Stefan Koubek

Titles Won (3): 

(1999) Atlanta, (2000) Delray Beach, (2003) Doha

Stefan Koubek is a professional tennis player from Austria. He began playing tennis at the age of seven and turned professional in 1994. His favourite surface is clay and considers his backhand to be his best shot. Koubek spent the first years of his career largely on the Futures and Challenger circuit. He won his first ATP match in August 1996 at Umag in Croatia, defeating Denmark's Frederik Fetterlein in the first round before losing to Slava Dosedel in straight sets. During the season he also reached his first Challenger quarter final at Cairo (l. Fontang). In 1997, the Austrian posted strong results in Challenger play with a 22-17 record to jump 184 positions in the rankings. His highlights included reaching Challenger finals at Ulm (l. Pescariu) and Alpirsbach (l. Maggi). He also advanced to his first ATP quarter final in Kitzbuhel. Koubek continued to improve his ranking in 1998 with consistent Challenger play, posting a 33-20 record. In August, he won his first Challenger title at Alpirsbach in Germany, defeating Bulgarian Orlin Stanoytchev in the final. He reached a second Challenger final in September on the clay courts of Maia in Porgutal, losing to Younes El Aynaoui 6-4, 2-6, 4-6. At the end of the season, Koubek won his second Challenger title in Lima, Peru when he defeated Argentine Juan Iganacio Chela. In ATP play, his best result came in Bournemouth when he reached the quarter final, losing to Felix Mantilla.

In 1999, Koubek won 28 clay court matches which was the second-best on the ATP circuit, behind Spain's Alberto Costa. He started the season playing at the Australian Open, where he made an early first round exit to Cecil Mamiit in straight sets. In March, Koubek reached his first ATP quarter final of the season at Casablanca, losing to Fernando Vicente in straight sets. The next month he won his first ATP title at Atlanta, defeating Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean in the final 6-1, 6-2. In May he reached the quarter final at St. Poelten, losing to Marcelo Rios and then went on to reach a career best fourth round at Roland Garros (l. Corretja). The Austrian reached his second ATP final of the season in September at Bournemouth, losing to Romania's Adrian Voinea. In 2000, Koubek reached the third round of the Australian Open, losing to world number two Yevgeny Kafelnikov in straight sets. In February, Koubek advanced to the semi-final of the clay courts in Mexico City (l. Chela) and then won his second ATP title at Delray Beach, defeating Alex Calatrava in the final. He also reached the quarter final stages at ATP events in Atlanta (l. Ilie) and Vienna (l. Pioline). Koubek posted his best Grand Slam performence in 2002 when he reached the quarter final of the Australian Open. En route he defeated James Blake and Fernando Gonzalez before falling to Jiri Novak. He also reached his first Masters Series quarter final in Hamburg, losing to Tommy Robredo.

The Austrian started the 2003 season in fine form when he won his third ATP title in Doha, defeating American Jan-Michael Gambill in the final 6-4, 6-4. In his next tournament he reached the quarter final in Auckland (l. Zabaleta). At the Australian Open he made a disappointing early first round exit to Sweden's Andreas Vinciquerra. In April he reached the semi-final of the ATP event in Munich, losing to rising star of tennis Roger Federer in straight sets. At Roland Garros he advanced to the second round, losing to Xavier Malisse. In the second half of the season he reached quarter finals at Gstaad (l. Gaudio) and in Moscow (l. Spadea). In 2004, Koubek won his most ATP matches since 2000, highlighted by reaching a semi-final at Basel. At Wimbledon he reached the second round, losing a five-set battle with Juan Carlos Ferrero after having two match points. He also advanced to a personal best third round at the US Open, exacting revenge over Ferrero. In Davis Cup play he defeated Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski in a tie against Britain. In 2005, Koubek's best ATP results came at Kitzbuhel and New Haven where he reached the third round. He also reached a Challenger semi-final at Helsinki and two quarter finals at Bratislava and Luxembourg. The Austrian finished the season back in the Top 100 in 2006. Koubek opened the season by reaching the final of the ATP event at Zagreb in Crotia, losing to local favourite Ivan Ljubicic in straight sets. In the earlier rounds he had seen off competition from Minar, Wawrinka, Karlovic and Henman. In September he reached the semi-final in Mumbai, losing to Tomas Berdych.

In 2007, Koubek finished the season in the Top 50 for the first time since 1999. He opened the season at Chennai by reaching his sixth ATP final, losing to Belgium's Xavier Malisse. At the end of the month he reached the semi-final of the Durban Challenger, losing to South Africa's Rik De Voest in straight sets. At Roland Garros he reached the second round, losing to Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero after defeating Christophe Rochus in the first round. In the second half of the season, Koubek reached quarter finals at ATP events in Sopot (l. Robredo) and Mumbai (Gasquet). At the US Open he reached the third round, losing to American James Blake in four sets. In 2008, the veteran Austrian struggled with injury and missed six months of the tour due to a back injury. He started the season by reaching the third round of the Australian Open, losing to Frenchman Paul-Henri Matieu. In the previous rounds he dispatched former world number one Carlos Moya and Argentine Agustin Calleri. In February he reached his first final of the season at the East London Challenger in South Africa, losing to Crotia's Ivan Ljubicic in straight sets. On May 17, Koubek underwent surgery in Vienna to repair his spinal disc. He returned to action at a Challenger event in Mons, Belgium where he lost in the first round to local favourite Christophe Rochus. In the final months of the season he reached the quarter final of the Eckental Challenger (l. Waske) and semi-final at Dneproptrovsk (l. Hanescu).