Lee Hyung-taik (
Korean: 이형택, born 3 January 1976) is a former professional
tennis player from
South Korea. He won one singles title and achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 36, in August 2007.
Personal life
Lee was born in a potato-farming village in
Hoengseong County, South Korea. He began playing tennis at age nine with a school teacher. After retirement, he is running his own academy in Gangwon province in the tennis center at Song-ahm Sports Town in
Chuncheon named "Lee Hyung Taik Tennis Academy", which opened on 12 September 2009.[1]
In 2003, Lee became the first Korean to win
ATP Tour singles and doubles titles by winning the singles tournament at the
Sydney International as a qualifier (beating
Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final) and the doubles tournament at the
Siebel Open in San Jose, California (partnering with Belarusian
Vladimir Voltchkov).
At
Wimbledon, he was defeated in the first round by eventual champion
Roger Federer in straight sets.
2006
In the second round at
Wimbledon, Lee was defeated by former champion and two-time semifinalist
Lleyton Hewitt in five sets, including three tie-breakers. Lee had set points in the third set tie-breaker, but went on to lose the set after an incorrect line call. As Lee went on to win the fourth set the call probably prevented him winning the match against the eventual quarterfinalist.
2007
Lee at the 2007 US Open
Lee matched his best Grand Slam performance by making the fourth round of the
US Open tournament. In the first round, he was forced to five sets before defeating
Dominik Hrbatý. Lee was pit against
Guillermo Cañas, who was the fourteenth seed in the tournament, in the second round. He defeated Cañas in three sets, setting up a third round showdown against nineteenth seed
Andy Murray. Lee got out to a quick two set advantage against Murray, eventually winning in four sets. In the fourth round, Lee played fourth seed
Nikolay Davydenko, who defeated the Korean in three sets.
Lee set personal bests in a handful of categories, including match wins and money earned. He won a career-high 25 matches and earned $386,230. Overall, Lee compiled records of 16–15 on hard, 5–5 on clay, 3–3 on grass and 1–0 on carpet. In August, he achieved his career best ranking in singles as world No. 36 with the help of his coach, Hee June Choi.
2008
In the 2008 season, Lee had a disappointing losing streak and eventually fell out of the top 100. He did, however, match his best Masters Series result by making the fourth round of
Indian Wells, beating
Michaël Llodra,
Jarkko Nieminen and No. 5 seed
David Ferrer along the way.
2009
In 2009, Lee played one final time for Korea, in the Davis Cup play-off between Korea and China. He announced his retirement from pro tennis after the Davis Cup match, with Korea triumphing 3–2.
Doubles
Lee sometimes played doubles alongside Korean-American player
Kevin Kim. The pair reached the third round of the
2005 French Open.
Playing style
Lee is right-handed and uses a single-handed backhand. He considers his backhand as his best shot. His favorite surface is
hardcourt. He was coached by countryman and former ATP professional
Yoon Yong-il (since March 2006).
^Kim Hye-jeong (December 23, 2021).
"이형택×남현희×박찬민, 채널A 新 예능 '피는 못 속여' 합류" [Hyung-Taek Lee × Hyun-Hee Nam × Chan-Min Park to join Channel A's new entertainment show ‘Cheat You Can’t Bleed’] (in Korean).
Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved December 23, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Kim Won-gyeom (December 18, 2022).
"이형택, 테니스 잘하면 배드민턴도 잘할까…셔틀콕 전국대회 우승 도전" [Lee Hyung-taek, if you're good at tennis, will you be good at badminton? Challenge to win the Shuttlecock National Competition]. Sports TV News (in Korean). Retrieved December 18, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Kim, Chae-yeon (March 22, 2023).
"내일은 위닝샷' 이형택, 국내 최초 테니스 예능에 두근.."많이 와야 하는데 아~" [‘Tomorrow is a Winning Shot’ Lee Hyeong-taek, Korea's first tennis entertainment, excited.."I have to come a lot, but ah~] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved March 22, 2023 – via
Naver.
Lee Hyung-taik (
Korean: 이형택, born 3 January 1976) is a former professional
tennis player from
South Korea. He won one singles title and achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 36, in August 2007.
Personal life
Lee was born in a potato-farming village in
Hoengseong County, South Korea. He began playing tennis at age nine with a school teacher. After retirement, he is running his own academy in Gangwon province in the tennis center at Song-ahm Sports Town in
Chuncheon named "Lee Hyung Taik Tennis Academy", which opened on 12 September 2009.[1]
In 2003, Lee became the first Korean to win
ATP Tour singles and doubles titles by winning the singles tournament at the
Sydney International as a qualifier (beating
Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final) and the doubles tournament at the
Siebel Open in San Jose, California (partnering with Belarusian
Vladimir Voltchkov).
At
Wimbledon, he was defeated in the first round by eventual champion
Roger Federer in straight sets.
2006
In the second round at
Wimbledon, Lee was defeated by former champion and two-time semifinalist
Lleyton Hewitt in five sets, including three tie-breakers. Lee had set points in the third set tie-breaker, but went on to lose the set after an incorrect line call. As Lee went on to win the fourth set the call probably prevented him winning the match against the eventual quarterfinalist.
2007
Lee at the 2007 US Open
Lee matched his best Grand Slam performance by making the fourth round of the
US Open tournament. In the first round, he was forced to five sets before defeating
Dominik Hrbatý. Lee was pit against
Guillermo Cañas, who was the fourteenth seed in the tournament, in the second round. He defeated Cañas in three sets, setting up a third round showdown against nineteenth seed
Andy Murray. Lee got out to a quick two set advantage against Murray, eventually winning in four sets. In the fourth round, Lee played fourth seed
Nikolay Davydenko, who defeated the Korean in three sets.
Lee set personal bests in a handful of categories, including match wins and money earned. He won a career-high 25 matches and earned $386,230. Overall, Lee compiled records of 16–15 on hard, 5–5 on clay, 3–3 on grass and 1–0 on carpet. In August, he achieved his career best ranking in singles as world No. 36 with the help of his coach, Hee June Choi.
2008
In the 2008 season, Lee had a disappointing losing streak and eventually fell out of the top 100. He did, however, match his best Masters Series result by making the fourth round of
Indian Wells, beating
Michaël Llodra,
Jarkko Nieminen and No. 5 seed
David Ferrer along the way.
2009
In 2009, Lee played one final time for Korea, in the Davis Cup play-off between Korea and China. He announced his retirement from pro tennis after the Davis Cup match, with Korea triumphing 3–2.
Doubles
Lee sometimes played doubles alongside Korean-American player
Kevin Kim. The pair reached the third round of the
2005 French Open.
Playing style
Lee is right-handed and uses a single-handed backhand. He considers his backhand as his best shot. His favorite surface is
hardcourt. He was coached by countryman and former ATP professional
Yoon Yong-il (since March 2006).
^Kim Hye-jeong (December 23, 2021).
"이형택×남현희×박찬민, 채널A 新 예능 '피는 못 속여' 합류" [Hyung-Taek Lee × Hyun-Hee Nam × Chan-Min Park to join Channel A's new entertainment show ‘Cheat You Can’t Bleed’] (in Korean).
Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved December 23, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Kim Won-gyeom (December 18, 2022).
"이형택, 테니스 잘하면 배드민턴도 잘할까…셔틀콕 전국대회 우승 도전" [Lee Hyung-taek, if you're good at tennis, will you be good at badminton? Challenge to win the Shuttlecock National Competition]. Sports TV News (in Korean). Retrieved December 18, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Kim, Chae-yeon (March 22, 2023).
"내일은 위닝샷' 이형택, 국내 최초 테니스 예능에 두근.."많이 와야 하는데 아~" [‘Tomorrow is a Winning Shot’ Lee Hyeong-taek, Korea's first tennis entertainment, excited.."I have to come a lot, but ah~] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved March 22, 2023 – via
Naver.