Jarkko Kalervo Nieminen (born 23 July 1981) is a Finnish former professional tennis player. His highest ranking of world No. 13, achieved in July 2006, is a Finnish record. He has won two ATP singles titles and five doubles titles in his career. His best performances in Grand Slam tournaments have been reaching the quarterfinals of the 2005 US Open, the 2006 Wimbledon Championships, and the 2008 Australian Open.
Statistically Finland's best player to date, Nieminen is also the first and so far only Finnish player to have won an ATP singles title and to have reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam singles event. He is also notable for winning the shortest recorded Masters Tour tennis match in Open Era history, defeating Bernard Tomic in just 28 minutes and 20 seconds in the first round of the 2014 Sony Open Tennis. He was ranked inside the Top 75 11 times in 14 years (2001 to 2014).
On 23 June 2015, he announced his retirement from professional tennis at the end of the season, playing 2015 Stockholm Open as his last event.
His wife, Anu Nieminen, is Finland's top-ranked badminton women's single player.
In April 2016, it was announced that Nieminen will compete in floorball in season 2016–2017 at Finnish Salibandyliiga representing SC Classic.
Junior career
As a junior Nieminen reached as high as No. 9 in the world in 1999 (and No. 20 in doubles), and won the 1999 Jr US Open.
Career highlights
1999
Defeated Kristian Pless of Denmark to win his first junior Grand Slam, the US Open. Finished the year at No. 11 in the world junior rankings. Made his Davis Cup debut against Italy, losing to Andrea Gaudenzi.
2000
Won his first Davis Cup match, beating Mikael Tillström of Sweden in a dead-rubber.
2001: Breaking the top 100
Became the first Finn to reach an ATP final since Leo Palin in 1981, beating Pless, Younes El Aynaoui, defending champion Thomas Johansson and three-time winner Thomas Enqvist, before losing to Sjeng Schalken in five sets in Stockholm. Posted a 38–12 Challenger record, winning four titles. Finished the year in the top 100 for the first time.
2002: Breaking the top 50
Reached clay-court finals in Estoril and Majorca, losing to David Nalbandian and Gastón Gaudio, respectively. Became the first Finnish player to end the season in the top 50.
2003
Reached his fourth career ATP final in Munich, losing to Roger Federer. Advanced to the fourth round at the 2003 French Open, losing to Fernando González. Achieved Finland's first Wimbledon seeding (30) Was at best ranked World No. 27, a career-high until 2006.
2004
Represented Finland at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, losing to Max Mirnyi in the second round. Finished in the top 100 for the fourth consecutive year, despite missing nearly three months due to injury.
2005
Defeated world no. 7 Andre Agassi in a first round five-setter at the 2005 French Open. Was defeated in five sets by Lleyton Hewitt in the quarterfinals of the 2005 U.S. Open, having become the first Finn to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal.
2006: First ATP title
Won his first ATP singles title in January by defeating Mario Ančić in the final in Auckland. Recorded his career-best ATP Masters Series performance by reaching the quarterfinals of the Indian Wells Masters, but lost to Paradorn Srichaphan. Broke into the top 20 for the first time in his career in April. Reached the quarterfinals of the 2006 Wimbledon Championships, but lost to World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in straight sets. Broke into the top 15 for the first time in his career in July after his Wimbledon success. Reached the quarterfinals of the Canada Masters, losing to Andy Murray. Reached his sixth career ATP final in Stockholm, losing to James Blake. Finished the season by reaching the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters, where he lost to Tommy Robredo.
2007: 200 wins
Won his first ATP doubles title in September, paired with Robert Lindstedt. They beat Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna in Mumbai, India on hard courts. His best singles performance in 2007 came at Davidoff Swiss Indoors, where he was beaten in the finals by World No. 1 Roger Federer in straight sets, 6–3, 6–4. En route to the finals, he had beaten Robby Ginepri, Guillermo Cañas, World No. 8 Fernando González, and Marcos Baghdatis.
2008
Lost to Michaël Llodra in the final at the Adelaide International, 3–6, 4–6. Made the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, losing in straight sets to Rafael Nadal. Represented Finland at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, losing to Swede Thomas Johansson in the first round.