A year full of contrasts by Zdeněk Kolář. Successes in doubles and embarrassing performances in singles

The Czech tennis player Zdeněk Kolář’s form has been like a roller coaster so far in the tennis season. Despite some interesting results, he has dropped down to the third hundred in the singles rankings. What he did not record in singles, he managed to make up in doubles, where he is one of the best players in the challenger category.

The tournament in Lisbon and again a recurring scenario of the last few months. Dropping out in the first round of singles. But a day later, Kolář starts another interesting story, which ends with a triumph in doubles. Already his fourth title this season.

Doubles champion

There would probably be nothing interesting about that, but Kolář managed to win all four titles on the challenger circuit with four different partners. Earlier in the year, he celebrated with Frenchman Guinard in Traralgon, Australia, and in Zadar, Croatia, alongside Italian Andrea Vavassori.

This was followed by a first place in Zug, Switzerland alongside compatriot Adam Pavlasek and now in the Portuguese capital he dominated the tournament alongside local Goncalo Oliveira. It was not the first time the two had played together, but never as successfully as this time.

They went through the whole tournament without losing a set and in the final they defeated tournament runners-up Vladyslav Manafov and Oleg Prihodko quite smoothly. Thanks to this win, Kolář moved up to 117th place in the doubles rankings.

Overall, he has already won 17 doubles titles at Challengers, making him one of the best in this category. However, as mentioned at the beginning, the singles has been a disaster in recent months for the native of Bystřice nad Pernštejnem.

The beginning of the season did not see Kolář in very good form in singles, the turnaround came only at the beginning of April, when he fought his way to the semi-finals of the challenger in Oeiras and repeated the same feat a week later in Barletta, Italy.

A fantastic performance at the French Open

More very unconvincing results followed until the French Open, the tournament of the Czech Davis Cup team member’s life so far. Here, Kolář not only made it through qualifying, where he knocked out a decent clay-court challenger, but also took on former world No. 10 Pouille of France in the first round.

Kolář, playing in great comfort, took on the world-famous Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round. The match, which had really the highest parameters, was handled by the Czech player bravely.

However, the Greek stormtrooper, when Kolář really threatened to attack for the victory, tried to upset his opponent, which led to the fact that after four hours he finally defeated the 25-year-old Czech 3-1 in sets.

A decline in form

But those who thought Kolář would continue his great performances were sorely mistaken. Three more tournaments followed in which he didn’t make it past the first round, and then immediately into the Wimbledon qualifying.

He lost his last match against the Italian Vavassori, but as a lucky loser he reached the first round, where the Frenchman Bonzi gave him no chance. And then a steep drop down the rankings to the third hundred. 8 matches lost in a row and no improvement in sight.

Zdenek Kolar is really having a rollercoaster season. Fortunately, he is a great all-rounder and he can be happy at least with his doubles success.

Source: ATP, Livesport