Horacio Zeballos

[Ranger]

Horacio Zeballos



Data urodzenia: 27.04.1985
Miejsce urodzenia: Mar del Plata, Argentyna
Narodowość: Argentyna
Miejsce zamieszkania: Buenos Aires
Wzrost: 188 cm
Masa ciała: 82 kg
Gra: leworęczna, jednoręczny backhand
Status profesjonalny: od 2003
Trener: Alejandro Lombardo

Oficjalna strona ATP: http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Play ... allos.aspx

[Ranger]

Osiągnięcia:


Finały w singlu: 1

2009: (1) Sankt Petersburg

Tytuły w deblu: 2

2011: (1) Monachium (w/Somone Bolelli)
2010: (1) Buenos Aires (w/Sebastián Prieto)

Finały w deblu: 1

2010: (1) Santiago (w/Potito Starace)

Drużynowy Puchar Świata: Zwycięzca z 2010 roku, zdobywca punktu w spotkaniu finałowym.

Puchar Davisa: 2 zwycięstwa, 2 porażki

Najwyższy ranking w karierze: 41 (16.11.2009)

Najlepsze występy w Wielkim Szlemie:

Australia Open: 2R (2010)
Roland Garros: 2R (2010)
Wimbledon: 1R (2010)
Us Open: 2R (2009)

Stosunek meczów wygranych do przegranych: 26-38 (22.08.2011)

Łączna suma zarobionych pieniędzy na kortach: $1,061,405 (22.08.2011)

Aktualny Ranking: 110 (22.08.2011)


Inne: Półfinalista deblowego Us Open 2010

[Ranger]

On The Rise... Horacio Zeballos
DEUCE



Don't label Argentina's fast-rising new star Horacio Zeballos a clay-court specialist. Following in the footsteps of US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, Zeballos is among a new breed of Argentine players comfortable on all surfaces. In 2009 he reached his maiden ATP World Tour final at the St. Petersburg Open and rose 164 spots in the South African Airways ATP Rankings to finish the year in the Top 50.

Raised in a tennis environment beside the golden beaches of Mar del Plata that kiss the Atlantic Ocean, around 400 kilometres south-east of Buenos Aires, Horacio Zeballos had no choice but to pursue a sporting career. His father, Horacio Sr., had been raised and practised at the same club as Guillermo Vilas, Argentina's most famous player.

Nationally ranked, Horacio Sr. contested tournaments throughout Argentina but was unable to travel further afield due to circumstance. Years later and fuelled on tales of Vilas, who won a Grand Prix title in his hometown in 1981, father taught son from experience what it meant to be an aspiring professional player.

"Travelling alone didn't work out. I didn't have a game plan or a fixed schedule"

"Tennis was always my motivation," admitted Zeballos, who began lessons with his father at the age of six at the Edison Lawn Tennis Club in Mar del Plata – approximately 15 minutes from the family home. "I started at a young age, but I also played football and swam with my friends."

He attended the same school where his mother, Carolina, taught geography. "But that didn't put me under any additional pressure to do well in school," he confessed. "I was a normal student. My mum never had a problem with me focusing more in tennis. She wanted me to play."

Identified as a gifted junior with potential, he was encouraged to play with older players. Zeballos was also coached on a variety of surfaces, which ultimately benefited his development and he now considers himself as an aggressive all-court player.

"The more I played tennis, the more I liked it," he smiled. "My parents supported me and helped me with my tennis decisions, so by the age of 17 or 18 I took the sport seriously and began to travel with my dad.



"When I was 20, I had been playing [ITF] Futures for a year but I hadn't done so well. I then reached a semi-final in Chile and a final in Argentina against players ranked 300 in the world. For the first time, it gave me the confidence that I could make it."

In 2007 Zeballos represented Argentina at the Pan American Games and won a doubles gold medal with long-time friend Eduardo Schwank, but his singles form on the ATP Challenger Tour was erratic and his ranking continued to fluctuate throughout the year.

Circumstances came to a head in the summer of 2008, when he was unable to pay for a coach and he began questioning whether he could make it as a professional. "Travelling alone didn't work out," he admitted. "I didn't have a game plan or a fixed schedule.

"I felt really lonely until I met Sergio Roitman and Alejandro Lombardo, my current coach. Sergio opened the doors, so I could work with his group and he gave me good advice. I then organised myself on and off the court and that gave me confidence."

Lombardo, who worked with Roitman and Gaston Gaudio, came on board in October 2008. "He [Zeballos] was No. 340 when we started and after six months he was No. 150. He started to trust his tennis, he began to feel he could play the big tournaments and that is when his training and mental approach improved."

"I realised that if such an important coach wanted to work with me, then I could train and play better"

Zeballos re-dedicated himself to the sport during the 2008 off-season, training "100 per cent in every practice. He [Lombardo] gave me all his trust and motivation. I realised that if such an important coach wanted to work with me, then I could train and play better."

With a schedule, a diet, a physical exercise plan and lengthy practice sessions, Zeballos took the 2009 ATP Challenger Tour by storm, compiling an outstanding 48-14 match record with a season-best five titles in eight finals to break into the Top 50 of the South African Airways ATP Rankings.

He also qualified for his first Grand Slam championship, the US Open, and advanced to his first ATP World Tour final at the St. Petersburg Open [on hard court] in October, when he held a match point in the third-set tie-break against Sergiy Stakhovsky. It has been a dramatic rise, when you consider he has played just 10 tour-level matches.

There was a touch of irony in Zeballos' ATP World Tour debut last year. Hailing from a country renowned – at least historically – for producing clay-court players, the Buenos Aires resident's first tournament was on grass at the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, at Newport, Rhode Island, in July. "I was playing well, with confidence, but I didn't know if I would be able to handle it. I lost a really tight match [6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2] to World No. 40 Philipp Petzschner and afterwards I said to myself, If I lost 6-2 in the third set and he is here, why not me? At that moment I made a big step to get to where I am now."



Zeballos, who favours hard courts, is the No. 3 Argentine behind Juan Martin del Potro and Juan Monaco. Lombardo firmly believes that as the generation of Guillermo Coria, Juan Ignacio Chela, Mariano Zabaleta and Gaudio retires, the days of players from Argentina being classified as clay-court specialists will come to an end.

As an aggressive left-hander, Zeballos possesses a powerful serve and a stellar one-handed backhand slice that helps him attack the net. Unlike many South American players, he likes to finish points at the net, benefitting from quick hands and very good volleys. Calm, poised and disciplined, he doesn't lose his temper.

"Horacio's development has been a recent phenomenon," said Lombardo. "He is different, because he likes to play indoors or on hard courts rather than just on clay courts like so many Argentines in the past.

"He likes to attack and head to the net, so it is easier when it comes to decide on what tournaments he can play. He doesn't just play on clay. He's part of a new generation of Argentineans, who are comfortable on a lot of surfaces."

Zeballos is keeping his feet firmly on the ground, solely determined to maintain and improve his Top 50 ranking. In preparation for the new season, Lombardo and Zeballos have trained together for six or seven hours a day.

"He's part of a new generation of Argentineans, who are comfortable on a lot of surfaces"

"He obviously made a big jump in 2009, but now he needs a bit of time to truly feel he can play any match against the top players," said Lombardo. "He knows that he has to work just as hard as last year."

With the goal of selection in a Davis Cup first-round tie against Sweden in Stockholm two months away, Zeballos admits: "It would be incredible, my biggest dream to play for Argentina in Davis Cup, but I need to get stronger at this level."

As someone who played on the ATP Challenger Tour for more than three years, Zeballos has identified "perseverance, consistency and professionalism" that separates the lower tier from the ATP World Tour elite.

"ATP players always try to make things perfect because every player is so good. You have to get to small details that make the difference, and that's professionalism. Each detail on court that my coach can see, I'll have to work on."

Stronger all-round, Zeballos has absorbed Lombardo's philosophy over the past 15 months. He has grown in confidence in practice and should it translate in his matches this year, the 24 year old might well receive a call from Tito Vazquez, Argentina's captain, with an offer he cannot refuse. For someone who considered quitting the sport, it would be a remarkable transformation.

Źródło: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE- ... allos.aspx

[Ranger]

Prieto-Zeballos Win First Team Title



Argentine duo Sebastian Prieto and Horacio Zeballos won their first ATP World Tour team title Sunday at the Copa Telmex as they defeated German-Australian pairing Simon Greul and Peter Luczak 7-6(4), 6-3 in the final of the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tennis tournament in Buenos Aires.

The champions received 250 ATP World Tour Ranking points and $26,040, while runners-up Greul and Luczak earned 130 points and $13,690 in prize money.

“I am very happy to win the title in Buenos Aires in front of my family, friends and fans,” said Zeballos. “It just makes it extra special to win a title on the center court of the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club. It is a very special moment for me.”

Prieto and Zeballos, who dropped only one set during the week, were playing just their second ATP World Tour-level tournament together. Last year they enjoyed huge success on the ATP Challenger Tour, winning four titles in South America.

Buenos Aires native Prieto was contesting the final at his hometown tournament for the fifth time and lifted the trophy for the third time, having previously triumphed in 2003 (w/Hood) and 2007 (w/Garcia).

“It is incredible to win a title in Buenos Aires again,” said Prieto. “I’ve played this tournament every year and been to the finals five times. It feels great to win my third title here. It was a long week; we played tough matches and with Zeballos doing well in singles as well, it made it extra difficult. We are just very happy with the week.”

Breaks were exchanged in a close first set before Prieto and Zeballos edged the subsequent tie-break. The Argentine team raced to a 5-2 lead in the second set but could not close out the match at the first time of asking as their opponents recovered one of the two service breaks. However, the fourth seeds immediately broke serve for the fourth time in the match to seal victory after 84 minutes.

The 34-year-old Prieto won his 10th ATP World Tour title – all have come on outdoor clay – and his first since triumphing at the Movistar Open with Jose Acasuso in 2008. Zeballos, aged 24, won his first ATP World Tour doubles title after finishing runner-up in his first final effort two weeks ago with Potito Starace at the Movistar Open in Santiago.
Greul and Luczak teamed together for the first time at the start of the Latin American “Golden Swing” in Santiago and were contesting their first final together after two quarter-final exits in the past two weeks. They upset top seeds Pablo Cuevas and Marcel Granollers in the quarter-finals and received a walkover through to the final when David Ferrer and Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo withdrew in the semi-finals with Ferrer citing fatigue.

Źródło: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... Title.aspx

[Ranger]

Zeballos Clinches Victory For Argentina



World No. 49 Horacio Zeballos captured Argentina’s fourth title at the ARAG ATP World Team Championship as he beat American Robby Ginepri 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-5 Sunday in Dusseldorf to give the South Americans an unassailable 2-0 lead.

In the first singles rubber, Juan Monaco had got Argentina off to a winning start in its sixth final appearance at the Rochusclub by coming from behind to defeat American Sam Querrey 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes.

Argentina is now tied with Germany, Spain, Sweden and the United States, all of whom have won a record four ARAG ATP World Team Championships.

“I think my match was difficult, but also his (Zeballos’) match was incredible," said Monaco. "He was fighting like an animal for, like, three hours. We are very happy because when we came here the goal was to win here for Argentina and we did it."

The 25-year-old Zeballos, named the ATP Newcomer of the Year last year, broke serve in the first game of the match, which ultimately made the difference in the first set as he faced no break points in closing out a one-set lead.

The Argentine, who has posted his best results this season on clay, could have closed out the match in two sets, but squandered a 3-1 lead and later missed a match point at 6-5 in the tie-break as the No. 98-ranked Ginepri kept American hopes alive by forcing a deciding set.

Neither player was able to break through, or indeed even conjure a break point opportunity, until the 12th game of the third set, when Zeballos made no mistake at the second time of asking. He opened up a 40/0 lead on Ginepri’s serve as the American served at 5-6 and converted his third match point after two hours and 19 minutes.

“It was a tough match," reflected Zeballos. "The final is not like other matches, you have more pressure. But I think I was cool and played with confidence. It was important for me. It’s not just for us; it’s also for the country so we are really happy to be the champion of this tournament.”

"It was a tough fight," agreed Ginepri. "The first set, I got off to a shaky start. I was a little nervous when I realised that I had to get through the match for the U.S. to have a chance to win it. But hats off to him, he played well. I fought hard to win that second set after saving a match point and had some momentum going into the third set, but just wasn’t able to put as many balls into the court as I needed to.”

World No. 30 Monaco, overcame a slow start to defeat Querrey for the second time in three meetings. The American, who won his first ATP World Tour clay-court title recently at the Serbia Open 2010 (d. Isner), broke serve three times as he raced to a one-set lead.



Monaco responded quickly, though, breaking serve twice as he established a 4-0 lead in the second set. Querrey was able to recoup one of the breaks, but could not build on his comeback as Monaco broke serve again in the seventh game before levelling the match with a service hold to 15.

Breaks were exchanged in the early stages of the third set before Monaco opened up a 4-3 lead with a fifth break of 6’6’’ Querrey’s serve. The Tandil native then saved five break points to seal a 5-3 lead and secured victory by breaking serve once more in front of the Centre Court crowd at the Rochusclub.

The 26-year-old Monaco was also part of the Argentina team that won the team trophy in 2007. He has had a strong clay-court season, reaching the final at the Movistar Open in Santiago (l. to Bellucci) and advancing to the semi-finals in Buenos Aires and Acapulco (l. to Ferrero both times) during the Latin American swing in February.

Reigning ATP World Tour Doubles Champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan avoided a whitewash for the United States as they crushed Argentine duo Diego Veronelli and Eduardo Schwank 6-1, 6-2 for their third victory of the we
ek. In a devastating display, the 32-year-old twins surrendered just three points on serve and capitalised on four of 10 break points to seal victory in 43 minutes.

Źródło: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... Title.aspx

[Ranger]

Bolelli-Zeballos Cap Dream Debut



Simone Bolelli and Horacio Zeballos capped a dream debut week together as they won the BMW Open title on Sunday with a 7-6(3), 6-4 victory over Germans Andreas Beck and Christopher Kas in Munich.

The Italian-Argentine pairing won 82 per cent of points on first serve and broke serve twice from five opportunities to claim victory in 90 minutes. They received 250 ATP World Tour ranking points and €22,000 in prize money.

The 25-year-old Bolelli, who reached his first ATP World Tour singles final in Munich (l. to F. Gonzalez) three years ago, was contesting his first career doubles final. Meanwhile the 26-year-old Zeballos captured his second title from three finals.

"I felt great this week with my shots, everything was good," said Bolelli. "I played a very good week in doubles with Horacio. It was the first time for us so it’s a very good thing. I think it’s also going to give me confidence for the singles. It’s my first title, I’m very happy."

Zeballos added, "It feels so good, especially because I’ve never played with Simone Bolelli. We are really happy and maybe we can play another tournament together."

Źródło: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... iumph.aspx

[Ranger]

ATP World Tour Uncovered Horacio Zeballos

[Federasta20]

2011 w liczbach

Ranking: 109
Bilans meczów: 5-6
Tytuły: 0
Finały: 0
Zarobki: $168,692

[Ranger]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkZXakD ... index=1124[/youtube]

[Jacuszyn]

16.11.2009

Najwyższy ranking w karierze: 41

[Sempere]

25.10.2010 (debel)

Najwyższy ranking w karierze: 32

[Sempere]

2012 w liczbach

Ranking: 85
Bilans meczów: 3-12 (20, 0 %)
Łączna liczba spotkań: 15
Tytuły: -
Finały: -
Zarobki: $197,925

[Sempere]

2012 w liczbach (debel)

Ranking: 63
Bilans meczów: 8-8 (50,0 %)
Łączna liczba spotkań: 16
Tytuły: -
Finały: -

[Sempere]

Zeballos Talks About Reaching Vina del Mar Final

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u0JWuS9 ... XA&index=2[/youtube]

[Wujek Toni]

Warto popełnić wpis w temacie tenisisty zanim stanie się niebywale popularny po pokonaniu najbardziej fascynującego zawodnika naszych czasów.

Zmieńcie zdjęcie główne, bo znajduje się na nim Gaudio.

[DUN I LOVE]

Warto popełnić wpis w temacie tenisisty zanim stanie się niebywale popularny po pokonaniu najbardziej fascynującego zawodnika naszych czasów.

A żebyś wiedział.

[Mario]

#1) Vina del Mar 2013



R1 [Q] Diego Sebastian Schwartzman (ARG) 1-6 6-2 6-2
R2 [4] Pablo Andujar (ESP) 6-3 6-3
QF [5] Albert Ramos (ESP) 6-1 5-7 7-6(6)
SF [8] Carlos Berlocq (ARG) 6-3 7-6(4)
W [1,WC] Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6-7(2) 7-6(6) 6-4

[Rodżer Anderłoter]

Zmieńcie zdjęcie główne, bo znajduje się na nim Gaudio.

Ponadto jest napisane, że gra oburęcznym backhandem. Fakt, że poskąpiono mu urody nie oznacza brzydoty jego gry.

[Jacques D.]

Zeballos Stuns Nadal In Vina Del Mar Final; Wins First ATP World Tour Title


World No. 73 Horacio Zeballos denied top seed Rafael Nadal a triumphant end to his first comeback event, topping the 11-time Grand Slam champion 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-4 to capture his first ATP World Tour trophy.

Zeballos notched his first Top 10 win in three attempts and in the process became the first left-handed player to defeat Nadal on red clay. He is the second first-time winner on the ATP World Tour this season, joining Australian Bernard Tomic, who triumphed on home soil at the Apia International Sydney.

“It's a dream for me,” said Zeballos. “To be able to play a final against Nadal was already good enough for me. It's a moment that will stay in my memory for the rest of my life.”

The 27-year-old Zeballos did not advance beyond the second round at any of the tour-level events he entered in 2012, but knocked off four seeded opponents this week en route to the title. In addition to Nadal, Zeballos upset fourth seed Pablo Andujar, fifth seed Albert Ramos and eighth seed Carlos Berlocq.

“I've worked really hard because I really wanted to be at this level,” Zeballos said. “For some months, I've been playing at a high level and I think I'm at the best moment of my career. I'm very strong physically and psychologically.”

Video courtesy Vive Deportes and VTR.

Nadal reached the final on his season debut, returning to action following a seven-month absence to nurse a left knee injury. He lost just his fifth clay-court final in 41 title matches and was seeking his 51st crown overall.

“It was a great tournament for me,” assessed Nadal. “If we take everything, it was positive. It's true I wanted to win the final but in wasn't possible. He made things better than me and I didn't play my best match.

“I just need to keep working, practising with hope, motivation and the right attitude to have better sensations every week. I hope it's the beginning of a lot of good things for me.”

In an exciting encounter, Nadal found himself in a battle from the start, facing two break points in his opening service game. He saved both and went on to take the first set in a tie-break. Zeballos remained composed and in the second set ‘breaker, he opened a 6-4 lead. Although Nadal fought back to get to 6-6, Zeballos won the next two points to level the match.

The Mallorcan broke Zeballos to love to begin the third set, but quickly relinquished his advantage, allowing Zeballos to get back on serve. The Argentine made more of an impact on return as the set intensified, and at 5-4, he surged ahead to a 0/40 lead. Zeballos converted his first match point to pull off the stunning victory in two hours and 46 minutes.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... Nadal.aspx

[Jacques D.]

First-Time Winner Spotlight: Horacio Zeballos



Horacio Zeballos toppled Rafael Nadal 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-4 on Sunday to claim his first ATP World Tour title at the VTR Open in Vina del Mar. Zeballos became just the third player to defeat Nadal in a clay-court final, joining Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

ATPWorldTour.com caught up with the new champion following his victory.

Read Match Report

How does it feel to win your first ATP World Tour title, beating arguably the best clay court player in history?
It is an incredible feeling. I had never imagined being able to win a title or defeating the best clay court player in history. The feeling is unique. I wish this moment could stop in time and never end, but if it stops, I will for sure remember it my whole life.

Now almost an hour after the match, how many texts have you received?
My phone battery died from all the texts that I was receiving from my family and friends, so I’m now charging it and I imagine I will continue to receive more texts from my friends.

You are 27. As a youngster growing up, was it always a dream to win an ATP World Tour title?
I think that I never imagined winning a title. When I was little I always dreamed the simple thing of being on a tennis court… And getting to a final, and having Rafa in front of me, who I’ve seen so many times on TV, is what I’ve always dreamed.

Not only was it your first title, it was also your first Top 10 win. How does that feel?
That’s a very nice fact you just told me, I didn’t know. Like I said, is a unique feeling, I’m still thinking that I will wake up at any moment.

The last Argentine to beat Rafa on clay was Gaston Gaudio in 2005. What are your thoughts on that accomplishment?
Wow, so much time has passed, no? This is very nice to know… Beating Rafa is the most important victory of my career and it will most likely be the most important one of my entire career.

You played Rafa at Roland Garros and lost in straight sets, so what was your game plan going into today’s match?
I tried to aim at all the lines and make all of them (laughs). I also think I was a little lucky. But I also have to point out that I felt very good psychologically. I stood the whole match and the pressure of playing against Rafa. I think that this had to do a lot with it, staying calm.

Three of your five wins during the week were in three sets and you beat four seeds en route to the title. What did you do well to win those matches?
I feel like I’m in the top of my physical condition and I noticed that in the long matches. This makes me feel calm… and the maturity that I gained through the years helped me as well.

You are only the third player to beat Rafa in a clay-court final, joining Djokovic and Federer (twice each). What does that mean to you?
It’s a dream, it cannot be real…. playing against them it’s a honor and now being able to win makes me too happy.

You were in the Top 50 in 2009 and then dropped off the last three years. What is your goal for this season?
To enjoy tennis, keep playing, and sharing this with all the best players of the world… This is my only goal. I just want to enjoy myself.

Growing up, who were your idols and what did you like about their games?
There are so many players. I tried to learn from many of them. When I was a kid, I liked watching Thomas Muster and Goran Ivanisevic, who were also left-handers. Also, there was Gaston Gaudio and of course now Roger Federer.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... allos.aspx