Rising Tennis Tracker · Player Dossier USA

Two-time USTA Boys' 18s national champion from San Diego

Zachary Svajda

Right-handed, two-handed backhand, turned pro in 2019 — the San Diego native rode seven Challenger titles and a Roland Garros fourth-round run to a career-high ranking in 2026.

Career-High Rank

No. 62

8 JUN 2026

Current Rank

No. 62

8 JUN 2026

Age

23

B. 29 NOV 2002

Turned Pro

2019

LA JOLLA, CA, USA

Career Trajectory

Surface Split

HARD
CLAY
GRASS
Most Challenger titles won on hard Best Slam run: Roland Garros 4R 2025 Newport champion, Wimbledon 3R 2026

Quick Facts

Birthplace

La Jolla, CA, USA

Residence

San Diego, CA, USA

Height

175 cm (5'9")

Plays

Right-handed

Backhand

Two-handed

Best Slam

Roland Garros 4R (2026)

The Breakthrough

Svajda arrived at Roland Garros 2026 ranked No. 85, having never played the tournament before. He beat Alexei Popyrin from a set down, dispatched Adam Walton, and then outlasted 25th seed Francisco Cerúndolo 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 to reach his first Grand Slam fourth round. The win carried extra weight: it came on what would have been the 61st birthday of his father Tom, who died of cancer the previous October, and Svajda pointed to the sky as he closed it out.

"I know he's proud of me, and I want to perform well and win." — On his late father, after the Cerúndolo upset, Roland Garros 2026 (Field Level Media)

His run ended against No. 10 Flavio Cobolli in a four-set fight that stretched past three hours, but the points from Paris lifted him twenty-three spots to a career-high No. 62 on 8 June — capping a rise built on a February hometown Challenger title in San Diego, where he beat Sebastian Korda in the final.

In His Own Words

"When I got that match, the last point, I just teared up."

ON BEATING CERÚNDOLO AT ROLAND GARROS, MAY 2026 · FIELD LEVEL MEDIA

"It feels really good, especially in my hometown."

ON WINNING THE SAN DIEGO OPEN CHALLENGER, FEB 2026 · TENNIS TOURTALK

"I tried to throw in some drop shots and use my slice a bit."

ON BEATING SEBASTIAN KORDA IN THE SAN DIEGO FINAL · TENNIS TOURTALK

Playing Style

Two-handed backhand Drop shots and slice variety Big serving on key points Five-set resilience Challenger-hardened grinder
Sources: Wikipedia (Zachary Svajda) · ATP Tour player profile · Field Level Media / Detroit News, "Zachary Svajda remembers late dad after latest French Open win," May 2026 · Tennis TourTalk, "Svajda Secures San Diego Open Challenger Title," Feb 2026 · Yahoo Sports, "Who is American ATP player Zachary Svajda," French Open 2026 · USTA / UTR Sports, USTA Boys' 18s National Championship reports (2019, 2021) · France 24 / Roland-Garros.com, Cobolli vs. Svajda fourth-round reports, June 2026.
Compiled from public match reporting and official tour data — no private or unpublished sources used.