Xavier Malisse

Xavier Malisse (born 19 July 1980) is a Belgian tennis coach and a former professional player. Born in the north-western Flemish city of Kortrijk and nicknamed X-Man, he is one of only two Belgian men (the other being David Goffin) to have been ranked in the top 20 of the ATP Tour, with a career-high singles ranking of world No. 19.

Career

Juniors

As a junior Malisse compiled a singles win–loss record of 66–18, reaching as high as No. 10 in the junior world singles rankings in 1997. He made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1997, whilst his final junior tournament was winning Eddie Herr later that year.

1998–2008

Malisse turned professional in 1998.

His best performance in Grand Slam singles competition was at the 2002 Wimbledon championships, where he reached the semi-final, beating Galo Blanco, Vince Spadea, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Britain's Greg Rusedski in five sets en route, as well as former champion Richard Krajicek. He eventually lost to runner-up David Nalbandian, again in five sets. Malisse and Olivier Rochus won the French Open doubles championship in 2004. He has won three ATP tour singles titles: Delray Beach in 2005 and 2007, and Chennai in 2007.

2009

After a difficult year, Malisse found himself with a world ranking of 205. In his first tournament of the year in Brisbane, he lost in the last qualifying round to American Bobby Reynolds. A week later, in Medibank International Sydney, he reached the main draw, but lost to Mario Ančić in the first round.

At the Australian Open, he first won his qualifying matches. In the first round of the main draw, he defeated Michaël Llodra. However, in the next round, he lost to Andy Roddick in four sets. In October, he won a Challenger tournament in Lyon, and this pushed him back into the world's top 100 for the first time in nearly two years.

He was banned for a year over doping allegations.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2010

Malisse lost in the third round of Wimbledon to Sam Querrey in five sets.

2011

Xavier started the 2011 season by reaching the final of Chennai. In March, he won the doubles title in the Indian Wells Masters with Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine. He reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, where he lost to Bernard Tomic.

2012

Xavier reached the fourth round of Wimbledon where he faced Roger Federer. Federer won the first two sets and went a break up in the third, but Malisse came back to win the third set and move 2–0 in the fourth. Federer subsequently won six out of the next seven games to win the match and went on to win the Title.

2016–2018

After retiring in 2013 and competing in an ITF doubles event in 2015, Malisse entered the 2016 Meerbusch Challenger in doubles, ultimately conceding a walkover to end his playing career. He then participated in the ATP Champions Tour until 2018.

2021–2022

Malisse came out of retirement to play doubles at the 2021 European Open having received a wildcard alongside Lloyd Harris whom he was coaching.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The pair made the semifinals defeating top seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo en route before losing to 3rd seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Wesley Koolhof in straight sets.

He also participated in the 2022 European Open having received again a wildcard to play doubles with Diego Schwartzman. In the first round they managed to beat Raven Klaasen and Marcelo Melo in straight sets.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the quarterfinals, they lost to Botic van de Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor in two tie-breaks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Significant finals

Grand Slam finals

Doubles: 1 (1–0)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	2004	French Open	Clay	Template:Flagicon Olivier Rochus	Template:Flagicon Michaël Llodra Template:Flagicon Fabrice Santoro	7–5, 7–5

Masters 1000 finals

Doubles: 1 (1–0)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	2011	Indian Wells	Hard	Template:Flagicon Alexandr Dolgopolov	Template:Flagicon Roger Federer Template:Flagicon Stan Wawrinka	6–4, 6–7(5–7), [10–7]

ATP career finals

Singles: 12 (3 titles, 9 runners-up)

Legend Grand Slam tournaments (0–0) Tennis Masters Cup / ATP World Tour Finals (0–0) ATP Masters Series / ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (0–0) ATP International Series Gold / ATP World Tour 500 Series (0–0) ATP International Series / ATP World Tour 250 Series (3–9)

Titles by surface Hard (3–4) Clay (0–4) Grass (0–0) Carpet (0–1)

Titles by setting Outdoor (3–8) Indoor (0–1)

Result	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	0–1	[[1998 Abierto Mexicano Telcel – Singles|Template:Dts]]	Mexican Open, Mexico	World Series	Clay	Template:Flagicon Jiří Novák	3–6, 3–6
Loss	0–2	[[1999 Citrix Tennis Championships – Singles|Template:Dts]]	Delray Beach ITC, US	World Series	Clay	Template:Flagicon Lleyton Hewitt	4–6, 7–6(7–2), 1–6
Loss	0–3	[[2001 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships – Singles|Template:Dts]]	Delray Beach ITC, US	International	Hard	Template:Flagicon Jan-Michael Gambill	5–7, 4–6
Loss	0–4	[[2001 Verizon Tennis Challenge – Singles|Template:Dts]]	Atlanta Tennis Challenge, US	International	Clay	Template:Flagicon Andy Roddick	2–6, 4–6
Loss	0–5	Template:Dts	St. Pölten Open, Austria	International	Clay	Template:Flagicon Filippo Volandri	1–6, 4–6
Loss	0–6	[[2004 Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon – Singles|Template:Dts]]	Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon, France	International	Carpet (i)	Template:Flagicon Robin Söderling	2–6, 6–3, 4–6
Win	1–6	[[2005 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships – Singles|Template:Dts]]	Delray Beach ITC, US	International	Hard	Template:Flagicon Jiří Novák	7–6(8–6), 6–2
Loss	1–7	[[2006 Next Generation Adelaide International – Singles|Template:Dts]]	Adelaide International, Australia	International	Hard	Template:Flagicon Florent Serra	3–6, 4–6
Loss	1–8	[[2006 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships – Singles|Template:Dts]]	Delray Beach ITC, US	International	Hard	Template:Flagicon Tommy Haas	3–6, 6–3, 6–7(5–7)
Win	2–8	[[2007 Chennai Open – Singles|Template:Dts]]	Chennai Open, India	International	Hard	Template:Flagicon Stefan Koubek	6–1, 6–3
Win	3–8	[[2007 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships – Singles|Template:Dts]]	Delray Beach ITC, US (2)	International	Hard	Template:Flagicon James Blake	5–7, 6–4, 6–4
Loss	3–9	[[2011 Aircel Chennai Open – Singles|Template:Dts]]	Chennai Open, India	250 Series	Hard	Template:Flagicon Stanislas Wawrinka	5–7, 6–4, 1–6

Doubles: 13 (9 titles, 4 runners-up)

Legend Grand Slam tournaments (1–0) Tennis Masters Cup / ATP World Tour Finals (0–0) ATP Masters Series / ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (1–0) ATP International Series Gold / ATP World Tour 500 Series (0–0) ATP International Series / ATP World Tour 250 Series (7–4)

Titles by surface Hard (8–3) Clay (1–1) Grass (0–0) Carpet (0–0)

Titles by setting Outdoor (7–3) Indoor (2–1)

Result	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1–0	[[2004 French Open – Men's doubles|Template:Dts]]	French Open, France	Grand Slam	Clay	Template:Flagicon Olivier Rochus	Template:Flagicon Michaël Llodra Template:Flagicon Fabrice Santoro	7–5, 7–5
Win	2–0	[[2005 Next Generation Hardcourts – Doubles|Template:Dts]]	Adelaide International, Australia	International	Hard	Template:Flagicon Olivier Rochus	Template:Flagicon Simon Aspelin Template:Flagicon Todd Perry	7–6(7–5), 6–4
Win	3–0	[[2007 Chennai Open – Doubles|Template:Dts]]	Chennai Open, India	International	Hard	Template:Flagicon Dick Norman	Template:Flagicon Rafael Nadal Template:Flagicon Bartolomé Salvá Vidal	7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–4)
Win	4–0	[[2007 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships – Doubles|Template:Dts]]	Delray Beach ITC, US	International	Hard	Template:Flagicon Hugo Armando	Template:Flagicon James Auckland Template:Flagicon Stephen Huss	6–3, 6–7(4–7), [10–5]
Loss	4–1	[[2008 Heineken Open – Doubles|Template:Dts]]	Auckland Open, New Zealand	International	Hard	Template:Flagicon Jürgen Melzer	Template:Flagicon Luis Horna Template:Flagicon Juan Mónaco	4–6, 6–3, [7–10]
Loss	4–2	[[2011 SAP Open – Doubles|Template:Dts]]	Pacific Coast Championships, US	250 Series	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Alejandro Falla	Template:Flagicon Scott Lipsky Template:Flagicon Rajeev Ram	4–6, 6–4, [8–10]
Win	5–2	[[2011 BNP Paribas Open – Men's doubles|Template:Dts]]	Indian Wells Masters, US	Masters 1000	Hard	Template:Flagicon Alexandr Dolgopolov	Template:Flagicon Roger Federer Template:Flagicon Stanislas Wawrinka	6–4, 6–7(5–7), [10–7]
Win	6–2	[[2011 Farmers Classic – Doubles|Template:Dts]]	Los Angeles Open, US	250 Series	Hard	Template:Flagicon Mark Knowles	Template:Flagicon Somdev Devvarman Template:Flagicon Treat Huey	7–6(7–3), 7–6(12–10)
Win	7–2	[[2012 SAP Open – Doubles|Template:Dts]]	Pacific Coast Championships, US	250 Series	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Mark Knowles	Template:Flagicon Kevin Anderson Template:Flagicon Frank Moser	6–4, 1–6, [10–5]
Loss	7–3	[[2012 BMW Open – Doubles|Template:Dts]]	Bavarian Championships, Germany	250 Series	Clay	Template:Flagicon Dick Norman	Template:Flagicon František Čermák Template:Flagicon Filip Polášek	4–6, 5–7
Loss	7–4	[[2012 BB&T Atlanta Open – Doubles|Template:Dts]]	Atlanta Open, US	250 Series	Hard	Template:Flagicon Michael Russell	Template:Flagicon Matthew Ebden Template:Flagicon Ryan Harrison	3–6, 6–3, [6–10]
Win	8–4	[[2012 Farmers Classic – Doubles|Template:Dts]]	Los Angeles Open, US (2)	250 Series	Hard	Template:Flagicon Ruben Bemelmans	Template:Flagicon Jamie Delgado Template:Flagicon Ken Skupski	7–6(7–5), 4–6, [10–7]
Win	9–4	[[2013 SAP Open – Doubles|Template:Dts]]	Pacific Coast Championships, US (2)	250 Series	Hard (i)	Template:Flagicon Frank Moser	Template:Flagicon Lleyton Hewitt Template:Flagicon Marinko Matosevic	6–0, 6–7(5–7), [10–4]

ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals

Singles: 7 (4–3)

Legend ATP Challenger (4–3) ITF Futures (0–0)

Finals by surface Hard (4–3) Clay (0–0) Grass (0–0) Carpet (0–0)

Result	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1–0	Template:Dts	San Antonio, United States	Challenger	Hard	Template:Flagicon Ronald Agénor	7–6(7–3), 6–3
Loss	1–1	Template:Dts	Mons, Belgium	Challenger	Hard	Template:Flagicon Olivier Rochus	2–6, 0–6
Win	2–1	Template:Dts	Moncton, Canada	Challenger	Hard	Template:Flagicon Danai Udomchoke	6–4, 6–4
Win	3–1	Template:Dts	Granby, Canada	Challenger	Hard	Template:Flagicon Kevin Anderson	6–4, 6–4
Loss	3–2	Template:Dts	Vancouver, Canada	Challenger	Hard	Template:Flagicon Marcos Baghdatis	4–6, 4–6
Loss	3–3	Template:Dts	St. Remy, France	Challenger	Hard	Template:Flagicon Marcos Baghdatis	4–6, 1–6
Win	4–3	Template:Dts	Orleans, France	Challenger	Hard	Template:Flagicon Stéphane Robert	6–1, 6–2

Doubles: 4 (2–2)

Legend ATP Challenger (2–2) ITF Futures (0–0)

Finals by surface Hard (1–1) Clay (1–1) Grass (0–0) Carpet (0–0)

Result	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	0–1	Template:Dts	Ostend, Belgium	Challenger	Clay	Template:Flagicon Wim Neefs	Template:Flagicon Marcos Ondruska Template:Flagicon Steven Randjelovic	2–6, 4–6
Win	1–1	Template:Dts	Bogotá, Colombia	Challenger	Clay	Template:Flagicon Carlos Salamanca	Template:Flagicon Juan Sebastián Cabal Template:Flagicon Michael Quintero	6–1, 6–4
Win	2–1	Template:Dts	Donetsk, Ukraine	Challenger	Hard	Template:Flagicon Dick Norman	Template:Flagicon Harel Levy Template:Flagicon Noam Okun	4–6, 6–1, [13–11]
Loss	2–2	Template:Dts	Orleans, France	Challenger	Hard	Template:Flagicon Ken Skupski	Template:Flagicon Lukáš Dlouhý Template:Flagicon Gilles Müller	2–6, 7–6(7–5), [7–10]

Performance timelines

Singles

Tournament	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	W–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open	A	A	A	A	2R	3R	1R	1R	2R	1R	1R	2R	1R	3R	1R	2R	8–12
French Open	A	1R	A	3R	4R	3R	4R	2R	1R	A	A	A	2R	2R	1R	1R	13–11
Wimbledon	A	1R	A	2R	SF	1R	4R	2R	2R	A	2R	1R	3R	4R	4R	1R	20–13
US Open	A	3R	2R	4R	3R	4R	1R	4R	3R	2R	Q1	Q1	1R	1R	1R	1R	17–13
Win–loss	0–0	2–3	1–1	6–3	11–4	7–4	6–4	5–4	4–4	1–2	1–2	1–2	3–4	6–4	3–4	1–4	58–49
ATP Masters Series
Indian Wells Masters	A	3R	A	A	1R	2R	2R	1R	3R	A	2R	A	A	3R	2R	1R	10–10
Miami Masters	A	1R	2R	A	1R	2R	3R	2R	2R	A	3R	A	1R	2R	2R	3R	10–12
Monte Carlo Masters	A	A	A	A	1R	1R	1R	2R	1R	A	1R	A	A	1R	A	1R	1–8
Rome Masters	A	A	A	A	3R	1R	A	A	2R	A	A	A	A	2R	Q2	1R	4–5
Madrid Masters	A	A	A	A	2R	A	1R	A	1R	A	A	A	A	3R	A	1R	3–5
Canada Masters	A	A	A	1R	1R	1R	1R	3R	QF	A	A	A	2R	A	A	1R	6–8
Cincinnati Masters	A	1R	A	2R	3R	2R	1R	1R	1R	A	A	A	A	1R	A	A	4–8
Shanghai Masters	Not Masters Series											A	A	A	A	A	0–0
Paris Masters	A	A	A	3R	2R	A	2R	1R	1R	A	A	A	1R	A	A	A	4–6
Hamburg Masters	A	A	A	A	1R	2R	1R	A	1R	A	1R	NMS					1–5
Win–loss	0–0	2–3	1–1	3–3	6–9	3–7	4–8	3–6	7–9	0–0	3–4	0–0	1–3	6–6	2–2	2–6	43–67
Career statistics
Titles–Finals	0–1	0–1	0–0	0–2	0–0	0–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–0	0–0	0–0	0–1	0–0	0–0	3–12
Year-end ranking	161	145	127	33	25	55	48	47	37	112	162	94	60	49	47	135

Doubles

Tournament	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	W–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open	2R	2R	2R	2R	1R	1R	A	A	2R	1R	2R	6–9
French Open	2R	W	3R	QF	A	A	A	1R	2R	3R	1R	15–7
Wimbledon	2R	2R	3R	A	A	A	A	1R	A	1R	2R	5–6
US Open	2R	1R	A	1R	A	A	A	1R	3R	1R	1R	3–7
Win–loss	4–4	8–3	5–3	4–3	0–1	0–1	0–0	0–3	4–3	2–4	2–4	29–29

Top 10 wins

Season	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	Total
Wins	0	0	0	2	3	1	1	0	2	2	1	0	2	0	1	1	16

#	Player	Rank	Event	Surface	Rd	Score
2001
1.	Template:Flagicon Marat Safin	2	Los Angeles, United States	Hard	2R	7–5, 6–3
2.	Template:Flagicon Tim Henman	9	US Open, New York, United States	Hard	3R	6–7(6–8), 6–3, 7–5, 4–6, 6–4
2002
3.	Template:Flagicon Marat Safin	6	Rome, Italy	Clay	2R	6–3, 6–4
4.	Template:Flagicon Tim Henman	6	French Open, Paris, France	Clay	2R	6–2, 3–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–3
5.	Template:Flagicon Yevgeny Kafelnikov	6	Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom	Grass	3R	7–6(7–4), 7–5, 6–1
2003
6.	Template:Flagicon Lleyton Hewitt	6	Cincinnati, United States	Hard	1R	3–6, 6–4, 6–2
2004
7.	Template:Flagicon Rainer Schüttler	7	French Open, Paris, France	Clay	1R	6–4, 7–5, 6–4
2006
8.	Template:Flagicon Gastón Gaudio	8	Rome, Italy	Clay	1R	4–6, 6–3, 6–3
9.	Template:Flagicon Nikolay Davydenko	5	Toronto, Canada	Hard	1R	6–3, 7–5
2007
10.	Template:Flagicon Rafael Nadal	2	Chennai, India	Hard	SF	6–4, 7–6(7–4)
11.	Template:Flagicon James Blake	6	Delray Beach, United States	Hard	F	5–7, 6–4, 6–4
2008
12.	Template:Flagicon David Nalbandian	7	Miami, United States	Hard	2R	6–1, 6–4
2010
13.	Template:Flagicon Novak Djokovic	3	Queen's Club, London, United Kingdom	Grass	3R	6–3, 4–6, 6–2
14.	Template:Flagicon Tomáš Berdych	8	Washington, D.C., United States	Hard	QF	6–4, 3–6, 6–2
2012
15.	Template:Flagicon Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	7	Valencia, Spain	Hard (i)	1R	3–1, ret.
2013
16.	Template:Flagicon David Ferrer	4	Rosmalen, Netherlands	Grass	1R	7–6(7–3), 6–3

External links

• Template:ATP
• Template:ITF
• Template:Davis Cup player