Steve Darcis (French pronunciation:[stivdaʁsi], born 13 March 1984) is a Belgian tennis coach and former professional player. Darcis won two ATP titles and achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 38 on 22 May 2017.

Personal life

Steve Darcis was born in Liège the son of Marie Agnes, a sports instructor, and Alain Darcis, a tennis coach. He has a sister named Céline. Growing up, he looked up at Pete Sampras. On 29 May 2013, his girlfriend Lauranne gave birth to daughter Camille.

Professional career

Juniors

As a junior, Darcis compiled a singles win–loss record of 73–32, reaching as high as No. 8 in the junior world singles rankings in May 2002 (and No. 15 in doubles). He reached the semifinals at the 2002 Wimbledon Championships boys' singles event.

2007–2009

Darcis won his first ATP World Tour event at the Dutch Open in July 2007 and achieved his first top-100 ranking on 26 November 2007 after winning a Challenger event in Finland.

Darcis competed at the 2008 Australian Open and the French Open, losing in the first round in both. He and Olivier Rochus, however, reached the quarterfinals of the doubles tournament at the French Open. He reached the second round at the US Open. He won a second ATP event at Memphis in March, defeating Robin Söderling in the final. He reached the final of the Dutch Open again, but lost to Albert Montañés.

In 2009, Darcis played in three Grand Slam tournaments, the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, reaching the second round only at Wimbledon. He also reached the quarterfinals at Queen's Club.

2010–present

Darcis qualified for the 2010 Qatar Open, retiring in his third-round match against Rafael Nadal. He failed to qualify for the Australian Open.

At the 2011 French Open, Darcis advanced to the main draw as a qualifier, and in the first round pulled off a shock victory over 22nd seed Michaël Llodra. Darcis followed this up by beating Philipp Petzschner, to advance into the third round, where he was defeated by Frenchman Gaël Monfils in straight sets.

Darcis made the quarterfinals in Vienna, beating Nikolay Davydenko on the way, but was defeated by Daniel Brands.

In 2012, Darcis made the final of the Dallas Challenger tournament but lost to Jesse Levine. At the Eastbourne International, he defeated Matthew Ebden, Marcos Baghdatis, and Marinko Matosevic to face Andy Roddick in the semifinals. Darcis retired a set down at 1–3 due to a back injury.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Darcis beat Tomáš Berdych in the first round.

In the first round at the 2013 Wimbledon Championships on 24 June, Darcis defeated fifth-seeded Rafael Nadal in straight sets. This made him the first player ever to defeat Nadal in the first round of any major tournament. Darcis was ranked 130 places lower than Nadal. At the time, he was the lowest-ranked player ever to beat Nadal in a Grand Slam tournament. It was announced prior to his second-round match that he had withdrawn due to a shoulder injury sustained in the Nadal match.

In the 2017 Australian Open, Darcis defeated Sam Groth and Diego Schwartzman both in four sets to reach the third round, tying his best Grand Slam result to date (in singles). He was taken out by Andreas Seppi despite winning the first set of the match.

In October 2019, Darcis confirmed his plans to retire after the 2020 Australian Open due to elbow pain since the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.

Coaching career

He is currently coaching Belgian players Raphael Collignon and Gauthier Onclin.

ATP career finals

Singles: 3 (2 titles, 1 runner-up)

Legend
Legend Grand Slam tournaments (0–0) ATP World Tour Finals (0–0) ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0) ATP World Tour 500 Series (1–0) ATP World Tour 250 Series (1–1)Finals by surface Hard (1–0) Clay (1–1) Grass (0–0)Finals by setting Outdoor (1–1) Indoor (1–0)
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0)
ATP World Tour 500 Series (1–0)
ATP World Tour 250 Series (1–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–0)
Clay (1–1)
Grass (0–0)
Finals by setting
Outdoor (1–1)
Indoor (1–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Jul 2007Dutch Open, Netherlands250 SeriesClayAustria Werner Eschauer6–1, 7–6(7–1)
Win2–0Mar 2008U.S. National Indoor Championships, United States500 SeriesHard (i)Sweden Robin Söderling6–3, 7–6(7–5)
Loss2–1Jul 2008Dutch Open, Netherlands250 SeriesClaySpain Albert Montañés6–1, 5–7, 3–6

Challenger and Futures finals

Singles: 39 (19–20)

Legend
Legend ATP Challenger Tour (10–13) ITF Futures Tour (9–7)Finals by surface Hard (5–8) Clay (12–10) Carpet (2–2)
ATP Challenger Tour (10–13)
ITF Futures Tour (9–7)
Finals by surface
Hard (5–8)
Clay (12–10)
Carpet (2–2)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Sep 2003Great Britain F10, GlasgowFuturesHard (i)United Kingdom Andy Murray3–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win1–1Nov 2003Czech Rep. F6, HrotoviceFuturesCarpetCzech Republic Jan Mašík3–6, 6–2, 6–2
Loss1–2May 2004Italy F5, PadovaFuturesClaySpain José Antonio Sánchez de Luna3–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–7(8–10)
Loss1–3Jul 2004Germany F11, TrierFuturesClayFrance Éric Prodon3–6, 3–6
Loss1–4Jan 2005Germany F1, NußlochFuturesCarpet (i)Czech Republic Robin Vik2–6, 3–6
Win2–4Jan 2005France F1, DeauvilleFuturesClay (i)France Olivier Vandewiele6–2, 6–1
Win3–4Jan 2005France F2, FeucherollesFuturesHard (i)France Jean-Michel Péquery6–4, 7–6(7–1)
Win4–4Mar 2005France F4, LilleFuturesHard (i)Switzerland Roman Valent7–5, 6–3
Loss4–5Oct 2005Kolding, DenmarkChallengerHard (i)Russia Dmitry Tursunov3–6, 4–6
Loss4–6Nov 2005Eckental, GermanyChallengerCarpet (i)Germany Michael Berrer3–6, 6–4, 4–6
Loss4–7Apr 2006France F7, AngersFuturesClay (i)Switzerland Stéphane Bohli6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–4), 3–6
Win5–7Apr 2007France F6, AngersFuturesClay (i)France Xavier Pujo3–6, 6–4, 6–4
Win6–7Apr 2007Turkey F3, BelekFuturesClayCzech Republic Dušan Karol6–3, 6–3
Win7–7Nov 2007Helsinki, FinlandChallengerHard (i)Germany Tobias Kamke6–3, 1–6, 6–4
Loss7–8Jun 2009Prostějov, Czech RepublicChallengerClayCzech Republic Jan Hájek2–6, 6–1, 4–6
Loss7–9Mar 2010Barletta, ItalyChallengerClaySpain Pere Riba3–6, 0–0 ret.
Win8–9Aug 2010Cordenons, ItalyChallengerClaySpain Daniel Muñoz de la Nava6–2, 6–4
Loss8–10Oct 2010Mons, BelgiumChallengerHard (i)France Adrian Mannarino5–7, 2–6
Win9–10Jul 2011Scheveningen, NetherlandsChallengerClayTurkey Marsel İlhan6–3, 4–6, 6–2
Win10–10Aug 2011Trani, ItalyChallengerClayArgentina Leonardo Mayer4–6, 6–3, 6–2
Loss10–11Feb 2012Dallas, United StatesChallengerHard (i)United States Jesse Levine4–6, 4–6
Loss10–12May 2013Ostrava, Czech RepublicChallengerClayCzech Republic Jiří Veselý4–6, 4–6
Win11–12Aug 2013Netherlands F5, EnschedeFuturesClayNetherlands Thomas Schoorel7–6(7–2), 6–1
Loss11–13Jun 2014Belgium F1, DammeFuturesClayBelgium Joris De Loore5–7, 3–6
Loss11–14Jul 2014Belgium F7, MiddelkerkeFuturesClayBelgium Niels Desein3–6, 6–3, 6–7(6–8)
Win12–14Aug 2014Belgium F10, EupenFuturesClayGermany Richard Becker7–6(7–5), 6–1
Win13–14Sep 2014Belgium F14, ArlonFuturesClayNetherlands Scott Griekspoor6–2, 6–2
Loss13–15Oct 2014Mons, BelgiumChallengerHard (i)Belgium David Goffin3–6, 3–6
Win14–15Oct 2014Rennes, FranceChallengerHard (i)France Nicolas Mahut6–2, 6–4
Win15–15Jan 2015Nouméa, New CaledoniaChallengerHardSpain Adrián Menéndez Maceiras6–3, 6–2
Win16–15Jun 2016Lyon, FranceChallengerClayBrazil Thiago Monteiro3–6, 6–2, 6–0
Loss16–16Jun 2016Blois, FranceChallengerClayArgentina Carlos Berlocq2–6, 0–6
Loss16–17Aug 2016Liberec, Czech RepublicChallengerClayBelgium Arthur De Greef6–7(4–7), 3–6
Win17–17Aug 2016Trnava, SlovakiaChallengerClaySpain Jordi Samper Montaña6–3, 6–4
Loss17–18Oct 2016Budapest, HungaryChallengerHard (i)Romania Marius Copil4–6, 2–6
Win18–18Nov 2016Eckental, GermanyChallengerCarpet (i)Australia Alex de Minaur6–4, 6–2
Win19–18May 2017Bordeaux, FranceChallengerClayBrazil Rogério Dutra Silva7–6(7–2), 4–6, 7–5
Loss19–19Feb 2019Cherbourg, FranceChallengerHard (i)France Ugo Humbert7–6(8–6), 3–6, 3–6
Loss19–20Nov 2019Eckental, GermanyChallengerHard (i)Czech Republic Jiří Veselý4–6, 6–4, 3–6

Doubles: 10 (6–4)

Legend
Legend ATP Challenger Tour (3–2) ITF Futures Tour (3–2)Finals by surface Hard (1–0) Clay (5–4)
ATP Challenger Tour (3–2)
ITF Futures Tour (3–2)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–0)
Clay (5–4)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Nov 2003Czech Rep. F5, Frýdlant nad OstravicíFuturesHardNetherlands Bart de GierItaly Flavio Cipolla Italy Alessandro da Col7–6(7–5), 6–7(4–7), 6–3
Loss1–1Jun 2004France F8, BloisFuturesClayBelgium Stefan WautersArgentina Brian Dabul Argentina Diego Hartfield5–7, 4–6
Win2–1Jan 2005France F1, DeauvilleFuturesClay (i)Belgium Stefan WautersNetherlands Steven Korteling Netherlands Nick van der Meer6–4, 6–4
Win3–1Jul 2005Montauban, FranceChallengerClayBelgium Stefan WautersSpain Gabriel Trujillo Soler Croatia Lovro Zovko6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–4
Loss3–2Jul 2005Scheveningen, NetherlandsChallengerClayBelgium Kristof VliegenFrance Julien Benneteau France Édouard Roger-Vasselin7–5, 5–7, 6–7(5–7)
Win4–2Apr 2007Turkey F2, ManavgatFuturesClayNetherlands Fred HemmesUnited States Brett Ross Iceland Arnar Sigurdsson6–2, 6–4
Loss4–3Apr 2007Turkey F3, BelekFuturesClayNetherlands Fred HemmesCzech Republic Dušan Karol Belgium Jeroen Masson3–6, 6–7(1–7)
Loss4–4May 2007San Remo, ItalyChallengerClayBelgium Stefan WautersThailand Sanchai Ratiwatana Thailand Sonchat Ratiwatana6–7(3–7), 3–6
Win5–4Feb 2010Tanger, MoroccoChallengerClayGermany Dominik MeffertBelarus Uladzimir Ignatik Slovakia Martin Kližan5–7, 7–5, [10–7]
Win6–4May 2013Ostrava, Czech RepublicChallengerClayBelgium Olivier RochusPoland Tomasz Bednarek Poland Mateusz Kowalczyk7–5, 7–5

Performance timelines

Key
WFSFQF#RRRQ#P#DNQAZ#POGSBNMSNTIPNH

Singles

Current through the 2019 Swiss Open Gstaad.

Tournament200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020SRW–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAAAQ2A1R1RQ3A1R1RAQ31R3RA1RQ10 / 72–8
French OpenAAQ1Q3A1R1R2R3R1R1RA1R2R1RAQ3A0 / 94–9
WimbledonAAQ2AA1R2RAQ21R2R*Q21RA2RA2RNH0 / 74–6
US OpenAAAQ11R2R1RA2R2RA1R2R2R1RA1RA0 / 105–10
Win–loss0–00–00–00–00–11–41–41–13–21–41–20–11–32–33–40–01–30–00 / 3315–33
National representation
Summer OlympicsNHNot HeldNH1RNot Held3RNot HeldANot Held0 / 22–2
Davis CupAAPOAA1RPO1R1RPO1RPOFPOFAGSA0 / 623–12
Win–loss0–00–00–10–00–01–42–02–02–05–13–00–24–21–04–30–01–10–00 / 725–14
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Indian Wells MastersAAAAAA2RAA2RQ1AAAAAANH0 / 22–2
Miami OpenAAAAAQ11RAA1RQ1A3RAAAANH0 / 32–3
Monte-Carlo MastersAAAAAAQ2AAQ2Q1AAA1RAANH0 / 10–1
Madrid OpenAAAAA1RAAAAAAAAAAANH0 / 10–1
Italian OpenAAAAA2RAAAAAAAAAAANH0 / 11–1
Canadian OpenAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA0 / 00–0
Cincinnati MastersAAAAAAAAAQ1AAAAAAAA0 / 00–0
Shanghai MastersNMSAAAAAAAAAAAA0 / 00–0
Paris MastersAAAAAAAAAQ1AAAAAAAA0 / 00–0
German OpenAAAAA1RNot Masters Series0 / 10–1
Win–loss0–00–00–00–00–01–31–20–00–01–20–00–02–10–00–10–00–00–00 / 95–9
Career statistics
200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020Career
Tournaments000132118661871115180122128
Titles / Finals0 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 01 / 11 / 20 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 00 / 02 / 3
Overall win–loss0–00–00–10–16–221–236–186–69–622–175–60–312–134–520–200–05–122–2119–136
Year-end ranking48236815348386611221098893164160868677n/a157n/a46.67%

* Darcis withdrew before the second round match at the 2013 Wimbledon.

Doubles

Tournament200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019SRW–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open1R1R2RAAAAAAAAA0 / 31–3
French OpenQFAAA1RAA1RA1RAA0 / 43–4
Wimbledon1RAAA3RAAAAAAA0 / 22–2
US Open1RAAA1RAA1RA3RAA0 / 42–4
Win–loss3–40–11–10–02–30–00–00–20–02–20–00–00 / 138–13

Wins over top-10 opponents

No.OpponentRankEventSurfaceRoundScoreSDR
2012
1.Czech Republic Tomáš Berdych7Olympics, United KingdomGrass1R6–4, 6–475
2013
2.Spain Rafael Nadal5Wimbledon, United KingdomGrass1R7–6(7–4), 7–6(10–8), 6–4135
2017
3.Spain Pablo Carreño Busta10China Open, ChinaHard1R6–0, 6–473

External links