2007 | ![]() |
![]() |
Clay (I) | ![]() ![]() |
2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 4–6 | Loss |
QF | 7-21-2007 | ![]() |
Hard | ![]() ![]() |
6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 | Win | ||
2008 Europe/Africa Zone Group II | 1R | 4-12-2008 | ![]() |
![]() |
Hard | ![]() ![]() |
6–7(4–7), 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 1–6 | Loss |
RPO | 7-19-2008 | ![]() |
![]() |
Clay | ![]() ![]() |
6–3, 5–7, 6–7(5–7), 5–7 | Loss | |
2009 Europe/Africa Zone Group II | 1R | 3-07-2009 | ![]() |
![]() |
Carpet (I) | ![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–3, 6–3 | Win |
QF | 7-19-2009 | ![]() |
![]() |
Clay | ![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–2), 6–3, 6–3 | Win | |
SF | 9-19-2009 | ![]() |
![]() |
Carpet (I) | ![]() ![]() |
6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 6–4 | Win | |
2010 Europe/Africa Zone Group II | 1R | 3-06-2010 | ![]() |
![]() |
Hard (I) | ![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–5), 7–5 | Win |
QF | 7-10-2010 | ![]() |
Clay | ![]() ![]() |
6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–2), 7–6(14–12), 6–3 | Win | ||
SF | 9-18-2010 | ![]() |
Hard (I) | ![]() ![]() |
7–5, 6–4, 1–6, 3–6, 3–6 | Loss | ||
2011 Europe/Africa Zone Group I | 1R | 3-05-2011 | ![]() |
![]() |
Clay (I) | ![]() ![]() |
6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 | Win |
2R | 7-09-2011 | ![]() |
![]() |
Clay | ![]() ![]() |
6–7, 6–7, 2–6 | Loss | |
2012 Europe/Africa Zone Group I | 1R | 2-11-2012 | ![]() |
![]() |
Hard (I) | ![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–7, 6–4, 7–5 | Win |
2R | 4-07-2012 | ![]() |
![]() |
Hard | ![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–5), 6–7(4–7), 1–6, 4–6 | Loss | |
2013 Europe/Africa Zone Group I | 1R | 2-02-2012 | ![]() |
![]() |
Hard (I) | ![]() ![]() |
6–3, 2–6, 6–2, 4–6, 13-11 | Win |
References
- "Melanie Oudin receives wild card into Wimbledon". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- "Janko Tipsarevic topples Grega Zemlja in the third round – US Open 2012". bettor.com. 2012-09-02. Archived from the original on 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
- "Del Potro beats Zemlja to win 12th title at Vienna". bigstory.ap.org. 2012-10-22.
External links

- Official website (in English and Slovene)
- Grega Žemlja at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Grega Žemlja at the International Tennis Federation
- Grega Žemlja at the Davis Cup