Nikola Mektić

Nikola Mektić (born 24 December 1988) is a Croatian professional tennis player who is a former world No. 1 in doubles.

Nikola Mektić
Country (sports) Croatia
ResidenceFreeport, Bahamas
Born (1988-12-24) 24 December 1988
Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro2006
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize moneyUS $3,308,848
Singles
Career record3–9 (25.0% in ATP World Tour and Grand Slam main draw matches, and in Davis Cup)
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 213 (6 May 2013)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenQ2 (2011)
French OpenQ1 (2013)
WimbledonQ3 (2011)
US OpenQ2 (2010)
Doubles
Career record215–124 (63.4% in ATP World Tour and Grand Slam main draw matches, and in Davis Cup)
Career titles17
Highest rankingNo. 1 (18 October 2021)
Current rankingNo. 7 (18 April 2022)[1]
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenSF (2021)
French OpenSF (2018, 2020)
WimbledonW (2021)
US OpenF (2020)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (2020)
Olympic Games (2020)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian OpenW (2020)
French OpenQF (2019)
Wimbledon3R (2017)
US OpenF (2018)
Team competitions
Davis CupW (2018)
Medal record
Last updated on: 18 April 2022.

He is a two-time Grand Slam champion, having won the 2021 Wimbledon Championships in men's doubles partnering compatriot Mate Pavić, and the 2020 Australian Open with Barbora Krejčíková in mixed doubles. Mektić also finished runner-up at the 2020 US Open with Wesley Koolhof in men's doubles, and the 2018 US Open with Alicja Rosolska in mixed doubles.

He became world No. 1 in men's doubles in October 2021, the second Croatian to reach this ranking. Mektić has won 16 doubles titles on the ATP Tour, including six at Masters 1000 level with four different partners. He also won the 2020 ATP Finals with Koolhof. In singles, he reached his highest ranking of world No. 213 in May 2013. Mektić was part of the Croatian team which won the 2018 Davis Cup, and won men's doubles gold at the 2020 Olympic Games alongside Pavić.

Early and personal life

Mektić was born in Zagreb, Croatia in 1988 to Mirko (father) and Višnja (mother). He began playing tennis at age 6 after his brother Luka took up the sport.

Career

After spending a better part of a decade on the ATP challenger tour and achieving a career high ranking of No. 213 in singles (on May 6, 2013),[2] in 2016 Mektić decided to focus on doubles. The same year he reached his first ATP men's doubles final as a wildcard at the 2016 Croatia Open Umag with his compatriot Antonio Šančić. Since then, he has won sixteen ATP men's doubles titles, including one doubles Grand Slam title, six Masters 1000 titles, one mixed doubles Grand Slam and the 2020 ATP Finals.

2018-2019: First Grand Slam final, three Masters titles

In 2018 Mektic and Alexander Peya qualified for the 2018 ATP Finals in London. The same year Mektić reached his first Grand Slam finals (in mixed doubles) at the 2018 US Open, partnering Alicja Rosolska, and won the Davis Cup playing for Croatia. He also won three Masters 1000 with three different partners in Madrid (2018), Indian Wells (2019) and Monte Carlo (2019).

2020: ATP Finals doubles title, Australian Open mixed title, top 10 doubles ranking

2020 was the most successful year for Mektić in his career thus far. He won the 2020 ATP Finals in doubles partnering Wesley Koolhof and the 2020 Australian Open mixed doubles event partnering Barbora Krejčíková. He also reached the doubles final at the 2020 US Open partnering again with Wesley Koolhof. As a result he finished the year at No. 8 in the top 10 rankings in doubles and No. 3 in the doubles race with his partner Wesley Koolhof.

2021: New partnership, eight ATP titles including a historic Wimbledon title, First Croatian Olympic tennis champion, World No. 1

Starting 2021, Mektić partnered successfully with his compatriot Mate Pavić. They won four ATP titles including the doubles title at the 2021 Miami Open in the beginning of April[3] and reached the 2021 Australian Open doubles semifinals and 2021 Dubai Tennis Championships final in the first three months of the year. Following these results, Mektić returned to his No. 4 high-career ranking on April 5.

On April 18, Mektić clinched his fifth ATP Masters 1000 in a row and second Masters title of the year at the 2021 Monte-Carlo Masters where the pair defeated, for the second time in the final of a Masters in 2021, the British pair of Neal Skupski and Dan Evans.[4]

Seeded No. 2 the pair also reached the final at the 2021 Mutua Madrid Open Masters where they lost to the No. 3 seeded pair Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers[5] and the final of the Italian Open where they won the title defeating No. 5 seeded pair Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury. After the win, Mektić moved to his career-high ranking of World No. 2 on 17 May 2021.[6]

In their first Grand Slam doubles final, top seeds Mektić and Pavić had the biggest victory of their 2021 season as a team defeating Granollers and Zeballos to triumph in doubles at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships. They became the first Croatian players to win the Wimbledon men’s doubles title. They are also the first players from their country to win at the All England Club since Goran Ivanisevic’s 2001 victory in singles and Ivan Dodig's 2019 mixed doubles win with Latisha Chan.[7]

At the Olympics he won the gold medal with Pavić in an all-Croatian final defeating Ivan Dodig and Marin Cilic.[8] It was the country’s first gold medal in the sport and the third time in the Olympics men's doubles' history that the same country won both gold and silver, and the first one since 1908.[9]

On 18 October 2021, following a quarterfinal showing with Pavic at the 2021 BNP Paribas Open, Mektić became World No. 1 in doubles. He is only the second Croatian tennis player in history to be ranked No.1 in the world in doubles.[10]

Doubles performance timeline

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# P# DNQ A Z# PO G S B NMS P NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Current through the 2022 Dubai.

Tournament2006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021 2022SRW–L Win%
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A A A A A A A A A A A 3R 2R 3R 2R SF 2R 0 / 6 11–6 65%
French Open A A A A A A A A A A A 1R SF 1R SF A 0 / 4 8–4 67%
Wimbledon A A A A A A A A A A 1R SF 3R 3R NH W 1 / 4 14–4 78%
US Open A A A A A A A A A A A 1R 3R 2R F 1R 0 / 5 7–5 58%
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 6–4 9–4 5–4 9–3 10–2 1–1 1 / 20 40–19 68%
Year-end championship
ATP Finals DNQ RR DNQ W SF 1 / 3 6–5 55%
ATP Masters 1000
Indian Wells Masters A A A A A A A A A A A 1R 1R W NH QF 1 / 4 7–3 70%
Miami Open A A A A A A A A A A A QF QF 2R NH W 1 / 4 10–3 77%
Monte-Carlo Masters A A A A A A A A A A A A A W NH W 2 / 2 9–0 100%
Madrid Open A A A A A A A A A A A A W 2R NH F 1 / 3 9–2 82%
Italian Open A A A A A A A A A A A 2R 1R 2R 2R W 1 / 5 8–4 67%
Canadian Open A A A A A A A A A A A 1R SF 1R NH F 0 / 4 6–4 60%
Cincinnati Masters A A A A A A A A A A A 1R QF 1R QF 2R 0 / 5 4–4 50%
Shanghai Masters NH A A A A A A A A 1R QF 1R NH 0 / 3 1–3 25%
Paris Masters A A A A A A A A A A A 1R 2R 1R QF 2R 0 / 5 2–5 29%
Win–loss 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 3–7 14–6 13–7 4–3 22–5 6 / 35 55–28 66%
National representation
Davis Cup A A A A A PO A A A A A 1R W RR F 1 / 5 7–1 88%
Summer Olympics NH A NH A NH A NH G 1 / 1 5–0 100%
Career statistics
2006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021 2022Career
Tournaments 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 5 28 28 28 13 19 4 Career total: 118
Titles 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 3 1 9 0 Career total: 17
Finals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 5 4 3 12 1 Career total: 29
Overall win–loss 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 4–5 34–26 45–26 34–26 26–14 65–13 5–4 17 / 118 213–121 64%
Year-end ranking 1430 755 517 442 265 670 236 261 276 177 74 32 13 15 8 2 $3,186,137

Significant finals

Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)

Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 2020 US Open Hard Wesley Koolhof Mate Pavić
Bruno Soares
5–7, 3–6
Win 2021 Wimbledon Grass Mate Pavić Marcel Granollers
Horacio Zeballos
6–4, 7–6(7–5), 2–6, 7–5

Mixed doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)

Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 2018 US Open Hard Alicja Rosolska Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Jamie Murray
6–2, 3–6, [9–11]
Win 2020 Australian Open Hard Barbora Krejčíková Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Jamie Murray
5–7, 6–4, [10–1]

Doubles: 1 (1 Gold medal)

Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Gold 2021 Summer Olympics Hard Mate Pavić Marin Čilić
Ivan Dodig
6–4, 3–6, [10–6]

Doubles: 1 (1 title)

Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 2020 ATP Finals, London Hard (i) Wesley Koolhof Jürgen Melzer
Édouard Roger-Vasselin
6–2, 3–6, [10–5]

Doubles: 8 (6 titles, 2 runner-ups)

Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win2018Madrid OpenClay Alexander Peya Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
5–3 ret.
Win2019Indian Wells MastersHard Horacio Zeballos Łukasz Kubot
Marcelo Melo
4–6, 6–4, [10–3]
Win2019Monte-Carlo MastersClay Franko Škugor Robin Haase
Wesley Koolhof
6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–3), [11–9]
Win2021Miami OpenHard Mate Pavić Dan Evans
Neal Skupski
6–4, 6–4
Win2021Monte-Carlo Masters (2)Clay Mate Pavić Dan Evans
Neal Skupski
6–3, 4–6, [10–7]
Loss2021Madrid OpenClay Mate Pavić Marcel Granollers
Horacio Zeballos
6–1, 3–6, [8–10]
Win2021Italian OpenClay Mate Pavić Rajeev Ram
Joe Salisbury
6–4, 7–6(7–4)
Loss2021Canadian OpenHard Mate Pavić Rajeev Ram
Joe Salisbury
3–6, 6–4, [3–10]

ATP career finals

Doubles: 30 (17 titles, 13 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam (1–1)
ATP Finals (1–0)
ATP Masters 1000 (6–2)
Summer Olympics (1–0)
ATP 500 Series (1–4)
ATP 250 Series (7–6)
Finals by surface
Hard (9–8)
Clay (6–5)
Grass (2–0)
Finals by setting
Outdoor (13–11)
Indoor (4–2)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 Jul 2016 Croatia Open, Croatia 250 Series Clay Antonio Šančić Martin Kližan
David Marrero
4–6, 2–6
Win 1–1 Feb 2017 Memphis Open, US 250 Series Hard (i) Brian Baker Ryan Harrison
Steve Johnson
6–3, 6–4
Win 2–1 Apr 2017 Hungarian Open, Hungary 250 Series Clay Brian Baker Juan Sebastián Cabal
Robert Farah
7–6(7–2), 6–4
Loss 2–2 Oct 2017 Shenzhen Open, China 250 Series Hard Nicholas Monroe Alexander Peya
Rajeev Ram
3–6, 2–6
Loss 2–3 Feb 2018 Sofia Open, Bulgaria 250 Series Hard (i) Alexander Peya Robin Haase
Matwé Middelkoop
7–5, 4–6, [4–10]
Loss 2–4 Feb 2018 Rio Open, Brazil 500 Series Clay Alexander Peya David Marrero
Fernando Verdasco
7–5, 5–7, [8–10]
Win 3–4 Apr 2018 Grand Prix Hassan II, Morocco 250 Series Clay Alexander Peya Benoît Paire
Édouard Roger-Vasselin
7–5, 3–6, [10–7]
Loss 3–5 May 2018 Bavarian Championships, Germany 250 Series Clay Alexander Peya Ivan Dodig
Rajeev Ram
3–6, 5–7
Win 4–5 May 2018 Madrid Open, Spain Masters 1000 Clay Alexander Peya Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan
5–3, ret.
Win 5–5 Feb 2019 Sofia Open, Bulgaria 250 Series Hard (i) Jürgen Melzer Hsieh Cheng-peng
Christopher Rungkat
6–2, 4–6, [10–2]
Win 6–5 Mar 2019 Indian Wells Masters, US Masters 1000 Hard Horacio Zeballos Łukasz Kubot
Marcelo Melo
4–6, 6–4, [10–3]
Win 7–5 Apr 2019 Monte-Carlo Masters, Monaco Masters 1000 Clay Franko Škugor Robin Haase
Wesley Koolhof
6–7(3–7), 7–6(7–3), [11–9]
Loss 7–6 Oct 2019 Japan Open, Japan 500 Series Hard Franko Škugor Nicolas Mahut
Édouard Roger-Vasselin
6–7(7–9), 4–6
Loss 7–7 Feb 2020 Open 13, France 250 Series Hard (i) Wesley Koolhof Nicolas Mahut
Vasek Pospisil
3–6, 4–6
Loss 7–8 Sep 2020 US Open, US Grand Slam Hard Wesley Koolhof Mate Pavić
Bruno Soares
5–7, 3–6
Win 8–8 Nov 2020 ATP Finals, UK Tour Finals Hard (i) Wesley Koolhof Jürgen Melzer
Édouard Roger-Vasselin
6–2, 3–6, [10–5]
Win 9–8 Jan 2021 Antalya Open, Turkey 250 Series Hard Mate Pavić Ivan Dodig
Filip Polášek
6–2, 6–4
Win 10–8 Feb 2021 Murray River Open, Australia 250 Series Hard Mate Pavić Jérémy Chardy
Fabrice Martin
7–6(7–2), 6–3
Win 11–8 Mar 2021 Rotterdam Open, Netherlands 500 Series Hard (i) Mate Pavić Kevin Krawietz
Horia Tecău
7–6(9–7), 6–2
Loss 11–9 Mar 2021 Dubai Tennis Championships, UAE 500 Series Hard Mate Pavić Juan Sebastián Cabal
Robert Farah
6–7(0–7), 6–7(4–7)
Win 12–9 Apr 2021 Miami Open, US Masters 1000 Hard Mate Pavić Dan Evans
Neal Skupski
6–4, 6–4
Win 13–9 Apr 2021 Monte-Carlo Masters, Monaco (2) Masters 1000 Clay Mate Pavić Dan Evans
Neal Skupski
6–3, 4–6, [10–7]
Loss 13–10 May 2021 Madrid Open, Spain Masters 1000 Clay Mate Pavić Marcel Granollers
Horacio Zeballos
6–1, 3–6, [8–10]
Win 14–10 May 2021 Italian Open, Italy Masters 1000 Clay Mate Pavić Rajeev Ram
Joe Salisbury
6–4, 7–6(7–4)
Win 15–10 Jun 2021 Eastbourne International, UK 250 Series Grass Mate Pavić Rajeev Ram
Joe Salisbury
6–4, 6–3
Win 16–10 Jul 2021 Wimbledon Championships, UK Grand Slam Grass Mate Pavić Marcel Granollers
Horacio Zeballos
6–4, 7–6(7–5), 2–6, 7–5
Win 17–10 Jul 2021 Olympics Games, Japan Olympics Hard Mate Pavić Ivan Dodig
Marin Čilić
6–4, 3–6, [10–6]
Loss 17–11 Aug 2021 Canadian Open, Canada Masters 1000 Hard Mate Pavić Rajeev Ram
Joe Salisbury
3–6, 6–4, [3–10]
Loss 17–12 Feb 2022 Dubai Tennis Championships, UAE 500 Series Hard Mate Pavić Tim Pütz
Michael Venus
3–6, 7–6(7–5), [14–16]
Loss 17–13 Apr 2022 Serbia Open, Serbia 250 Series Clay Mate Pavić Ariel Behar
Gonzalo Escobar
6–2, 3–6, [10–7]

ATP Challenger and ITF Future titles

Singles (15)

Legend
Challengers (0)
Futures (15)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
1. 25 May 2008 Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina Clay Dennis Blömke 6–2, 6–3
2. 10 May 2009 Doboj, Bosnia and Herzegovina Clay Ivan Bjelica 7–6, 4–6, 6–3
3. 31 May 2009 Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina Clay Aleksander Slović 7–6, 7–5
4. 23 August 2009 Vinkovci, Croatia Clay Ismar Gorčić 7–6, 7–6
5. 30 August 2009 Čakovec, Croatia Clay Attila Balázs 6–3, 7–5
6. 6 September 2009 Osijek, Croatia Clay Aldin Šetkić 2–6, 6–4, 6–2
7. 6 June 2010 Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia Clay Denys Molchanov 6–3, 4–2 ret.
8. 18 July 2010 Fano, Italy Clay Stefano Ianni 6–2, 6–0
9. 27 February 2011 Zagreb, Croatia Clay Michael Lammer 7–6, ret.
10. 27 May 2012 Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina Clay Marin Bradarić 5–7, 7–5, 6–0
11. 3 June 2012 Bled, Slovenia Clay Marcel Zimmermann 1–6, 6–2, 6–4
12. 29 September 2013 Sokobanja, Serbia Clay Marc Rath 6–6, 5–2, ret.
13. 13 October 2013 Solin, Croatia Clay Mate Delić 7–6, 7–6
14. 2 March 2014 Trento, Italy Carpet Roman Jebavý 6–3, 5–7, 6–1
15. 26 October 2014 Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic Carpet Jan Hernych 6–4, 6–4

Doubles (15)

Challengers (9)
Futures (6)

References

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