Frank Dancevic

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Frank Dancevic : biography

September 26, 1984 –

Dancevic’s best tournament results to date, all in singles, have been reaching the final of the 2007 Indianapolis Tennis Championships, the final of the 2009 Aegon International, the quarter-finals of the 2007 Rogers Cup, the semi-finals again in Indianapolis in 2009, the semi-finals of the 2008 Campbell’s Hall of Fame Championships, and winning the 2003 and 2006 Granby and 2003 Lexington, 2006 Waikoloa, 2008 Surbiton Challenger Series, and 2012 Dallas Tennis Classic events. His best doubles result has been reaching the final of the 2007 Japan Open, partnering Stephen Huss and winning Granby in 2004 while playing with Brian Baker.

Dancevic became Canada’s top ATP-ranked singles player on February 10, 2003, replacing Simon Larose. He held the position until May 19, 2003, when he was surpassed by Larose. Dancevic regained the Canada 1 ranking on July 28, 2003, replacing Fred Niemeyer, and held it until August 11. He would not be so ranked again, however, until the following June 14, when he held the position for the week, and again for the week beginning July 12, 2004. Dancevic next was Canada’s top-ranked player on August 16, 2004, and remained so this time until July 18, 2005, when he was replaced again by Niemeyer. He regained the ranking once more, nevertheless, from August 1 to October 17, 2005, only to lose it once more to Niemeyer.

Dancevic was coached by former tour player Leo Lavalle from sometime in 2008 until June 2009, when he returned to former mentor and Canadian Davis Cup captain, Martin Laurendeau. From May 2008 until hiring Lavalle, Dancevic worked with Frenchman Boris Vallejo. After being coached by his father John Dancevic in 2012, Dancevic’s ATP.com Profile lists Canadian former player Dejan Cvetkovic as his current coach.

2000–2002

Dancevic played his professional tour event in July 2000, the Granby Challenger, and lost in the first round to the World No. 381 player, Philip King, in three sets. He lost in the first round in the same event a year later in straight sets to the World No. 157 player, Axel Pretzsch. In February and April 2002, Dancevic played on Canada’s Davis Cup team, going 1–1 in two dead rubbers. In his first Futures event, U.S.A. F10 in May, he won his first three matches in straight sets, reaching the semi-finals. Losing in the first round of F11, he reached the finals of F12. Then in July in reached the second round of the Granby Challenger (in his third appearance). Dancevic then lost his first full-fledged tour event match, at the Canada Masters, to Fabrice Santoro 5–7, 3–6. The following week Dancevic was entered into the Legg Mason Tennis Classic as a wildcard and proceeded to defeat World No. 90 and future World No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko in the first round 6–4, 6–7, 6–3. He ended the year however losing two singles matches in a Davis Cup tie with Brazil and in the first round of a Tyler, Texas challenger. He finished 2002 ranked World No. 434 in singles and No. 414 in doubles.

2003, 2004

Dancevic began 2003 on a roll, winning the first two tournaments he entered and reaching the semis of a third, all Futures played in consecutive weeks in January in Florida. Winning a Davis Cup match in a tie against Peru in April, he reached the final of Canada F1 in June, then won Canada F2 and the Granby and Lexington challengers in July. This saw his singles ranking climb to World No. 198, allowing him to play in qualifying for the US Open, in his circuit Grand Slam debut, where he reached the second round. He finished the year however losing 5 of 7 matches, and his first five of 2004. He lost in qualifying for the 2004 Australian Open in the second round.

In March 2004 Frank’s fortunes changed as he reached the final of France F5. He reached the second round in the next two challengers, the quarters in the next, and then the semis in Surbiton on grass. The following week, again on grass at Queen’s, Dancevic reached the second round in just his third full-fledged ATP event. He attempted to qualify for Wimbledon but lost in the first round. In summer play, he reached the semis at Granby and the finals at Aptos, California challenger in July, but lost again in the first round at the Canada Masters. He followed this up though by reaching the semi-finals at the Binghamton, New York challenger and the second round in US Open qualifying. He had a better autumn playing the American challenger circuit, posting 11 match wins against 5 losses. Dancevic finished 2004 ranked World No. 171 in singles and No. 462 in doubles.