Grega Žemlja (born 29 September 1986) is a Slovenian former tennis player. He won six singles titles and two 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.

Zemlja, 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, 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 he lost against Janko Tipsarević. At 2012 Erste Bank Open tournament in Vienna, Austria, he reached his and Slovenian first male historic ATP Final, 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)

Legend (singles)
Legend (singles) Grand Slam tournaments(0–0) ATP World Tour Finals (0–0) ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0) ATP World Tour 500 Series (0–0) ATP World Tour 250 Series (0–1)Titles by surface Hard (0–1) Clay (0–0) Grass (0–0) Carpet (0–0)
Grand Slam tournaments(0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0)
ATP World Tour 500 Series (0–0)
ATP World Tour 250 Series (0–1)
Titles by surface
Hard (0–1)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Oct 2012Vienna Open, Austria250 SeriesHard (i)Argentina Juan Martín del Potro5–7, 3–6

ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals

Singles: 38 (17–21)

Legend
Legend ATP Challenger (6–13) ITF Futures (11–8)Finals by surface Hard (7–11) Clay (9–10) Grass (1–0) Carpet (0–0)
ATP Challenger (6–13)
ITF Futures (11–8)
Finals by surface
Hard (7–11)
Clay (9–10)
Grass (1–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Jun 2004Slovenia F2, MariborFuturesClayArgentina Carlos Berlocq6–7(1–7), 6–3, 6–4
Loss1–1May 2005Hungary F1, BudapestFuturesClayHungary Sebő Kiss1–6, 2–6
Loss1–2May 2005Bosnia & Herzegovina F1, SarajevoFuturesClaySerbia and Montenegro Ilija Bozoljac4–6, 3–6
Win2–2Jun 2005Slovenia F1, KranjFuturesClayCzech Republic Roman Vögeli7–6(7–4), 6–3
Win3–2Jun 2005Slovenia F2, MariborFuturesClayCroatia Vilim Visak6–1, 7–5
Win4–2Jun 2005Slovenia F3, KoperFuturesClayItaly Marco Pedrini6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–4
Loss4–3May 2006Bosnia & Herzegovina F1, SarajevoFuturesClaySpain Cesar Ferrer-Victoria3–6, 6–7(6–8)
Win5–3Jun 2006Slovenia F1, PortorožFuturesHardDenmark Rasmus Nørby6–1, 6–0
Loss5–4Sep 2006Germany F15, KemptenFuturesClayGermany Tobias Summerer4–6, 4–6
Loss5–5Oct 2006Portugal F5, Ponta DelgadaFuturesHardCroatia Vjekoslav Skenderovic4–6, 1–6
Loss5–6Feb 2007Australia F1, WollongongFuturesHardAustralia Robert Smeets5–7, 1–6
Win6–6Oct 2007Germany F19, LeimenFuturesHardGermany Marcel Zimmermann6–3, 7–5
Win7–6Mar 2008Croatia F3, PorečFuturesClayItaly Andrea Arnaboldi7–6(7–4), 6–1
Win8–6Jun 2008Slovenia F1, KrškoFuturesClayGermany Marcel Zimmermann4–6, 6–4, 6–1
Win9–6Jun 2008Slovenia F3, KoperFuturesClaySlovenia Blaž Kavčič2–6, 6–1, 6–2
Loss9–7Jun 2008Recanati, ItalyChallengerHardArgentina Horacio Zeballos3–6, 4–6
Loss9–8Oct 2008Croatia F10, DubrovnikFuturesClayItaly Simone Vagnozzi3–6, 4–6
Win10–8Nov 2008Cancún, MexicoChallengerClayArgentina Martín Alund6–2, 6–1
Loss10–9Feb 2009Burnie, AustraliaChallengerHardAustralia Brydan Klein3–6, 3–6
Loss10–10Sep 2009Ljubljana, SloveniaChallengerClayItaly Paolo Lorenzi6–1, 6–7(4–7), 2–6
Loss10–11Nov 2009Cancún, MexicoChallengerClayChile Nicolás Massú3–6, 5–7
Loss10–12Jan 2010Honolulu, United StatesChallengerHardUnited States Michael Russell0–6, 3–6
Win11–12Feb 2011Caloundra, AustraliaChallengerHardAustralia Bernard Tomic7–6(7–4), 6–3
Loss11–13Jun 2011Rijeka, CroatiaChallengerClayPortugal Rui Machado3–6, 0–6
Loss11–14Sep 2011Ljubljana, SloveniaChallengerClayItaly Paolo Lorenzi2–6, 4–6
Loss11–15Nov 2011Salzburg, AustriaChallengerHardFrance Benoît Paire7–6(8–6), 4–6, 4–6
Win12–15Jun 2012Nottingham, United KingdomChallengerGrassSlovakia Karol Beck7–6(7–3), 4–6, 6–4
Win13–15Jul 2012Anning, ChinaChallengerClaySlovenia Aljaž Bedene1–6, 7–5, 6–3
Win14–15Aug 2012Beijing, ChinaChallengerHardChina Wu Di6–3, 6–0
Win15–15Jul 2013Portorož, SloveniaChallengerHardAustria Martin Fischer6–4, 7–5
Loss15–16Feb 2015Iran F4, KishFuturesHardFrance Jules Marie1–6, 4–6
Win16–16Mar 2015Iran F5, KishFuturesHardFrance Jules Marie6–3, 6–3
Win17–16Apr 2015China F4, YuxiFuturesHardSouth Korea Kim Cheong-Eui7–6(7–4), 6–3
Loss17–17Aug 2015Portorož, SloveniaChallengerHardItaly Luca Vanni3–6, 6–7(6–8)
Loss17–18Oct 2015Las Vegas, United StatesChallengerHardNetherlands Thiemo de Bakker6–3, 3–6, 1–6
Loss17–19Apr 2016Gwangju, South KoreaChallengerHardLithuania Ričardas Berankis3–6, 2–6
Loss17–20Apr 2016Nanjing, ChinaChallengerClayLithuania Ričardas Berankis3–6, 4–6
Loss17–21Oct 2016Traralgon, AustraliaChallengerHardAustralia Jordan Thompson1–6, 2–6

Doubles: 14 (5–9)

Legend
Legend ATP Challenger (2–1) ITF Futures (3–8)Finals by surface Hard (3–3) Clay (2–6) Grass (0–0) Carpet (0–0)
ATP Challenger (2–1)
ITF Futures (3–8)
Finals by surface
Hard (3–3)
Clay (2–6)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Jun 2004Slovenia F2, MariborFuturesClaySlovenia Rok JarcSpain Germán Puentes-Alcaniz Spain Antonio Baldellou-Esteva2–6, 1–6
Loss0–2Aug 2004Serbia & Montenegro F6, NišFuturesClaySlovenia Rok JarcSerbia and Montenegro Nikola Ćirić Serbia and Montenegro Goran Tošić0–1 ret.
Win1–2Nov 2004Tunisia F5, MonastirFuturesHardSlovenia Bostjan OsabnikPoland Maciej Diłaj Poland Piotr Dilaj7–6(7–3), 6–3
Loss1–3Dec 2004Tunisia F6, MégrineFuturesHardSlovenia Bostjan OsabnikTunisia Haythem Abid Tunisia Malek Jaziri6–7(3–7), 3–6
Loss1–4May 2005Bosnia & Herzegovina F1, SarajevoFuturesClaySlovenia Rok JarcSerbia and Montenegro Ilija Bozoljac Serbia and Montenegro Goran Tošić3–6, 5–7
Win2–4Jun 2005Slovenia F1, KranjFuturesClaySlovenia Rok JarcItaly Fabio Colangelo Italy Alessandro Da Col2–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–3
Win3–4Oct 2005France F17, Saint-DizierFuturesHardSlovenia Rok JarcFrance Olivier Charroin France Gary Lugassy3–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–0
Loss3–5Oct 2006Portugal F4, AlbufeiraFuturesHardSlovenia Blaž KavčičCroatia Vjekoslav Skenderovic Croatia Joško Topić3–6, 0–6
Loss3–6Feb 2007Australia F1, WollongongFuturesHardFrance Xavier AudouyUnited States Alberto Francis United States Troy Hahn6–1, 2–6, 3–6
Loss3–7Apr 2007Italy F11, PadovaFuturesClaySlovenia Blaž KavčičArgentina Alejandro Fabbri Spain Gabriel Trujillo Soler6–7(5–7), 2–6
Loss3–8Jun 2010Marburg, GermanyChallengerClaySpain Guillermo OlasoGermany Matthias Bachinger Germany Denis Gremelmayr4–6, 4–6
Win4–8Sep 2011Ljubljana, SloveniaChallengerClaySlovenia Aljaž BedeneSpain Roberto Bautista Agut Spain Iván Navarro6–3, 6–7(10–12), [12–10]
Loss4–9Jun 2012Slovenia F1, BledFuturesClaySlovenia Aljaž BedeneCroatia Mislav Hizak Austria Tristan-Samuel Weissbornwalkover
Win5–9Oct 2015Sacramento, United StatesChallengerHardSlovenia Blaž KavčičGermany Daniel Brands Germany Dustin Brown6–1, 3–6, [10–3]

Performance timeline

Key
WFSFQF#RRRQ#DNQANH

Singles

Tournament200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017SRW–LWin%
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenQ1AAQ31R1RQ21RAAQ1Q10 / 30–30%
French OpenAAAQ12RQ1Q12RQ1AQ2Q10 / 22–250%
WimbledonAAA1RQ22R2R3RQ1AQ2Q20 / 44–450%
US OpenAQ1AQ1Q1Q33R1RAAQ1A0 / 22–250%
Win–loss0–00–00–00–11–21–23–23–40–00–00–00–00 / 118–1142%
ATP Tour Masters 1000
MiamiAAAAAQ2Q13RAAQ2Q10 / 12–167%
RomeAAAAAAAQ2AAAA0 / 00–0–
CanadaAAAAQ1AA1RAAAA0 / 10–10%
CincinnatiAAAAQ1AAQ2AAAA0 / 00–0–
ShanghaiAAAAQ2Q1Q2AAAAA0 / 00–0–
Win–loss0–00–00–00–00–00–00–02–20–00–00–00–00 / 22–250%

Davis Cup

Singles performances (18–10)

EditionRoundDateAgainstSurfaceOpponentResultOutcome
2005 Europe/Africa Zone Group II1R3-04-2005Ivory Coast Ivory CoastHard (I)Ivory Coast Valentin Sanon6–4, 6–4, 7–5Win
QF7-15-2005Latvia LatviaClayLatvia Ernests Gulbis5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 6–4Win
SF9-25-2005Portugal PortugalClayPortugal Rui Machado3–6, 3–6, 6–2, 4–6Loss
2006 Europe/Africa Zone Group II1R4-07-2006Algeria AlgeriaClayAlgeria Slimane Saoudi7–5, 6–2Win
4-09-2006Algeria Lamine Ouahab3–6, 6–2, 6–4, 3–6, 4–6Loss
RPO7-21-2006Republic of Ireland IrelandGrassRepublic of Ireland Kevin Sorensen6–2, 7–5, 6–1Win
7-23-2006Republic of Ireland Conor Niland6–4, 6–2Win
2007 Europe/Africa Zone Group II1R4-06-2007Estonia EstoniaCarpet (I)Estonia Jürgen Zopp4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–3), 6–3Win
4-08-2007Estonia Mait Künnap6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 6–7(2–7), 6–3Win
QF7-22-2007Morocco MoroccoHardMorocco Younes El Aynaoui6–7(2–7), 2–6, 4–6Loss
2008 Europe/Africa Zone Group IIRPO7-18-2008Tunisia TunisiaClayTunisia Malek Jaziri3–6, 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4Win
2009 Europe/Africa Zone Group II1R3-06-2009Egypt EgyptCarpet (I)Egypt Sherif Sabry7–5, 7–6(8–6), 6–2Win
QF7-10-2009Lithuania LithuaniaClayLithuania Ričardas Berankis6–1, 6–4, 6–3Win
7-12-2009Lithuania Dovydas Sakinis6–4, 2–6, 6–1Win
SF9-18-2009Latvia LatviaCarpet (I)Latvia Andis Juška6–1, 6–1, 6–4Win
9-20-2009Latvia Ernests Gulbis2–6, 6–3, 3–6, 5–7Loss
2010 Europe/Africa Zone Group II1R3-05-2010Norway NorwayHard (I)Norway Erling Tveit6–2, 6–2, 7–6(7–2)Win
QF7-09-2010Bulgaria BulgariaClayBulgaria Todor Enev6–2, 6–1Win
SF9-17-2010Lithuania LithuaniaHard (I)Lithuania Ričardas Berankis7–6(7–2), 6–4, 6–3Win
9-19-2010Lithuania Laurynas Grigelis6–3, 7–6(7–4), 6–3Win
2011 Europe/Africa Zone Group I1R3-04-2011Finland FinlandClay (I)Finland Jarkko Nieminen6–3, 3–6, 4–6, 3–6Loss
3-06-2011Finland Micke Kontinen2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–3Win
2R7-08-2011Italy ItalyClayItaly Fabio Fognini6–1, 4–6, 4–6, 4–6Loss
7-10-2011Italy Simone Bolelli5–7, 3–6Loss
2012 Europe/Africa Zone Group I1R2-10-2012Denmark DenmarkHard (I)Denmark Kristian Pless6–0, 6–1, 6–4Win
2R4-06-2012South Africa South AfricaHardSouth Africa Izak van der Merwe1–6, 6–3, 3–6, 4–6Loss
2013 Europe/Africa Zone Group I1R1-02-2013Poland PolandHard (I)Poland Łukasz Kubot3–6, 2–6, 0–6Loss
3-02-2013Poland Jerzy Janowicz6–7(4–7), 3–6, 3–6Loss

Doubles performances (11–8)

EditionRoundDatePartneringAgainstSurfaceOpponentsResultOutcome
2005 Europe/Africa Zone Group II1R3-05-2005Slovenia Rok JarcIvory Coast Ivory CoastHard (I)Ivory Coast Claude N'Goran Ivory Coast Valentin Sanon6–2, 6–2 ret.Win
SF9-24-2005Portugal PortugalClayPortugal Frederico Gil Portugal Leonardo Tavares4–6, 2–6, 4–6Loss
2006 Europe/Africa Zone Group II1R4-08-2006Slovenia Rok JarcAlgeria AlgeriaClayAlgeria Lamine Ouahab Algeria Slimane Saoudi2–6, 2–6, 4–6Loss
RPO7-22-2006Slovenia Luka GregorcRepublic of Ireland IrelandGrassRepublic of Ireland James Cluskey Republic of Ireland Stephen Nugent6–7(7–9), 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 7–5Win
2007 Europe/Africa Zone Group II1R4-07-2007Slovenia Luka GregorcEstonia EstoniaClay (I)Estonia Mait Künnap Estonia Jürgen Zopp2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 4–6Loss
QF7-21-2007Morocco MoroccoHardMorocco Reda El Amrani Morocco Younes El Aynaoui6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–4, 6–4Win
2008 Europe/Africa Zone Group II1R4-12-2008Slovenia Marko TkalecCyprus CyprusHardCyprus Marcos Baghdatis Cyprus Photos Kallias6–7(4–7), 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 1–6Loss
RPO7-19-2008Slovenia Luka GregorcTunisia TunisiaClayTunisia Haithem Abid Tunisia Malek Jaziri6–3, 5–7, 6–7(5–7), 5–7Loss
2009 Europe/Africa Zone Group II1R3-07-2009Slovenia Marko TkalecEgypt EgyptCarpet (I)Egypt Karim Maamoun Egypt Sherif Sabry6–2, 6–3, 6–3Win
QF7-19-2009Slovenia Andrej KračmanLithuania LithuaniaClayLithuania Ričardas Berankis Lithuania Vadim Pinko7–6(7–2), 6–3, 6–3Win
SF9-19-2009Slovenia Luka GregorcLatvia LatviaCarpet (I)Latvia Ernests Gulbis Latvia Deniss Pavlovs6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 6–4Win
2010 Europe/Africa Zone Group II1R3-06-2010Slovenia Luka GregorcNorway NorwayHard (I)Norway Erling Tveit Norway Stian Boretti7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–5), 7–5Win
QF7-10-2010Bulgaria BulgariaClayBulgaria Grigor Dimitrov Bulgaria Ivaylo Traykov6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–2), 7–6(14–12), 6–3Win
SF9-18-2010Lithuania LithuaniaHard (I)Lithuania Ričardas Berankis Lithuania Laurynas Grigelis7–5, 6–4, 1–6, 3–6, 3–6Loss
2011 Europe/Africa Zone Group I1R3-05-2011Slovenia Luka GregorcFinland FinlandClay (I)Finland Harri Heliövaara Finland Jarkko Nieminen6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–4, 7–5Win
2R7-09-2011Slovenia Blaž KavčičItaly ItalyClayItaly Simone Bolelli Italy Daniele Bracciali6–7, 6–7, 2–6Loss
2012 Europe/Africa Zone Group I1R2-11-2012Slovenia Blaž KavčičDenmark DenmarkHard (I)Denmark Thomas Kromann Denmark Frederik Nielsen6–4, 6–7, 6–4, 7–5Win
2R4-07-2012Slovenia Blaž KavčičSouth Africa South AfricaHardSouth Africa Raven Klaasen South Africa Izak van der Merwe7–6(7–5), 6–7(4–7), 1–6, 4–6Loss
2013 Europe/Africa Zone Group I1R2-02-2012Slovenia Blaž KavčičPoland PolandHard (I)Poland Mariusz Fyrstenberg Poland Marcin Matkowski6–3, 2–6, 6–2, 4–6, 13-11Win

External links