via Getty
Jurgen Melzer of Austria returns a shot during his men’s singles first round match against Bradley Klahn of the United States on Day Three of the 2012 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2012 in the Flushing neigborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)
via Getty
Jurgen Melzer of Austria returns a shot during his men’s singles first round match against Bradley Klahn of the United States on Day Three of the 2012 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2012 in the Flushing neigborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)
Senior Austrian doubles player Jurgen Melzer has announced his retirement at the end of the Australian summer of tennis next year.
The Australian summer events include the Brisbane International, ATP Cup and the Australian Open.
Currently at the 29th spot in the ATP doubles rankings, Melzer, along with French doubles partner, Edouard Roger-Vasselin, is the top-seed at the ongoing Sofia Open in Bulgaria.
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Read More: Denis Shapovalov and Feliz Auger-Aliassime Lock Horn as Top Two Seeds at the ATP Sofia Open 2020
Jurgen Melzer eyeing third career ATP Tour Finals appearance
The Austrian is desperately hoping for a strong run in the Bulgarian event as it will help him in his quest for a third career ATP Tour Finals appearance.
The British pair of Jamie Murray and Neil Skupski, who are seeded second at the Sofia Open, are trailing the Austrian-French duo by 140 points in the race for sealing a spot at the Tour Finals.
Current ATP player council member Jürgen Melzer will retire after the Aussie swing 2021. Top-seed in Sofia with Roger-Vasselin, he tries to qualify for his 3rd career ATP Finals. Murray/Skupski (2nd seed) and trail them by 140 points. Melzer/ERV are through with a final in Sofia
— Lukas Zahrer (@ZahrerLukas) November 9, 2020
The Austrian moved to a career-high ranking of 6 in 2010 and currently has 17 doubles titles to his name.
via Imago
Jurgen Melzer
Partnering with the Frenchman, Melzer won his 17th doubles title at the indoor hardcourt event at St. Petersburg this year.
Melzer’s 17 doubles titles include two Grand Slam crowns – 2010 Wimbledon and 2011 US Open.
However, both his doubles titles were won with German Philipp Petzschner, his partner at the time.
Jurgen Melzer is currently a member of ATP Player Council
Melzer is currently a member of the ATP Player Council. He had served a previous term in the players’ body from 2014-’16.
The players’ council was in the throes of controversy when then chief and 17-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic quit the body to float a breakaway front.
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Veteran South African tennis star Kevin Anderson was named as Djokovic’s replacement at the helm of the Council.
While he only features in the doubles format these days, Melzer also has five singles titles to his credit. His last singles title came at the Winston-Salem outdoor hardcourt tournament in 2013.
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The Austrian started playing tennis at the age of nine. He grew up watching the likes of Stefan Edberg, Michael Stich and Patrick Rafter in action.
