Olivier Rochus Explained

Olivier Rochus
Residence:Dion-Valmont, Belgium
Birth Date:1981 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Namur, Belgium
Turnedpro:1999
Retired:2014
Plays:Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Careerprizemoney:$4,809,475
Singlesrecord:238–276
Singlestitles:2
Highestsinglesranking:No. 24 (17 October 2005)
Australianopenresult:4R (2005)
Frenchopenresult:3R (2001, 2006)
Wimbledonresult:4R (2003)
Usopenresult:4R (2004)
Doublesrecord:98–121
Doublestitles:2
Highestdoublesranking:No. 29 (5 July 2004)
Australianopendoublesresult:2R (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
Frenchopendoublesresult:W (2004)
Wimbledondoublesresult:3R (2005)
Usopendoublesresult:3R (2006, 2009)

Olivier Rochus (in French pronounced as /ɔlivje ʁɔkys/; born 18 January 1981) is a retired Belgian tennis player. He is the younger brother of Christophe Rochus, also a former top-40 tennis player.

Rochus won two singles titles in his career and in 2004 won the French Open doubles title, partnering fellow Belgian Xavier Malisse. His career-high singles ranking is world No. 24. At 1.68m (05.51feet) tall, he was the shortest player on the ATP World Tour.[1]

Career

Juniors

Rochus was a partner of Roger Federer on the junior circuit, winning the boys' doubles title at Wimbledon in 1998.

As a junior, he compiled a singles win–loss record of 81–30 (42–20 in doubles), reaching as high as No. 11 in the world in 1997 (and No. 16 in doubles the following year). Rochus reached at least the quarterfinals of all four junior Grand Slam tournaments (including the semifinals of the French Open and Wimbledon).

1999–2008

He won his first title in Palermo in 2000, defeating his brother in the semifinals and Diego Nargiso in the final. In 2003, he achieved his greatest Master Series result, reaching the quarter-finals of the Hamburg Masters.[2]

He has represented Belgium at two Olympic Games in both the singles and the doubles competitions at Athens and Beijing.[3]

In May 2006, he reached the final of the ATP tournament in Munich, setting up the first ever all-Belgian men's singles final against Kristof Vliegen. He won that final in straight sets.

In June, Rochus faced world No. 1, Roger Federer, in the quarterfinals of the Gerry Weber Open. Rochus held four match points in the second set at 5–6 and in the tie-break. He could not close out the match and eventually lost in three tiebreaks.

2009

He reached the final of the Stockholm Open, after winning to Swede Andreas Vinciguerra in the first round, eighth seed Feliciano López, and Jarkko Nieminen. In the semifinals, he beat best Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci. In the final, he met former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, but lost in two sets.

One week later at the Grand Prix de Lyon, he won his first match against French qualifier Vincent Millot. He faced world No. 8, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but lost in two short sets.

His next tournament was the Swiss Indoors, where he first won his three qualifying matches. In the first round of the tournament, he lost to his former double partner and world No. 1, Roger Federer.

The last tournament of his tennis season was the AXA Belgian Masters (Challenger), where he met compatriot Steve Darcis in the semifinal.

2010

At the Sony Ericsson Open he defeated Richard Gasquet and the 2007 titlist and second seed Novak Djokovic.

In the Nice tournament, one week prior to Roland Garros, he pulled off another upset, defeating 2009 French Open finalist Robin Söderling.

He defeated Raven Klaasen of South Africa at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championship, but lost to Mardy Fish in the final in three sets.

2011

In March, Rochus lost in the fourth round in Miami to Federer, after defeating Blaž Kavčič, Marcos Baghdatis, and Mikhail Youzhny in the first three rounds. In July, he made it to the final in Newport, where he was defeated by John Isner in straight sets.

2012–13

Rochus had his best success earlier in 2012, reaching the final in Auckland. He lost to Nicolás Almagro in the first round of Wimbledon.[4]

In 2013, he played mostly on the Challenger Tour, never advancing beyond the second round of an ATP event.

ATP career finals

Singles: 10 (2 wins, 8 losses)

Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0)
ATP World Tour 500 series (0–0)
ATP World Tour 250 series (2–8)
Finals by surface
Hard (0–6)
Clay (2–0)
Grass (0–2)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW/L DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1.Sep 2000Campionati Internazionali di Sicilia, ItalyClay Diego Nargiso7–6(16–14), 6–1
Loss1. Feb 2002Copenhagen Open, DenmarkHard (i) Lars Burgsmüller3–6, 3–6
Loss2.Mar 2003Copenhagen Open, Denmark Hard (i) Karol Kučera6–7(4–7), 4–6
Loss3.Jan 2005Heineken Open, New Zealand Hard Fernando González4–6, 2–6
Win2.May 2006BMW Open, GermanyClay Kristof Vliegen6–4, 6–2
Loss4.Sep 2007Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open, IndiaHard Richard Gasquet3–6, 4–6
Loss5.Oct 2009Stockholm Open, SwedenHard (i) Marcos Baghdatis1–6, 5–7
Loss6.Jul 2010Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, U.S.Grass Mardy Fish7–5, 3–6, 4–6
Loss7.Jul 2011Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, U.S.Grass John Isner3–6, 6–7(6–8)
Loss8.Jan 2012Heineken Open, New ZealandHard David Ferrer3–6, 4–6

Doubles: 7 (2 wins, 5 losses)

Legend
Grand Slam tournament (1–0)
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0)
ATP World Tour 500 series (0–2)
ATP World Tour 250 series (1–3)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–3)
Clay (1–2)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW/L DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1. Jun 2004French Open, ParisClay Xavier Malisse Michaël Llodra
Fabrice Santoro
7–5, 7–5
Win2. Jan 2005Adelaide International, AustraliaHard Xavier Malisse Simon Aspelin
Todd Perry
7–6(7–5), 6–4
Loss1.Jul 2005Generali Open, AustriaClay Christophe Rochus Leoš Friedl
Andrei Pavel
2–6, 7–6(7–5), 0–6
Loss2. Jan 2006Qatar Open, DohaHard Christophe Rochus Jonas Björkman
Max Mirnyi
6–2, 3–6, [8–10]
Loss3. Oct 2006Stockholm Open, SwedenHard (i) Kristof Vliegen Paul Hanley
Kevin Ullyett
6–7(2–7), 4–6
Loss4. Jul 2008Kitzbühel, AustriaClay Lucas Arnold Ker James Cerretani
Victor Hănescu
3–6, 5–7
Loss5. Feb 2010PBZ Zagreb Indoors, CroatiaHard (i) Arnaud Clément Jürgen Melzer
Philipp Petzschner
6–3, 3–6, [8–10]

Performance timelines

Singles

Tournament200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014W–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenA1R1R2R1R4R2R2R1RA1RA2R1RA7–11
French OpenLQ3R2R1R1R2R3R1R1RQ32R1R1RAA7–11
Wimbledon3R2R3R4R1R2R3R1R2RQ11R2R1R1RA13–13
US Open1R1R1R1R4R3R3R1R1R2R1R1R1RQ2A8–13
style=text-align:leftWin–loss2–23–43–44–43–47–47–41–41–41–11–41–31–40–20–035–48
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Indian WellsAA1R3R1R2R3R3R2RA1RA1RQ2A6–9
MiamiAA1R2R2R2R4R3R1RQ13R4R1R2RA12–10
Monte CarloAAA1R1R3R2R1R2RQ11R2R1RAA5–9
Madrid1AA1RQF2R1R1R1R2RAA1R1RAA5–9
RomeAAA1RA1R1R2RAAAAAAA1–4
Toronto / MontrealAAAAA3RAAAAAAAAA2–1
CincinnatiAAAAA3RA1RAAAQ1Q2AA2–2
Shanghai2A1RA1RA3R1RA1RAAAAAA2–5
ParisAA2RAA1R2RQ1Q2AAAAAA2–3
style=text-align:leftWin–loss0–00–11–46–62–410–95–73–53–50–02–34–30–41–10–037–52
Career statistics
style=text-align:leftTitles / Finals1–10–00–10–10–00–11–10–10–00–10–00–10–10–00–02–10
Year-end ranking68114644866273648122571136790200580

1Held as Hamburg Masters (outdoor clay) until 2008, Madrid Masters (outdoor clay) 2009–present.
2Held as Stuttgart Masters (indoor hard) until 2001, Madrid Masters (indoor hard) from 2002 to 2008, and Shanghai Masters (outdoor hard) 2009–present.

Doubles

Tournament20032004200520062007200820092010201120122013W–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open1R2R2R2R2R1RAAA2R1R5–8
French Open1Rbgcolor=limeW3R3R3RQFA1R1R1RA15–8
WimbledonA2R3R2R2RAA1RA3RA7–6
US Open2R1R1R3R1R1R3R1R1RAA5–9
style=text-align:leftWin–loss1–38–35–46–44–43–32–10–30–23–30–132–31

Top 10 wins

Season20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013Total
Wins1013221100200013
width=150PlayerRankwidth=200EventSurfaceRdwidth=180Score
2000
1. Magnus Normanbgcolor=thistle2Wimbledon, United Kingdombgcolor=#cfcGrass2R6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–7(4–7), 6–1
2002
2. Marat Safinbgcolor=thistle2Wimbledon, United Kingdombgcolor=#cfcGrass2R6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 7–6(7–1)
2003
3. Albert Costa9Indian Wells, United StatesHard2R5–7, 6–4, 6–4
4. Albert Costa8Hamburg, GermanyClay2R3–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–3)
5. Guillermo Coria7Wimbledon, United Kingdombgcolor=#cfcGrass1R7–5, 7–6(7–4), 6–3
2004
6. Mark Philippoussis10Dubai, United Arab EmiratesHard1R6–2, 7–6(10–8)
7. Carlos Moyá4US Open, New YorkHard3R4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 7–5
2005
8. Guillermo Coria6Auckland, New ZealandHardQF6–4, 6–4
9. Mariano Puerta9Lyon, Francebgcolor=thistleCarpet (i)1R4–6, 7–5, 6–3
2006
10. Guillermo Coria7Miami Open, United StatesHard3R6–4, 6–3
2007
11. Nikolay Davydenko4Dubai, United Arab EmiratesHard2R4–6, 6–4, 6–2
2010
12. Novak Djokovicbgcolor=thistle2Miami Open, United StatesHard2R6–2, 6–7(7–9), 6–4
13. Robin Söderling7Nice, FranceClay2R2–6, 6–4, 6–4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Isner, Raonic on Track for Memphis Finals; Almagro, Ferrer Alive in Buenos Aires. tennis-x.com. 24 February 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120430165001/http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2012-02-24/8924.php. 30 April 2012.
  2. Web site: Hewitt defeated in Hamburg. upi.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110221193054/http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2003/05/15/Hewitt-defeated-in-Hamburg/UPI-64471053039600/. 21 February 2011.
  3. Web site: Olivier Rochus Bio, Stats, and Results. Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170702223811/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ro/olivier-rochus-1.html. 2 July 2017.
  4. Web site: Wimbledon 2012. 2012-06-26. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120626175014/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18598767. 26 June 2012.