Who is Vit Kopriva, Jannik Sinner’s first opponent at the U.S. Open 2025
The days of Ivan Lendl and Martina Navratilova are long gone, but in recent years Czech tennis has seen several talents emerge, but among the new names Vit Kopřiva’s is undoubtedly one of the most interesting. Class of 1997, born in Bílovec, Kopřiva is earning a stable place on the ATP circuit thanks to slow but steady growth, which led him in 2025 to enter the top 80 of the world rankings for the first time.
A professional since 2015, Kopřiva took the long road, starting in ITF tournaments and then the Challenger circuit, where he won several titles that helped him climb the rankings. The turning point came in 2021 at the Gstaad tournament, when as a complete unknown (ranking number 249) he managed to beat Denis Shapovalov, then a world top 10 player. It was a success that attracted the attention of insiders and fans alike, and propelled him all the way to the semifinals of the tournament, yielding only to Casper Ruud.
Kopřiva’s real weapon, however, was continuity in the Challengers: titles in Prostějov, Verona, Tulln, Szczecin, Lima, and Naples cemented his position, giving him confidence to measure himself against the major tournaments. It was precisely in 2025, with successes in Italy and South America, that the final push for a breakthrough came.
Kopřiva debuted in Grand Slam tournaments in 2024, and in 2025 he picked up his first heavy victories, including one at Roland Garros, where he made it to the second round. At the Rome Masters 1000 he stunned by eliminating Quentin Halys and, most importantly, Sebastián Báez, all the way to the third round: an achievement that gave him the confidence to compete even with the best.
A right-handed player with a bimane backhand, 5’7″ tall, Kopřiva does not have an imposing physique, but he makes up for it with agility, solidity from the back and the ability to hold his own in long exchanges. His tennis is linear, without “cover” strokes, but effective and profitable, qualities that have allowed him to make his way.
His stated goal is to enter the top 50, a goal within reach if he can maintain the consistency of performance shown in recent seasons.
