Dominic Hrbaty: A Puzzle By Christan Deverille.
When 19 year old Slovakian Dominic Hrbaty took Wimbledon and US Open champion Pete Sampras to a fifth set in the fourth round of the Australian Open in 1997, losing it 4-6, the mainstream tennis world paid attention and acclaimed him as a major talent. He had already been acknowledged by the ATP who awarded him the title of newcomer of the year in 1996. Having broken into the top 100 in his rookie year, and finishing the season as the top 100’s youngest player, it was in this match that he showed to a global audience his attacking forehand, steady baseline game, solid net play and excellent fitness.
That same year he beat world number 3 Kafelnikov. 6-3 6-3, and in 1998 he won his first title at San Marino. In 1999 he showed his potential once more, when, at the age of 21 he beat then world number one Kafelnikov 6-4 6-1 6-4 and number 9 Rios on his way to the French Open semi-finals before Agassi stopped him in four sets, avenging his loss at Key Biscane a few months before, when Hrbaty won 1-6 6-3 6-2. But Hrbaty learnt from that defeat on clay to beat Agassi at the Italian open the following year in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Hrbaty has never repeated this GS success although he has had good results. In 2001 he beat Safin in the last sixteen of the Australian open before losing to Rafter. He reached the QF again at Melbourne Park this year, losing to a determined and focused Safin in 3 sets and he made the QF at the US Open in 2004, losing to Henman.
He has always troubled the top ten, even though he has yet to belong to it. In 2000 he had a 10-6 win/loss record over the year end elite. He was the achilles heel to Kafelnikov, beating him 9 times and losing on only four occasions. And another Russian player he beat during that 1999 Roland Garros run was Safin, who he is tied at 7-7 . He also leads Roger Federer 2-0, beating him at Cincinnati in 2004, a year during which he won 3 titles, coming back from losing the first set 1-6 and taking the second set tie breaker. This was a great win for Hrbaty, beating the Australian open and Wimbledon champion but then he lost to Bjorkman in the next round despite winning the first set. It’s his both his ability to beat the top players and to get beaten by those ranked below him which makes him something of a puzzle.
And a well loved puzzle, especially in his home country, Slovakia. Hrbaty was Slovakian player of the year in 2000, receiving an award from the President . In 2000 he helped Slovakia to win the ATP World Team Championships on clay in Dusseldorf, beating Sampras on the way, 0-6 6-4 6-4. In 2005 he partnered Daniela Hantuchova at the Hopman Cup and lifted the trophy and in the 2005 Davis cup he has helped his nation to reach the finals. Should he win, no doubt he will win many more awards and fans in 2006.
In 2004 he had his best year, winning three titles, and in 2005 he has also played solidly so far, reaching the Semis in Los Angeles and three masters series and one Grand Slam Quarter final But why hasn’t Hrbaty with all his talent and strengths achieved more? It could be down to his laid back personality and humble nature. Hrbaty appears as down to earth a tennis player as there is. He says that he doesn’t need an expensive car, just a vehicle to go places. He is very grateful to his sponsors, aware that as a player from a poor nation like Slovakia he wouldn’t be where he is without them. He also has many interests outside of tennis such as deep sea diving, mountain biking and skiing, which was his first love as a sport and one he claims as a child he was better at than tennis. Perhaps tennis doesn’t consume him like it has some of the greats. Maybe he lacks the killer instinct needed to win the Slams.
Yet this well rounded personality is also an ambitious one and he says that his goal is to break into the top ten. Indeed it would be fitting if he were to achieve this, his ability certainly justifies it. As for a Grand slam win, he will have to be luckier than he has been so far. It seems that, barring his 1999 Roland Garros semi final run, he always faces a top ten player in the last eight who produces a steady, strong performance. As no doubt he is aware, he will have to match the elite’s big game mentality if he is to achieve a great tournament win. The closest he has been is the Monte Carlo final in 2000 when he lost to Pioline. Whatever happens, he won’t have to worry about fulfilling his other dream of travelling the world in six months. His 5, 500, 500 million dollars in career prize money should help him do that quite comfortably.
Thanks to Christian for this great article!
