Rate it!

1 votes

Tennis Spy takes a look at Slovakia's Lukas Lacko, who has leapt into the world's top 100 after moving up 35 places in the ATP rankings.

Full name: Lukas Lacko

Nationality: Slovakian (born in Plovdiv)

Age: 22 (DOB November 3, 1987)

Career Highlights: Lacko's highest singles ranking is his current 91, which he reached on November 2, 2009 having jumped 35 places, while his career-high in doubles was set in March 2007 at 310. The Slovak number two finished in the world's top 150 for first time in his career in 2007 and that same year won his third match in the Davis Cup against Korea.

In 2005, Lacko enjoyed an impressive year on the Futures circuit, claiming three titles from six finals to finish in December ranked at 133, having started the season at 231.

A year later, he added another two Futures victories after reaching four finals, picking up trophies in Austria and Germany. Two further Davis Cup wins, albeit in dead rubbers, against Chile and Belgium followed as his ranking continued to improve.

2007 saw Lacko qualify for the Australian Open - an achievement which he regards as his best yet. A surprise opportunity to represent Slovakia in their Davis Cup World Group doubles match against Chile provided him with valuable experience playing Nicolas Massu and Fernando Gonzalez - a match which ended in defeat after more than three hours of play.

Lacko has gone from strength to strength in 2009, with his recent development culminating in his breaking into the world's top 100 on November 2 - a day before his 22nd birthday. He has won titles this year in Seoul, Uzbekistan, Russia, Croatia and in Britain as his stock continues to rise.

General: Has has a huge double-handed backhand to complement his cultured forehand. His greatest success thus far - qualifying for the 2007 Australian Open - was marked by an excellent temperment and an ability to keep his composure under pressure. In representing Slovakia in the Davis Cup World Group, he has demonstrated a remarkable ability to cope with playing in front of vociferous supporters. The 22-year-old will have learned a lot from his doubles defeat to Massu and Gonzalez with Michal Mertinak in a hugely competitive match which lasted well over three hours.

Personal: Coached by Matej Liptak, and trained by Ladislav Olasz, Lacko trains at the Slovakia national tennis centre in Bratislava and is managed by the SFX Tennis company. The Piestany-born player took up the sport when he was five years old and lists his personal interests as cars, computers and music of any kind. His food of choice is sushi and his hero and all-time favourite player is Roger Federer. Lacko's father Ladislav used to play ice hockey professionally and is credited with enrolling his son as a member at the national tennis centre in Bratislava, where he has remained since.

Eurosport