University of Georgia Athletics
Wimbledon Title Hasn’t Sunk In Yet For Zielinski
July 18, 2024 | Men's Tennis, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
As we talk on the phone Wednesday afternoon, Jan Zielinski is on a short vacation with his girlfriend at a lake near Budapest, Hungary. There is much to celebrate.
Last Sunday, on Centre Court at Wimbledon, Zielinski and his mixed doubles partner, Hsieh Su-Wei, won the championship, beating the team of Santiago Gonzalez and Giuliana Olmos in straight sets. The pair only dropped one set in the tournament, and only lost seven points on their serve in the final, winning 6-4, 6-2.
"It really didn't sink in yet, but it's something amazing and something that I will for sure remember forever," said Zielinski, who was a three-time All-SEC player during his career and an All-American in 2017 — he and partner Robert Loeb reaching the finals of the NCAA doubles tournament — and in 2019.
It was the second Grand Slam title of the year for the duo. Zielinski and Hsieh first teamed up in January at the Australian Open, which they won. They also reached the semifinals of the French Open.
"I think it's the feeling of being more relaxed and having more fun, and not feeling so much pressure," Zielinski said of why he and Hsieh have been so successful. "From the first day we met, to the first game we played together, I felt that ease of playing and the fun that she gets out of tennis. ... It just seemed to me that she's having so much fun, why wouldn't I have fun?"
On match point Sunday, with Hsieh serving at 40-love, Olmos' return sailed long. Zielinski dropped to the grass court near the net, tossed his racket, and then got up to give Hsieh a big hug. If you play tennis, you almost certainly dream of playing on Centre Court and winning Wimbledon. Zielinski did, and that dream became a reality.
"It's a little hard to put into words what it means to me," said Zielinski, from Warsaw, Poland. "It's for sure a dream come true. Participating in Wimbledon, it's what every tennis player dreams of. And then being able to step on Centre Court and play on Centre Court, it's incredible."
Zielinski and Hsieh played on Centre Court twice, in the semis and the final. It was all new for Zielinski, while Hsieh has won the women's doubles title at Wimbledon four times. The Taiwanese player now has nine Grand Slam titles to her name, seven in women's doubles and two in mixed with Zielinski.
Men's doubles remains Zielinski's main event, and he and partner Hugo Nys have done very well over the past few years. Zielinski was ranked as high as No. 7 in the world in doubles last summer, and he's currently No. 32. Zielinski and Nys won two doubles titles in 2023 and reached the finals of the Australian Open. They also advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.
So far in 2024, Zielinski and Nys have won one tournament, reached the finals of another, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the round of 16 at the French. They lost in the first round at Wimbledon.
"My goal is to win it in doubles, which still remains the top priority," he said.
Former Georgia men's players Travis Parrott and Murphy Jensen won Grand Slam doubles titles in their pro careers, but Zielinski is the Bulldogs' first two-time champion. Doubles has always been a strength for Zielinski, who learned the ins and outs of it from his father.
"He taught me doubles at a very young age, especially the right way to play doubles," Zielinski said. "Just the overall feel of the game and the knowledge of doubles, which gave me a huge start. When I got that knowledge from him and he was really pushing me that direction, I really had to soak it all in. And it stayed with me."
Zielinski is scheduled to play in the Paris Olympics men's doubles next month with fellow Pole Hubert Hurkacz, the No. 7-ranked singles player in the world. However, Hurkacz suffered a knee injury during Wimbledon and his status for the Olympics remains unknown, Zielinski said.
"I hope we're able to play because the Olympics has always been a dream of mine, but I'll have to wait and see," he said.
Two former Georgia women's players are set to join Zielinski in Paris: Australian Ellen Perez, the No. 10-ranked doubles player in the world, and Maria Lourdes Carle, who will play for Argentina in the singles and doubles. Perez also competed in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Staff Writer
As we talk on the phone Wednesday afternoon, Jan Zielinski is on a short vacation with his girlfriend at a lake near Budapest, Hungary. There is much to celebrate.
Last Sunday, on Centre Court at Wimbledon, Zielinski and his mixed doubles partner, Hsieh Su-Wei, won the championship, beating the team of Santiago Gonzalez and Giuliana Olmos in straight sets. The pair only dropped one set in the tournament, and only lost seven points on their serve in the final, winning 6-4, 6-2.
"It really didn't sink in yet, but it's something amazing and something that I will for sure remember forever," said Zielinski, who was a three-time All-SEC player during his career and an All-American in 2017 — he and partner Robert Loeb reaching the finals of the NCAA doubles tournament — and in 2019.
It was the second Grand Slam title of the year for the duo. Zielinski and Hsieh first teamed up in January at the Australian Open, which they won. They also reached the semifinals of the French Open.
"I think it's the feeling of being more relaxed and having more fun, and not feeling so much pressure," Zielinski said of why he and Hsieh have been so successful. "From the first day we met, to the first game we played together, I felt that ease of playing and the fun that she gets out of tennis. ... It just seemed to me that she's having so much fun, why wouldn't I have fun?"
On match point Sunday, with Hsieh serving at 40-love, Olmos' return sailed long. Zielinski dropped to the grass court near the net, tossed his racket, and then got up to give Hsieh a big hug. If you play tennis, you almost certainly dream of playing on Centre Court and winning Wimbledon. Zielinski did, and that dream became a reality.
"It's a little hard to put into words what it means to me," said Zielinski, from Warsaw, Poland. "It's for sure a dream come true. Participating in Wimbledon, it's what every tennis player dreams of. And then being able to step on Centre Court and play on Centre Court, it's incredible."
Zielinski and Hsieh played on Centre Court twice, in the semis and the final. It was all new for Zielinski, while Hsieh has won the women's doubles title at Wimbledon four times. The Taiwanese player now has nine Grand Slam titles to her name, seven in women's doubles and two in mixed with Zielinski.
Men's doubles remains Zielinski's main event, and he and partner Hugo Nys have done very well over the past few years. Zielinski was ranked as high as No. 7 in the world in doubles last summer, and he's currently No. 32. Zielinski and Nys won two doubles titles in 2023 and reached the finals of the Australian Open. They also advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.
So far in 2024, Zielinski and Nys have won one tournament, reached the finals of another, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the round of 16 at the French. They lost in the first round at Wimbledon.
"My goal is to win it in doubles, which still remains the top priority," he said.
Former Georgia men's players Travis Parrott and Murphy Jensen won Grand Slam doubles titles in their pro careers, but Zielinski is the Bulldogs' first two-time champion. Doubles has always been a strength for Zielinski, who learned the ins and outs of it from his father.
"He taught me doubles at a very young age, especially the right way to play doubles," Zielinski said. "Just the overall feel of the game and the knowledge of doubles, which gave me a huge start. When I got that knowledge from him and he was really pushing me that direction, I really had to soak it all in. And it stayed with me."
Zielinski is scheduled to play in the Paris Olympics men's doubles next month with fellow Pole Hubert Hurkacz, the No. 7-ranked singles player in the world. However, Hurkacz suffered a knee injury during Wimbledon and his status for the Olympics remains unknown, Zielinski said.
"I hope we're able to play because the Olympics has always been a dream of mine, but I'll have to wait and see," he said.
Two former Georgia women's players are set to join Zielinski in Paris: Australian Ellen Perez, the No. 10-ranked doubles player in the world, and Maria Lourdes Carle, who will play for Argentina in the singles and doubles. Perez also competed in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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