Luka Gregorc

Infobox Tennis biography
playername = Luka Gregorc


nickname =
country = SLO
residence = Boca Raton, Florida, United States
datebirth = birth date and age|1984|02|14
placebirth = Ljubljana, Slovenia
height = height|m=1.9
weight = kg to lb|85|abbr=yes
turnedpro = 1999
retired =
plays = Right
careerprizemoney = $91,553
singlesrecord = 8–8
singlestitles = 0 ATP, 0 Challenger, 1 Futures
highestsinglesranking = 232 (August 25, 2008)
AustralianOpenresult = -
FrenchOpenresult = -
Wimbledonresult = -
USOpenresult = -
Othertournaments =
doublesrecord = 2–2
doublestitles = 0 ATP, 0 Challenger, 3 Futures
highestdoublesranking = 557 (September 12, 2005)
grandslamsdoublesresults =
OthertournamentsDoubles =
updated = August 25, 2008

Luka Gregorc (born February 14, 1984, in Ljubljana) is a tennis player from Slovenia. Gregorc reached his highest singles ranking of World Numer 232 on August 25, 2008, and highest doubles ranking on September 12, 2005, reaching World Numer 557. He lives in the United States, in the city of Boca Raton located in the state of Florida. cite news | url =http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/2008news/newhaven_thursday.asp| author =Association of Tennis Professionals| title =Top Seed Verdasco Reaches SFs; Gregorc Stuns Seppi| date =2008-08-21| accessdate =2008-08-21| language =English]

Career

Juniors

Gregorc's highest junior rankings were ninth in singles competition and fourteenth in doubles competition. [ [http://www.itftennis.com/juniors/players/player.asp?player=30022051 Junior Profile] ] He has had success at Grand Slam tournaments, reaching late stages in junior competitions there, including a semifinal run in doubles at the 2001 Wimbledon Championships with Jamaica's Ryan Russell.

1999-2007: Years Leading to Success

Gregorc entered his first professional tournament in Portoroz, Slovenia, a Futures tournament, which he lost to Uros Vico of Italy, 6-1, 6-3, in the first round. He won his first match in his second tournament, another Futures tournament, this time located in Jamaica, before losing in the next round. In 2002, Gregorc reached a final in Montego Bay, Jamaica, but lost in the final to Brandon Wagner of the United States. He started to produce better results later on in the year, but in 2003 he didn't show as formidable tennis.

Gregorc has played and plays for Slovenia's Davis Cup team, playing singles and doubles in 2004, 2006, and 2007, partnering with Mario Tkalec once and Grega Zemlja multiple times. He posted a 1-2 singles record in the 2007 Davis Cup, beating his Estonian opponent Jurgen Zopp before losing two singles rubbers to Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui and Rabie Chaki. He is 4-5 in overall performances, a record that includes both singles and doubles, at the Davis Cup.

The same happened in 2004 and 2005, however, Gregorc won his first match in his first main-level Association of Tennis Professionals ATP tournament, in Beijing, China, but lost. Finally, in 2006, he won his first tournament, winning a Futures tournament in Venezuela over Yohny Romero, playing in his native nation, in the final, before winning 1-6, 6-0, 6-3. So far, it is Gregorc's only singles title. However, he has also participated in Challenger tournaments, and has won matches in ATP tournaments in Asia, and one at the Delray Beach tournament. He has also won ATP matches since his loss in Beijing in 2005.

In doubles, Gregorc did win a Futures tournament with Roger Anderson in Montego Bay in 2002, and won another Futures title with Anderson before winning one with his current coach Marcos Ondruska.

2008 Pilot Pen

At the 2008 Pilot Pen Tennis tournament, Gregorc made a monumental run to the semifinals by beating many higher-ranked players. First, the Slovenian defeated fellow qualifier Ramon Delgado of Paraguay, before beating fourteenth seed Jose Acasuso 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the third round. Then, he beat Ivo Karlović, the tournament's second seed, in the third round, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2, before continuing his unexpected run by beating highly-seeded Andreas Seppi, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. [ [http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/TrackIt.asp?file=http://www.atptennis.com/1/posting/2008/3348/mds.pdf Official Draw] ] . His amazing feat was ended by Marin Čilić in the semifinals.

References and Sources

External links

*ATP|id=G527
*ITF male profile|number=30022051
*DavisCupplayerlink|id=30022051