Nicklas Kulti
CountrySweden
ResidenceStockholm, Sweden
Birth date22 April 1971 (age 55)
Birth placeStockholm, Sweden
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Turnedpro1989
Retired2000
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
CareerprizemoneyUS$3,186,946
Singlesrecord154–182
Singlestitles3
HighestsinglesrankingNo. 32 (3 May 1993)
Australianopenresult3R (1989, 1994, 1996)
FrenchopenresultQF (1992)
Wimbledonresult2R (1992, 1997)
Usopenresult2R (1993, 1994)
Othertournamentsyes
Grandslamcupresult1R (1992)
Doublesrecord238–145
Doublestitles13
HighestdoublesrankingNo. 11 (29 September 1997)
Australianopendoublesresult3R (1997, 1999, 2000)
FrenchopendoublesresultF (1995)
WimbledondoublesresultSF (2000)
UsopendoublesresultF (1997)
AustralianopenmixedresultQF (1999)
Frenchopenmixedresult3R (2000)
Wimbledonmixedresult2R (2000)
UsopenmixedresultQF (2000)
Teamyes
DaviscupresultW (1997, 1998)
Updated18 December 2021

Nicklas Kulti (born 22 April 1971) is a former professional tennis player from Sweden. He was born in Stockholm. His career-high rankings were World No. 32 in singles in 1993, and No. 11 in doubles in 1997. Kulti was ranked No. 1 in the junior singles rankings in 1989.

Tennis career

Juniors

Kulti was ranked No. 1 in the junior world singles rankings in 1989 after winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior titles, and finishing runner-up at the US Open.

Pro tour

In 1991, Kulti won his first top-level singles title at Adelaide. He won a total of three tour singles titles during his professional career. He also won 13 top-level doubles titles, including the Monte Carlo Masters in 1994 (partnering Magnus Larsson) and the Paris Masters in 2000 (partnering Max Mirnyi). Kulti was a men's doubles runner-up at the French Open in 1995 (with Larsson) and the US Open in 1997 (with Jonas Björkman). Kulti's best singles performance at a Grand Slam event came at the 1992 French Open, where he reached the quarter-finals by defeating John McEnroe, Markus Zillner, Michael Chang and Diego Pérez before being knocked-out by Henri Leconte.[1]

Kulti was a member of the Swedish teams which won the Davis Cup in both 1997 and 1998 (partnering Björkman to win doubles rubbers in the final on both occasions). He was also on the team which finished runners-up in the Davis Cup in 1996. In the fifth and deciding match against Frenchman Arnaud Boetsch, Kulti was a late replacement for the injured Stefan Edberg. In a 4-hour and 46-minute thriller, Boetsch saved three matchpoints and finally overcame Kulti, 7–6, 2–6, 4–6, 7–6, 10–8.[2]

Post-retirement career

He runs the Good to Great Tennis Academy together with Magnus Norman and Mikael Tillström.

Junior Grand Slam finals

Singles: 4 (2 titles, 2 runner-ups)

ResultYearTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss1988US OpenHardNicolás Pereira1–6, 2–6
Win1989Australian OpenHardTodd Woodbridge6–2, 6–3
Win1989WimbledonGrassTodd Woodbridge6–4, 6–3
Loss1989US OpenHardJonathan Stark4–6, 1–6

ATP career finals

Singles: 7 (3 titles, 4 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP World Tour Masters Series (0–0)
ATP Championship Series (0–0)
ATP World Series (3–4)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–0)
Clay (0–2)
Grass (1–1)
Carpet (0–1)
Finals by setting
Outdoors (3–3)
Indoors (0–1)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Aug 1990Prague, Czech RepublicWorld SeriesClayJordi Arrese6–7(3–7), 6–7(6–8)
Win1–1Jan 1991Adelaide, AustraliaWorld SeriesHardMichael Stich6–3, 1–6, 6–2
Win2–1Jan 1993Adelaide, AustraliaWorld SeriesHardChristian Bergström3–6, 7–5, 6–4
Loss2–2Mar 1993Copenhagen, DenmarkWorld SeriesCarpetAndrei Olhovskiy5–7, 6–3, 2–6
Loss2–3Apr 1996Atlanta, United StatesWorld SeriesClayKarim Alami3–6, 4–6
Win3–3Jun 1996Halle, GermanyWorld SeriesGrassYevgeny Kafelnikov6–7(5–7), 6–3, 6–4
Loss3–4Jun 1999Halle, GermanyWorld SeriesGrassNicolas Kiefer3–6, 2–6

Doubles: 25 (13 titles, 12 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam Tournaments (0–2)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP Masters Series (2–1)
ATP Championship Series (2–2)
ATP World Series (9–7)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–4)
Clay (6–6)
Grass (1–0)
Carpet (4–2)
Finals by setting
Outdoors (8–10)
Indoors (5–2)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Mar 1992Copenhagen, DenmarkWorld SeriesCarpetMagnus LarssonHendrik Jan Davids
Libor Pimek
6–3, 6–4
Win2–0Aug 1992San Marino, San MarinoWorld SeriesClayMikael TillströmCristian Brandi
Federico Mordegan
6–2, 6–2
Win3–0Apr 1994Monte Carlo, MonacoMasters SeriesClayMagnus LarssonYevgeny Kafelnikov
Daniel Vacek
3–6, 7–6, 6–4
Loss3–1Jan 1994Båstad, SwedenWorld SeriesClayMikael TillströmJan Apell
Jonas Björkman
2–6, 3–6
Loss3–2Oct 1994Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaWorld SeriesCarpetLars-Anders WahlgrenJacco Eltingh
Paul Haarhuis
0–6, 5–7
Loss3–3Jun 1995Paris, FranceGrand SlamClayMagnus LarssonJacco Eltingh
Paul Haarhuis
7–6, 4–6, 1–6
Win4–3Feb 1996Antwerp, NelgiumChampionship SeriesCarpetJonas BjörkmanYevgeny Kafelnikov
Menno Oosting
6–4, 6–4
Loss4–4Mar 1996St. Petersburg, RussiaWorld SeriesCarpetPeter NyborgYevgeny Kafelnikov
Andrei Olhovskiy
3–6, 4–6
Win5–4Apr 1996New Delhi, IndiaWorld SeriesHardJonas BjörkmanByron Black
Sandon Stolle
4–6, 6–4, 6–4
Loss5–5Apr 1996Monte Carlo, MonacoMasters SeriesClayJonas BjörkmanEllis Ferreira
Jan Siemerink
6–2, 3–6, 2–6
Loss5–6Mar 1996Los Angeles, United StatesWorld SeriesHardJonas BjörkmanMarius Barnard
Piet Norval
5–7, 2–6
Loss5–7Aug 1996New Haven, United StatesChampionship SeriesHardJonas BjörkmanByron Black
Grant Connell
4–6, 4–6
Win6–7May 1997Atlanta, United StatesWorld SeriesClayJonas BjörkmanScott Davis
Kelly Jones
6–2, 7–6
Win7–7May 1997Båstad, SwedenWorld SeriesClayMikael TillströmMagnus Larsson
Magnus Gustafsson
6–0, 6–3
Loss7–8Aug 1997Indianapolis, United StatesChampionship SeriesHardJonas BjörkmanMichael Tebbutt
Mikael Tillström
1–6, 1–6
Loss7–9Aug 1997New York, United StatesGrand SlamHardJonas BjörkmanYevgeny Kafelnikov
Daniel Vacek
76–7, 3–6
Win8–9Feb 1998St. Petersburg, RussiaWorld SeriesCarpetMikael TillströmMarius Barnard
Brent Haygarth
3–6, 6–3, 7–6
Loss8–10May 1998Prague, Czech RepublicWorld SeriesClayFredrik BerghWayne Arthurs
Andrew Kratzmann
1–6, 1–6
Win9–10Nov 1998Stockholm, SwedenInternational SeriesHardMikael TillströmChris Haggard
Peter Nyborg
7–5, 3–6, 7–5
Loss9–11Jul 1999Båstad, SwedenWorld SeriesClayMikael TillströmDavid Adams
Jeff Tarango
6–7(6–8), 4–6
Loss9–12Sep 1999Bournemouth, United KingdomWorld SeriesClayMichael KohlmannDavid Adams
Jeff Tarango
3–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–7(5–7)
Win10–12Apr 2000Barcelona, SpainChampionship SeriesClayMikael TillströmPaul Haarhuis
Sandon Stolle
6–2, 6–7(2–7), 7–6(7–5)
Win11–12Jun 2000Halle, GermanyInternational SeriesGrassMikael TillströmMahesh Bhupathi
David Prinosil
7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–4)
Win12–12Jul 2000Båstad, SwedenInternational SeriesClayMikael TillströmAndrea Gaudenzi
Diego Nargiso
4–6, 6–2, 6–3
Win13–12Nov 2000Paris, FranceMasters SeriesCarpetMax MirnyiPaul Haarhuis
Daniel Nestor
6–4, 7–5

ATP Challenger and ITF Futures Finals

Singles: 1 (0–1)

Legend
ATP Challenger (0–1)
ITF Futures (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (0–0)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–1)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Feb 1993Rennes, FranceChallengerCarpetStéphane Simian4–6, 6–7

Doubles: 7 (6–1)

Legend
ATP Challenger (6–1)
ITF Futures (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–0)
Clay (3–1)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (1–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Aug 1989Pescara, ItalyChallengerClayMagnus LarssonFredrik Nilsson
David Engel
2–6, 6–4, 6–7
Win1–1Nov 1989Copenhagen, DenmarkChallengerCarpetMagnus LarssonAlex Antonitsch
Ronnie Båthman
6–3, 6–2
Win2–1Mar 1995Indian Wells, United StatesChallengerHardMikael TillströmJan Apell
Mike Bauer
7–6, 6–4
Win3–1Apr 1995Monte Carlo, MonacoChallengerClayMikael TillströmNicolas Kiefer
Michael Stich
7–5, 7–5
Win4–1May 1995Ljubljana, SloveniaChallengerClayMikael TillströmShelby Cannon
Stefan Kruger
6–4, 6–4
Win5–1Jul 1995Braunschweig, GermanyChallengerClayMikael TillströmBill Behrens
Brendan Curry
7–6, 6–4
Win6–1Mar 1997Indian Wells, United StatesChallengerHardMichael TebbuttScott Davis
Kelly Jones
6–2, 4–6, 6–3

Performance timelines

Singles

Tournament198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open3R1R1R2R2R3R2R3R2RQ1Q11R0 / 1010–10
French Open1R3R2RQF1R2RQ31R1RQ1AA0 / 88–8
WimbledonQ3A1R2R1R1RA1R2RQ2AQ20 / 62–6
US OpenAA1R1R2R2R1R1RQ1A1RA0 / 72–7
Win–loss2–22–21–46–42–44–41–22–42–30–00–10–10 / 3122–31
Year-end Championships
Grand Slam CupNHDNQ1RDid not qualifyNH0 / 10–1
ATP Masters Series
Indian WellsAAAAA1RQ2A2RAAA0 / 21–2
Miami1RAAA4R2RQ3A4RAAA0 / 46–4
Monte CarloAA1RA1R1RQ2Q31RQ2AA0 / 40–4
HamburgAA1RAA1RAAAAAA0 / 20–2
RomeAA2R1R2R1RAAAQ1AQ10 / 42–4
CanadaAAAAAAA1RAAAA0 / 10–1
CincinnatiAAAAA1RA1RQ2AAA0 / 20–2
ParisAA3R1RQ1Q1AQ3Q1AAA0 / 22–2
Win–loss0–10–03–40–23–31–60–00–24–30–00–00–00 / 2111–21

Doubles

Tournament1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAAAAAA1R1R3R1R3R3R2R0 / 77–7
French OpenAA1RAA2RFQF2R1RSF3RQF0 / 919–9
WimbledonQ1AQ1AA2RAQFQFQF1RSFA0 / 614–6
US OpenAAAAASF3R1RF3R1R3RA0 / 715–7
Win–loss0–00–00–10–00–06–37–36–411–45–46–410–44–20 / 2955–29
National Representation
Olympic GamesNot HeldANot Held1RNot Held1RNH0 / 20–2
Year-end Championships
ATP FinalsDid not qualifyRRDid not qualify0 / 11–2
ATP Masters Series
Indian WellsAAAAAQ12RAQFAAAA0 / 23–2
MiamiAAAAAA2RA3RASFA3R0 / 47–4
Monte CarloAAAAAW2RFSF1RAQFA1 / 613–5
HamburgAAAAAQFAAAAAAA0 / 12–1
RomeAAAAAAAAA2RA2RA0 / 22–2
CanadaAAAAAAASFAAAAA0 / 13–1
CincinnatiAAAAA1RAQFAAAAA0 / 22–2
StuttgartAAAAAAAAA1R1R1RA0 / 30–3
ParisAAAAA2RA1R2RQFAWA1 / 57–4
Win–loss0–00–00–00–00–08–31–38–46–43–44–27–31–12 / 2639–24

Mixed doubles

Tournament1998199920002001SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAQFA1R0 / 22–2
French OpenA2R3R2R0 / 33–3
WimbledonAA2RA0 / 11–1
US Open1RAQFA0 / 22–2
Win–loss0–13–24–31–20 / 88–8

References

  1. ^ Sally Jenkins (15 June 1992). "Down And Dirty". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 76, no. 23. pp. 24–29. Archived from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Tennis: Boetsch thrills France". The Independent. 2 December 1996. Archived 20 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 March 2012.