Who Is Mikhail Youzhny? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on June 25, 1982, in Russia, Mikhail Youzhny is currently 42 years old. Established as one of the prominent players during his peak in the early 2000s, Youzhny made a name for himself on the ATP Tour, reaching the highest singles ranking of World No. 8. Following his retirement from professional play in 2017, he embraced the role of a coach, imparting his extensive knowledge and experience to the next generation of tennis players. Youzhny has also been active in various charitable endeavors, contributing to the sport beyond just coaching.
| Occupation | Tennis Players |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 25, 1982 |
| Age | 43 Years |
| Birth Place | Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | Russia |
Popularity
Mikhail Youzhny's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Mikhail Youzhny stands tall at 6 feet (183 cm) and weighs approximately 170 lbs (77 kg). His athletic build, honed through years of professional training, remains a testament to his dedication to maintaining his physical fitness even after retirement.
When asked at the 2014 Dubai Tennis Championships about Youzhny, Novak Djokovic, then world no. 2, replied; "Mikhail [...] has one of the nicest and most efficient one handed backhands on the tour. It seems a little bit unorthodox the way he holds his racquet, then [he] releases with two hands and in the end with one hand.
But he's a very talented player." According to The New York Times columnist Christopher Clarley, Youzhny's one-handed backhand was one of the more unusual ones on tour, hit with a "free left arm accompanying his right arm as he swings through the ball." Veteran coach Sven Groeneveld jokingly said that Youzhny's should be called a "half one-hander".
Youzhny hit the ball early on both sides, so as to "achieve a flatter flight trajectory and to get the ball to the opponent's side quicker." He was also noted for his good court sense and often used drop shots to mix up his game, and he was very talented at volleying.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, details regarding Mikhail Youzhny’s personal life, particularly his relationship status, remain private. However, it is known that Youzhny is married and cherishes his family life. While specific information about his spouse or children isn't publicly available, he often emphasizes the importance of family in his interviews.
25 June is also his father's birthday. His father sacrificed his career in the Soviet army to steer Youzhny and his older brother Andrei into becoming tennis players. It was because of his father that Boris Sobkin became his coach. At the age of 13, he was a ballboy for a Russia – United States Davis Cup final in Moscow.
Youzhny's father was recommended that Mikhail and his brother should join the tennis club Spartak Club if they wanted to become professional players. Mikhail and Andrei had to travel on an underground metro train and then on two buses to reach their destination, taking well over an hour to reach the club.
His mother had to take a part-time job to pay for their club membership fees.
Net Worth and Salary
Mikhail Youzhny's net worth in 2025 is estimated to be around $10 million. This wealth is a result of his successful tennis career, endorsements, and coaching roles. During his playing days, he earned significant prize money, and his coaching career now contributes to his annual income.
Career, Business and Investments
After an illustrious 15-year playing career, Youzhny transitioned to coaching, where he has been making a significant impact. He has worked with various professional players, sharing his expertise in both technique and mental fortitude on the court. In addition to coaching, Youzhny has made smart investments in sports-related ventures, further solidifying his status in the athletic community. His experience as a top-ranked player gives him unique insights into the industry, beneficial for his business pursuits.
Mikhail Mikhailovich Youzhny (born 25 June 1982), nicknamed "Misha" and "Colonel" by his fans, is a Russian former professional tennis player who was ranked inside the top 10 and was the Russian No. 1.
He achieved a top-10 ranking by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for the first time on 13 August 2007, and reached a career peak of world No. 8 in January 2008, and again in October 2010.Youzhny reached the quarterfinals of all majors, reaching the semifinals at the US Open in 2006 and 2010.
The closest he came to a major final was at the 2006 US Open semifinals when he took the first set from world No. 9 Andy Roddick, after upsetting world No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals. At the other semifinal he lost in straight sets to the eventual champion, Nadal. Youzhny reached the finals of 21 ATP Tour-level titles, winning ten of them.
He reached ATP Tour finals on all surfaces, but never won a singles title on grass. In 2010—his best season—Youzhny reached five ATP finals, winning two and ending the year as a top-10 player.
Youzhny was a member of the winning Russian national team at the Davis Cup in both 2002 and 2006, playing a crucial role in 2002 when he won the deciding rubber after coming back from two-sets-to-love down.
Social Network
Mikhail Youzhny maintains an active presence on social media, connecting with fans and engaging with the tennis community. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter enable him to share moments from his life, both professional and personal. He often posts training tips, motivational messages, and updates about his coaching endeavors, demonstrating his genuine passion for the sport.
Youzhny began the 2011 season at the Australian Open where he reached the third round, losing to Canadian qualifier Milos Raonic in four sets. He made his next appearance at the 2011 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, but failed in protecting his points from the previous year, and lost to world number four Robin Söderling.
He responded to his early loss with a semifinal showing at the Open 13 in Marseille, France, and lost to world number twenty-eight Marin Čilić. At the Dubai Tennis Championships he again failed to defend his ranking points, and recorded his first loss to Gilles Simon.
In doubles, he and Sergiy Stakhovsky went on to defeat Feliciano López and Jérémy Chardy in the final to win their second title as a team and Youzhny's eighth career doubles title. From his defeat by Simon in Dubai to the French Open, with the exception of one third round defeat, he lost either in the first or second round.
Youzhny was seeded 12th at the French Open, and lost in the third round to world number thirty-eight Albert Montañés, a Spanish clay-court specialist, in straight sets. At Wimbledon Youzhny, seeded 18th, reached the fourth round where he was defeated by world number three Roger Federer in four sets.
Between Wimbledon and the US Open, Youzhny reached two semifinals. At the first, at the International German Open in Hamburg, he lost to Gilles Simon, and at the second, the Crédit Agricole Suisse Open Gstaad in Switzerland, he lost to world number forty-five Marcel Granollers.
Youzhny was seeded 16th at the US Open, but lost in the first round to world number fifty-three Ernests Gulbis in the first round. His early upset at the US Open saw him slip from world number fifteen to world number thirty-two. Despite being the defending champion of the Proton Malaysian Open Youzhny decided not to participate.
His first post-US Open tournament was the China Open in Beijing, where he reached the quarterfinals, but lost to world number twenty-six Ivan Ljubičić. He reached his last semifinal of the season at the St. Petersburg Open, losing to world number twenty-two Marin Čilić, the eventual champion.
Youzhny ended the season with a 27–23 win–loss record, and with an end-of-year rank of 35 in the world.
Education
Throughout his career, Mikhail Youzhny has emphasized the importance of education, both in sports and personal development. While specific details about his formal education are limited, his experiences on the international tennis circuit have been instrumental in shaping his understanding of athletic performance, coaching, and sportsmanship.
The Russian government awarded Youzhny the title Honoured Master of Sports in 2003 for his participation in Russia's Davis Cup victory the previous year. Youzhny began studying for a degree in philosophy at the University of Moscow in 2005, specializing in the philosophy and attitudes of tennis. He obtained his PhD in December 2010.
His thesis was entitled "Professional Tennis Players on the Court" and "was about other players and how they compared up against one another". When asked about his thesis, he said "I wrote it slowly when I had the time ... You find out about other players and try to compare them with you.
You look at what you have to do against them or what changes they may make before their matches or during your match with them." Youzhny married Yulia on 22 November 2008 in Moscow; the couple had two sons and one daughter, Maxim born 2009, Igor born 2012 and Milana born 2019. Yulia died on 9 January 2024.
