1. Overview
Lee Hyung-taik (이형택I HyeongtaekKorean) is a former professional tennis player from South Korea. He is recognized as the first South Korean male tennis player to win both singles and doubles titles on the ATP Tour. Throughout his career, he achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 36 in August 2007. Lee represented South Korea in multiple Olympic Games and Davis Cup competitions, and he notably reached the fourth round of the US Open twice. After his initial retirement in 2009, he briefly returned to competition before fully retiring from the sport. Following his playing career, Lee transitioned into coaching, establishing his own tennis academy, and became a prominent tennis commentator and television personality.
2. Personal Life
2.1. Birthplace and Upbringing
Lee Hyung-taik was born on January 3, 1976, in a potato-farming village within Hoengseong County, Gangwon Province, South Korea. He stands 5.9 ft (1.8 m) tall and weighs 179 lb (81 kg). He began playing tennis at the age of nine, having been introduced to the sport by a school teacher.
2.2. Education
Lee Hyung-taik pursued his education in South Korea, attending Ucheon Elementary School, Wonju Middle School, and Bongui High School. He later graduated from Konkuk University in 1998.
3. Tennis Career
Lee Hyung-taik's tennis career spanned over a decade, marked by significant achievements in both singles and doubles, representing South Korea on the international stage.
3.1. Professional Debut
Lee turned professional in 1995 at the age of 19. Immediately upon his professional debut, he was selected to represent South Korea in the Davis Cup, the premier international team event in men's tennis. His Olympic debut came the following year at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where he competed in men's doubles. He also participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, making his first appearance in men's singles.
3.2. Singles Career
3.2.1. Early Career and Breakthroughs
Lee Hyung-taik made a significant impact at the 2000 US Open, marking his Grand Slam debut. After successfully navigating three qualifying rounds, he advanced to the fourth round of the main draw. On his path, he defeated notable players such as Jeff Tarango, 13th seed Franco Squillari, and future Australian Open runner-up Rainer Schüttler. His run concluded with a loss to tennis legend Pete Sampras. This achievement marked the first time a South Korean male player reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament.
3.2.2. ATP Tour Titles and Finals
In January 2003, Lee made history by becoming the first South Korean male player to win an ATP Tour singles title. Competing as a qualifier at the Sydney International (then known as the Adidas International), he defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final with a score of 4-6, 7-6(8-6), 7-6(7-4). This victory was also the first tour-level title for a South Korean player since Lee Duk-hee's win at the Fort Myers tournament in 1982. Two years prior, in May 2001, Lee reached his first ATP Tour final at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston, where he was defeated by Andy Roddick 5-7, 3-6.
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0-1 | May 2001 | Houston, United States | World Series | Clay | Andy Roddick | 5-7, 3-6 |
| Win | 1-1 | Jan 2003 | Sydney, Australia | World Series | Hard | Juan Carlos Ferrero | 4-6, 7-6(8-6), 7-6(7-4) |
3.2.3. Grand Slam Performances
Lee Hyung-taik consistently participated in all four Grand Slam tournaments. His best results include:
- Australian Open: 2nd Round (2003, 2008)
- French Open: 3rd Round (2004, 2005)
- Wimbledon: 3rd Round (2007)
- US Open: 4th Round (2000, 2007)
At the 2006 Wimbledon Championships, Lee faced former champion Lleyton Hewitt in the second round, ultimately losing a five-set match that included three tie-breakers. During the third-set tie-breaker, Lee had set points but lost the set due to an incorrect line call. Hewitt went on to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.
In 2007, Lee matched his career-best Grand Slam performance by reaching the fourth round of the US Open for the second time. In the first round, he overcame Dominik Hrbatý in a five-set battle. He then defeated 14th seed Guillermo Cañas in straight sets in the second round. In the third round, Lee achieved a significant upset by defeating 19th seed Andy Murray in four sets, winning the first two sets comfortably. His run ended in the fourth round against fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko, who defeated him in three sets. This strong showing at the US Open capped a very successful hardcourt series for Lee, during which he reached the semifinals of the Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles and the quarterfinals of the Indianapolis Tennis Championships and the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.
3.2.4. Highest Ranking and Career Statistics
Lee Hyung-taik achieved his career-high singles ranking of World No. 36 on August 6, 2007, a historic milestone as the first South Korean male tennis player to enter the top 50. Over his career, he compiled a singles record of 161 wins and 164 losses. In 2007, he had his most successful season, winning a career-high 25 matches and earning 386.23 K USD in prize money. His 2007 season records by surface were 16-15 on hard courts, 5-5 on clay courts, 3-3 on grass courts, and 1-0 on carpet courts. In 2006, Lee won three singles titles, his most in a single year. His total career prize money amounted to 2.35 M USD.
In the 2008 season, Lee experienced a decline in performance, falling out of the top 100. However, he matched his best Masters Series result by reaching the fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters, where he defeated Michaël Llodra, Jarkko Nieminen, and fifth seed David Ferrer.
3.3. Doubles Career
3.3.1. ATP Tour Titles and Finals
Lee Hyung-taik also achieved success in doubles, becoming the first South Korean male player to win an ATP Tour doubles title. This occurred in February 2003 at the SAP Open in San Jose, California, where he partnered with Belarusian player Vladimir Voltchkov. They defeated the American duo of Paul Goldstein and Robert Kendrick in the final with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1-0 | Feb 2003 | San Jose, United States | World Series | Hard | Vladimir Voltchkov | Paul Goldstein Robert Kendrick | 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 |
3.3.2. Grand Slam Doubles Performances
Lee participated in various Grand Slam doubles events. His notable performances include reaching the third round of the 2005 French Open men's doubles, where he partnered with Korean-American player Kevin Kim. He also reached the second round of the Australian Open men's doubles in 2005 and 2008, and the second round of the US Open men's doubles in 2003 and 2007. His appearances at Wimbledon in men's doubles typically ended in the first round.
3.3.3. Career Statistics
Lee Hyung-taik achieved a career-high doubles ranking of World No. 95 on January 16, 2006. His overall doubles record stands at 40 wins and 72 losses.
3.4. Olympic and Davis Cup Appearances
Lee Hyung-taik represented South Korea in three Olympic Games. At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, he competed in men's doubles, losing in the first round to the Zimbabwean "Black brothers," Byron Black and Wayne Black. He participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, competing in both men's singles (losing in the first round to Juan Carlos Ferrero) and men's doubles (reaching the second round). At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, he advanced past the first round in men's singles for the first time, reaching the second round before losing to Fernando González of Chile. He also competed in the men's singles at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he lost in the first round.
Lee was a consistent member of the South Korean Davis Cup team. His final appearance as a national team player was in July 2009, during the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group I Play-off second round match between South Korea and China, which South Korea won 3-2.
3.5. Challenger and Futures Tournaments
Throughout his career, Lee Hyung-taik achieved significant success on the ATP Challenger Tour and ITF Futures Tour, winning numerous titles in both singles and doubles.
In singles, he won 13 ATP Challenger titles and 9 ITF Futures titles, for a total of 22 singles titles at these levels. He also reached 5 finals, finishing as runner-up.
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1-0 | May 1998 | Korea F1, Seogwipo | Futures | Hard | Paradorn Srichaphan | 6-3, 6-3 |
| Win | 2-0 | Jun 1998 | Korea F2, Seogwipo | Futures | Hard | Nir Welgreen | 6-0, 6-3 |
| Win | 3-0 | Jun 1998 | Canada F2, Montreal | Futures | Hard | Michael Russell | 6-0, 7-5 |
| Win | 4-0 | Jul 1998 | Canada F3, Boucherville | Futures | Hard | James Sekulov | 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 |
| Loss | 4-1 | Aug 1998 | Lexington, United States | Challenger | Hard | Paul Goldstein | 1-6, 4-6 |
| Win | 5-1 | Oct 1998 | Japan F4, Maishima | Futures | Carpet | Yoon Yong-il | 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 |
| Win | 6-1 | Mar 1999 | Japan F1, Isawa | Futures | Clay | Gouichi Motomura | 7-6, 1-6, 5-2 ret. |
| Win | 7-1 | May 1999 | China F1, Beijing | Futures | Hard | Dmitriy Tomashevich | 6-3, 6-2 |
| Win | 8-1 | May 1999 | China F2, Shenyang | Futures | Hard | Danai Udomchoke | 6-0, 6-0 |
| Loss | 8-2 | May 1999 | Korea F2, Seoul | Futures | Clay | Baek Seung-bok | 6-3, 2-6, 2-6 |
| Win | 9-2 | Oct 1999 | Japan F5, Kobe | Futures | Carpet | Kwon Oh-hee | 6-1, 7-5 |
| Win | 10-2 | Nov 1999 | Yokohama, Japan | Challenger | Carpet | Paradorn Srichaphan | 6-3, 6-0 |
| Win | 11-2 | Aug 2000 | Bronx, United States | Challenger | Hard | Reginald Willems | 6-4, 6-1 |
| Win | 12-2 | Nov 2000 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Radek Štěpánek | 6-4, 6-4 |
| Loss | 12-3 | Nov 2000 | Osaka, Japan | Challenger | Hard | Michel Kratochvil | 6-2, 2-6, 2-6 |
| Win | 13-3 | Oct 2001 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Gouichi Motomura | 6-3, 6-4 |
| Win | 14-3 | Dec 2002 | Yokohama, Japan | Challenger | Carpet | John van Lottum | 2-6, 7-6(2-7), 7-6(8-6) |
| Win | 15-3 | Sep 2003 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Dennis van Scheppingen | 6-3, 6-3 |
| Win | 16-3 | Sep 2004 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Jean-René Lisnard | 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 |
| Loss | 16-4 | Dec 2004 | Port Louis, Mauritius | Challenger | Hard | Andrei Pavel | 3-6, 1-6 |
| Win | 17-4 | Oct 2005 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Nicolas Thomann | 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(8-6) |
| Win | 18-4 | Jun 2006 | Busan, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Danai Udomchoke | 6-3, 6-2 |
| Win | 19-4 | Jul 2006 | Lexington, United States | Challenger | Hard | Amer Delić | 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 |
| Win | 20-4 | Nov 2006 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Björn Phau | 6-2, 6-2 |
| Win | 21-4 | Oct 2008 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Ivo Minář | 6-4, 6-0 |
| Win | 22-4 | Nov 2008 | Yokohama, Japan | Challenger | Carpet | Go Soeda | 7-5, 6-3 |
| Loss | 22-5 | Nov 2008 | Toyota, Japan | Challenger | Carpet | Go Soeda | 2-6, 6-7(7-9) |
In doubles, he secured 5 ATP Challenger titles and 9 ITF Futures titles, for a total of 14 doubles titles, along with 8 runner-up finishes.
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1-0 | Oct 1996 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Clay | Yoon Yong-il | Fredrik Bergh Patrik Fredriksson | 6-4, 6-4 |
| Win | 2-0 | Mar 1998 | Philippines F2, Manila | Futures | Hard | Chen Chih-jung | David Caldwell Chris Tontz | 6-1, 6-4 |
| Win | 3-0 | May 1998 | China F2, Tianjin | Futures | Hard | Yoon Yong-il | Chen Chih-jung Andrian Raturandang | 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 |
| Loss | 3-1 | Jul 1998 | Canada F3, Boucherville | Futures | Hard | Yoon Yong-il | Tad Berkowitz Javier Gutierrez-Lima | 3-6, 6-1, 3-6 |
| Win | 4-1 | Oct 1998 | Japan F4, Maishima | Futures | Carpet | Yoon Yong-il | Chen Chih-jung Lin Bing-chao | 6-4, 1-4 ret. |
| Loss | 4-2 | Mar 1999 | Kyoto, Japan | Challenger | Carpet | Giorgio Galimberti | Julian Knowle Lorenzo Manta | 1-6, 7-6, 2-6 |
| Win | 5-2 | Mar 1999 | Japan F1, Isawa | Futures | Clay | Kevin Kim | Mitty Arnold Todd Meringoff | 6-4, 6-4 |
| Loss | 5-3 | May 1999 | Korea F1, Seoul | Futures | Clay | Han Min-kyu | Chung Hee-seok Chung Hee-sung | 4-6, 4-6 |
| Win | 6-3 | May 1999 | Korea F2, Seoul | Futures | Clay | Kim Dong-hyun | Han Min-kyu Lee Sang-hoon | 6-3, 6-4 |
| Loss | 6-4 | Aug 1999 | Binghamton, United States | Challenger | Hard | Kevin Kim | Mitch Sprengelmeyer Jason Weir-Smith | 7-5, 4-6, 2-6 |
| Loss | 6-5 | Oct 1999 | Japan F5, Kobe | Futures | Carpet | Danai Udomchoke | Tasuku Iwami Ryuso Tsujino | 5-7, 6-4, 4-6 |
| Win | 7-5 | May 2000 | Japan F4, Fukuoka | Futures | Hard | Yoon Yong-il | Doug Bohaboy Alex Witt | 6-7(4-7), 7-5, 6-2 |
| Win | 8-5 | Jul 2000 | Granby, Canada | Challenger | Hard | Yoon Yong-il | Frédéric Niemeyer Jerry Turek | 7-6(7-3), 6-3 |
| Win | 9-5 | Jul 2000 | Winnetka, United States | Challenger | Hard | Yoon Yong-il | Matthew Breen Luke Smith | 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 |
| Loss | 9-6 | Aug 2000 | Bronx, United States | Challenger | Hard | Yoon Yong-il | Petr Luxa Wesley Whitehouse | 6-3, 3-6, 2-6 |
| Win | 10-6 | Sep 2003 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Alex Kim | Alex Bogomolov Jr. Jeff Salzenstein | 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
| Win | 11-6 | May 2004 | Korea F1, Seogwipo | Futures | Hard | Im Kyu-tae | Chung Hee-seok Chung Hee-sung | 7-5, 6-4 |
| Win | 12-6 | Mar 2006 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Challenger | Hard | Cecil Mamiit | Jacob Adaktusson Dudi Sela | 6-4, 6-2 |
| Loss | 12-7 | Apr 2006 | Korea F3, Seogwipo | Futures | Hard | Chung Hee-seok | Jun Woong-sun Kim Sun-yong | 2-6, 0-6 |
| Win | 13-7 | Apr 2014 | Korea F1, Seoul | Futures | Hard | Lim Yong-kyu | Henrique Cunha Daniel Nguyen | 6-2, 4-6, [10-4] |
| Loss | 13-8 | May 2015 | Seoul, South Korea | Challenger | Hard | Danai Udomchoke | Gong Maoxin Peng Hsien-yin | 4-6, 5-7 |
| Win | 14-8 | May 2015 | Korea F1, Daegu | Futures | Hard | Hong Seong Chan | Nam Jisung Song Min-kyu | 6-3, 6-3 |
3.6. Playing Style
Lee Hyung-taik is a right-handed player who employs a one-handed backhand, which he considers his strongest shot. He is known for his aggressive backhand down-the-line shots. Lee is characterized as an all-around player who utilizes his fast footwork to cover the entire court effectively, with groundstrokes being his primary weapon. Although clay courts are prevalent in South Korea, his preferred playing surface is hardcourt. He was coached by fellow countryman and former ATP professional Yoon Yong-il from March 2006 until his retirement. He was also coached by Hee June Choi, who notably assisted him during his breakthrough at the 2000 US Open and when he achieved his career-high ranking in 2007.
3.7. Retirement and Comeback
Lee Hyung-taik initially announced his retirement from professional tennis in July 2009, with his final competitive appearance being the Davis Cup play-off match between South Korea and China. He also stated his intention to make the Samsung Securities Cup Challenger tournament in October 2009 his last event. After withdrawing from his first-round match due to a thigh injury, Lee officially concluded his playing career with a retirement ceremony on November 1, 2009.
However, Lee made a temporary return to competitive tennis in May 2013, participating in the doubles event of the Busan Open Challenger tournament as a wildcard alongside Lim Kyu-tae. They lost in the first round. He continued to compete in doubles at Challenger events, including the Samsung Securities Cup Challenger in October 2013, again partnering with Lim Kyu-tae, where they also lost in the first round. In November 2013, at the Yeongwol Challenger, he teamed with Danai Udomchoke, securing his first win since his comeback and reaching the semifinals before being defeated. Lee continued to play in Challenger tournaments until 2015, after which he fully retired from professional tennis.
4. Post-Retirement Activities
4.1. Coaching and Tennis Academy
Following his initial retirement from professional tennis, Lee Hyung-taik transitioned into a coaching career. On September 12, 2009, he established and opened the "Lee Hyung Taik Tennis Academy" at the Song-ahm Sports Town International Tennis Center in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. He continues to operate the academy, focusing on developing young tennis talent.
4.2. Broadcasting and Media Appearances
Lee Hyung-taik has become a prominent figure in South Korean sports broadcasting and entertainment. He began his career as a tennis commentator for KBS N Sports in May 2010. From November 2014, he served as a tennis commentator for MBC Sports Plus, also providing commentary for the International Premier Tennis League in 2015 and 2016. In 2016, he returned to KBS N Sports as a commentator.
Beyond commentary, Lee has made numerous appearances on South Korean television shows:
- 뭉쳐야 찬다Mungchyeoya ChandaKorean (Let's Play Soccer) on JTBC (2019-2021, 2021-present) - Regular cast member
- 생방송 행복드림 로또 6/45Saengbangsong Haengbok Deurim Rotto Yuksa-oKorean (Live Happy Dream Lotto 6/45) (2020) - Guest (Episode 923)
- 뭉쳐야 쏜다Mungchyeoya SsonndaKorean (Let's Shoot) on JTBC (2021) - Regular cast member
- 전설체전JeonseolchejeonKorean (Legendary Sports Festival) on JTBC (2022-present) - Regular cast member
- Master in the House Season 2 (2023) - Guest (January 1, 2023)
- Korea Badminton (2022-2023) - Cast Member
- Tomorrow's Winning Shot (2023) - Director
5. Awards and Honors
Lee Hyung-taik received several awards and honors throughout his career, primarily representing South Korea in multi-sport events:
- Asian Games
- 1998 Bangkok: Gold Medal (Men's Team), Silver Medal (Men's Doubles)
- 2002 Busan: Silver Medal (Men's Singles), Silver Medal (Men's Doubles), Silver Medal (Men's Team)
- 2006 Doha: Gold Medal (Men's Team), Silver Medal (Men's Singles), Silver Medal (Men's Doubles)
- Summer Universiade
- 1995 Fukuoka: Silver Medal (Men's Singles)
- 1997 Catania: Gold Medal (Men's Doubles)
- 1999 Palma: Gold Medal (Men's Singles)