Some of the Top Greek Tennis Players of All Time
Considering the fact that Greece was home to the first Olympic games, it is no great surprise that some of the most talented athletes in the world have emerged from this region over the years. One shining example can be seen when examining tennis. While modern icons such as Stefanos Tsitsipas are well-known names, there are others who have made their presence known. Let's turn back the proverbial clocks in order to quickly examine a handful of personalities who have come to personify Greek tennis.
Marcos Baghdatis
This recently retired Cypriot began his professional career in 2004 and finally retired in 2019. Baghdatis was known for his speed while on the court and although many feel that injuries caused him to retire earlier, he was still a force to be reckoned with. Some notable accolades include becoming a runner-up during the 2006 Australian Open and being the eighth highest-rated player by the ATP in August 2006. He now spends his time training others and it is not yet certain if he will ever emerge from retirement.
Eirini Georgatou
Born in 1990, Ms. Georgatou is still rather young to have already retired. Although this name might not sound as familiar as other international superstars, she left an indelible impression while on the clay.. Georgatou achieved her highest singles rank (176) in 2011 and during this same year, she was ranked 171 in doubles matches. Perhaps one of the reasons why we have not heard more about her achievements arises from the fact that most of her wins were during matches played in countries such as Turkey and Uzbekistan.
Alexandros Jakupovic
Perhaps one reason why Jakupovic is known arises from the lifetime tennis ban that he was handed in 2015 (authorities convicted him of five counts of corruption). Still, we cannot deny that the man was a talented professional at the height of his career. Jakupovic enjoyed a doubles career rank of 267 and he was an crucial member of the Greek Davis Cup club. Due to his ban, we are not likely to see him on the courts any time soon.
Konstantinos Economidis
Anyone who enjoys playing the online pokies NZ has to offer knows that winning involves much more than luck alone. Skill, experience, poise, and the ability to think clearly under pressure are all valuable traits to possess. These are some of the very same qualities associated with Konstantinos Economidis. Economidis was ranked as the top Greek player in 2007 and he was also known for defeating Chris Guccione during the French Open. Ranked as the 112th best singles player in 2007, Economidis walked away with no fewer than five Challenger Titles before eventually retiring.
These are only a handful of Greek players who have made their marks within the world of tennis over the years. While it can be said that tennis is a young man's game, we still need to remember that the influence of such personalities will continue to influence novices well into the future.
