Peter Polansky - 2009

2009

Polansky opened 2009 losing in the first round of qualifying for the Brisbane International. Coming through three rounds of qualifying, he lost to the 18th seed Igor Andreev from Russia in the first round of the Australian Open, despite being up on his opponent two sets to love. It was Polansky's first ever appearance in the main draw of a grand slam event. He followed this result by reaching the second round of the Carson, California and Dallas, Texas challengers. He next in February failed to qualify for the main draw of the 2009 SAP Open as well as 2009 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.

Polansky had to withdraw from the Canadian Davis Cup team for their tie against Ecuador in early March due to a small tear detected in a right rotator cuff tendon as well as one in his labrum . He took a month off from the tour, coming back to lose in the first round of the Sanremo Tennis Cup. The following week he lost in the final round of qualifying for the Zagreb Open. Polansky next found the form he had before getting injured in qualifying for the 2009 French Open, winning his three matches all in straight sets, conceding no more than 4 games in any one set. In his first round match in the main draw, versus Philipp Petzschner, he fought back to level the match at 2 sets apiece before falling 3–6 in the fifth.

Following the French, Polansky lost convincingly to Simone Vagnozzi in the first round of Zenith Tennis Cup on red clay in Milan. He followed upon this by reaching the quarterfinals of the Lines Trophy, defeating Nicolás Massú in the second round before falling to veteran Jean-René Lisnard in straight sets. Polanksy rather surprisingly either chose not to enter Wimbledon qualifying or was not eligible. Instead he entered qualifying for the Sporting Challenger, also in Italy, and lost in the final qualifying round. After taking the following week off Polansky won the opening rubber of the Davis Cup tie away to Peru, defeating Iván Miranda in straight sets. Polansky became ill however and did not play in the 4th rubber. Despite losing their top clay court player, the Canadians won the tie 3–2.

The week after, Polansky lost in the opening round of the Seguros Bolivar Open Bogotá to Alejandro Falla. After a week off, the unseeded Polansky reached the semi-finals of the Granby Challenger, defeating José de Armas, Tobias Kamke, and Lester Cook before falling to No. 4 seed Kevin Anderson in the semis. In doubles Polansky and partner Bruno Agostinelli lost in the first round as a wild card entry. He lost to an in-form Xavier Malisse in the first round of the Odlum Brown Vancouver Open.

Polansky played at the Rogers Cup in Montreal. He defeated fellow Ontarian and wild card entrant Agostinelli before falling to No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic in the second. With no points for the following week to protect, this result saw Polansky climb 22 ranking spots to sit at World No. 203, just two places off his career high. Despite not playing in any tournament main draws the week after, Polansky rose three ranking spots to sit at World No. 200, a new career high.

Polansky qualified for US Open singles tournament by beating Alex Kuznetsov, No. 9 seed Michael Russell, and No. 28 seed Lukáš Lacko. In his first round main draw match, he came back from 2 sets down to even his match against Guillermo García López before falling in the fifth, 16. His singles ranking has climbed once again, to World No. 184. Following the Open, Polansky lost in the second round of Seguros Bolivar Open challenger, to top seed Horacio Zeballos. In doubles, he and partner Nicolas Todero lost in the second round. The following week at the Copa Petrobras Colombia, Polansky lost in the first round, to Ricardo Mello. In doubles, he and partner Alex Bogomolov, Jr., unseeded, reached the semi-final round.

In early October Polansky became the World No. 181 ranked singles player, another career high. As the No.3 seed at the Challenger ATP Club Premium Open, he reached he quarter-finals, while in doubles he and partner Sebastián Decoud lost in the first round. The following week Polansky lost to No.1 seed Pablo Cuevas in the first round of the Uruguayan's home tournament, the Copa Petrobras. In doubles and partner Bogomolov lost in the second round. Polansky climbed to yet another new career high, World No. 170. The week after, he lost in the second round of Copa Petrobras Asunción in singles, to No. 4 seed Santiago Ventura. In doubles, again partnering Bogomolov, he has lost as well in the second round.

In late October Polansky reached the quarter-finals of the Copa Petrobras Santiago, beating No. 7 seed Sergio Roitman in the first round before falling to top seed Juan Ignacio Chela 3 and 3. In doubles, he and Bogomolov again lost in the second round (quarters). Polansky was off from competition for the remainder of the year. He finished 2009 ranked World No. 185 in singles and No. 554 in doubles.