Lee Hyung-taik(born January 3, 1976) is a
professional tennis player from South Korea.
Lee was born in a potato-farming village in
Hoengseong County, South Korea. He began playing
tennis at age nine and turned pro in 1995.
Lee made a splash at the 2000 US Open Grand Slam
tournament, reaching the 4th round before losing to
Pete Sampras. In 2003, Lee became the first Korean
to win ATP Tour singles and doubles titles by
winning the singles tournament at the Adidas
International in Sydney as a qualifier (beating Juan
Carlos Ferrero in the final) and the doubles
tournament at the Siebel Open in San Jose
(partnering with Belarusian Vladimir Voltchkov).
Lee's career-high ranking in singles is World No.
36, which he achieved in August 2007.
In the 2nd Round of Wimbledon 2006 Lee was defeated
by former champion and two-time semi-finalist
Lleyton Hewitt in five sets, including three
tie-breakers. Lee had set points in the third set
tie-breakers, 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 quarter-finalist.
Lee has sometimes appeared in doubles with
Korean-American player Kevin Kim, the only other
ethnic Korean player on the ATP Tour. The pair
reached the third round of the French Open 2005.
Lee is right-handed and uses a one-handed backhand.
His favorite surface is hardcourt, the most common
surface in Korea. He is coached by Young-il Yoon.
Lee is frequently called "High-Tech Lee" by his
colleagues.
