Karol Kučera

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**Karol Kučera**
‎
Country	Slovakia
Residence	Monte Carlo, Monaco
Date of birth	March 4, 1974
Place of birth	Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 2 in (187 cm)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg)
Turned Pro	1992
Plays	Right; Two-handed backhand
Career Prize Money	$5,061,125
Singles
Career record:	293-244
Career titles:	6
Highest ranking:	No. 6 (September 14, 1998)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open	SF (1998)
French Open	4R (1996, 1999)
Wimbledon	4R (1999)
U.S. Open	QF (1998)
Doubles
Career record:	34-41
Career titles:	0
Highest ranking:	No. 131 (June 7, 2004)
Infobox last updated on: October 13, 2006.

Karol Kučera (born March 4, 1974 in Bratislava) is a professional male tennis player from Slovakia.

Kučera turned professional in 1992. He was a member of the Czechoslovakia Galea Cup teams in 1991-92 and member of the 1992 European championship squad. In 1993 he qualified for his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros. It wasn't until 1995 when Kučera won his first ATP title in Rosmalen. In 1996 he played in the Summer Olympics in Atlanta where he lost to eventual gold medalist Andre Agassi. A year later he won his second ATP title in Ostrava defeating Magnus Norman and was runner-up in Nottingham to Greg Rusedski and Stuttgart Outdoor to Sergi Bruguera.

Kučera's best year was in 1998, where he finished the year in the top 10, ranked World No. 8, which qualified him in the ATP World Championship. During the year Kučera won in Sydney defeating Tim Henman and New Haven defeating Goran Ivanišević. He reached another two finals, losing to Gustavo Kuerten in Stuttgart Outdoor and to World No. 1 Pete Sampras in Vienna. Overall in 1998, Kučera compiled a career high 53 match victories and earning $1,402,557.

Also in 1998, Kučera achieved his best Grand Slam result when he reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open where on his way he defeated defending champion and World No. 1 Pete Sampras.

In 1999, Kučera won his fifth ATP title in Basel defeating Tim Henman in the final. After 1999, Kučera struggled with his form with a right wrist injury. He found form again in 2003 when he finished in the top 50 for the first time since 1999. During the year he won his sixth title in Copenhagen defeating Oliver Rochus in the final.

Recently, Kučera was one of the contributing members on the Slovakian team which reached the final of the Davis Cup in 2005, eventually losing to Croatia 2-3.

Miloslav Mečíř was Kučera's coach from 1997 to 2001. Kučera was nicknamed the "Lazy Cat" because of his deceptive style of play and his fluid movement around the court. He was a tough competitor for the top players to beat.

He has been ranked as high as World No. 6 (September 14, 1998).