Nicolas Kiefer
While still at school, which he completed with his Abitur, Kiefer turned to tennis. He started playing tennis at the age of 8. As a teenager, Kiefer won the title of German Youth Champion in 1993. In the same year he became runner-up indoor champion and double European champion. In 1994 Kiefer became German youth indoor doubles champion. He reached the final of the ITF youth tournaments in Tokyo and achieved second place in the ITF youth world rankings. Kiefer emerged as the winner of the 1995 Australian Open Junior. He also won the US Open Junior. In 1996 he became German indoor champion.
In 1997, Kiefer moved to the final of the Challenger Lübeck Games. At Challenger Ulm he made it to the quarterfinals. He was also a training partner for the German team for the Davis Cup. Kiefer took part in the Wimbledon games for the first time in 1997, where he reached the quarter-finals. He emerged from the GP Milan in the same year as the qualifying winner in the semi-finals. Kiefer reached the semi-finals of the Toulouse tennis competition in 1998. He made it to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, the Suisse Open and the Basel competition. In 1999 he reached the singles final in Dubai. In London he made it to the quarterfinals in doubles. At the end of 1999, Kiefer had reached 6th place in the world rankings.
In 2000 he emerged victorious from the competitions in Dubai and Hong Kong. He reached the semi-finals in Doha and Washington. He qualified for the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, the US Open, Rotterdam and Halle. In 2001, Kiefer took part in the finals of the competitions in Moscow. In Doha, Rotterdam and Mallorca he reached the quarter-finals. In 2002 he made it to the quarterfinals at the Los Angeles and St. Petersburg Games. In Halle he took part in the final decision. Overall, the years 2001 to 2005 were characterized by stagnating performance. During this time, Kiefer was able to reach the final of a tournament nine more times, but he was unable to win.
At the 2004 Olympic Games, Kiefer won the silver medal in doubles alongside Rainer Schüttler. At the French Open, Kiefer suffered a wrist injury that forced him to take a year off. He made his comeback at the Gerry Weber Open 2007 in Halle (Westphalia). Here he lost to Tomas Berdych. In July 2008 he reached the final of a Tennis Masters Series tournament for the first time in Toronto. In March 2009, Kiefer reached the third round of the Masters tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. At the end of 2010, Nicolas Kiefer announced his retirement from professional sport.
In 1997, Kiefer moved to the final of the Challenger Lübeck Games. At Challenger Ulm he made it to the quarterfinals. He was also a training partner for the German team for the Davis Cup. Kiefer took part in the Wimbledon games for the first time in 1997, where he reached the quarter-finals. He emerged from the GP Milan in the same year as the qualifying winner in the semi-finals. Kiefer reached the semi-finals of the Toulouse tennis competition in 1998. He made it to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, the Suisse Open and the Basel competition. In 1999 he reached the singles final in Dubai. In London he made it to the quarterfinals in doubles. At the end of 1999, Kiefer had reached 6th place in the world rankings.
In 2000 he emerged victorious from the competitions in Dubai and Hong Kong. He reached the semi-finals in Doha and Washington. He qualified for the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, the US Open, Rotterdam and Halle. In 2001, Kiefer took part in the finals of the competitions in Moscow. In Doha, Rotterdam and Mallorca he reached the quarter-finals. In 2002 he made it to the quarterfinals at the Los Angeles and St. Petersburg Games. In Halle he took part in the final decision. Overall, the years 2001 to 2005 were characterized by stagnating performance. During this time, Kiefer was able to reach the final of a tournament nine more times, but he was unable to win.
At the 2004 Olympic Games, Kiefer won the silver medal in doubles alongside Rainer Schüttler. At the French Open, Kiefer suffered a wrist injury that forced him to take a year off. He made his comeback at the Gerry Weber Open 2007 in Halle (Westphalia). Here he lost to Tomas Berdych. In July 2008 he reached the final of a Tennis Masters Series tournament for the first time in Toronto. In March 2009, Kiefer reached the third round of the Masters tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. At the end of 2010, Nicolas Kiefer announced his retirement from professional sport.