Vasko Mladenov (, born 30 July 1989) is a former pro tennis player and an active padel player from Bulgaria.
He is a three time Bulgarian National champion, once in doubles (2014) and two times in singles (2016, 2017). Mladenov also holds the record for the most professional international doubles titles in Bulgarian tennis history (18 ITF titles)
Mladenov also played for two years at the number 1 position at St. John's University (New York) in ITA Division 1. During his stay in New York he won the North Regional Championship (2011).
He participated in the Davis Cup in doubles in March 2016 against Turkey, bringing Bulgaria a historic win 7:6, 6:7, 6:7, 7:6, 6:4 alongside fellow Bulgarian Alexander Lazov.
Mladenov also took part in the Davis Cup tie against Tunisia in August 2016, where he won his singles match against Moez Echargui in a thrilling 6:7, 7:5, 7:6 match. He also took part in the Davis Cup group 3 tie against Iceland, Macedonia, Albania and finally Bulgaria faced Monaco in the deciding playoff to promote to group 2, unfortunately Bulgaria lost the tie. He made his debut at an ATP tournament in 2018, playing in his native Bulgaria the ATP Sofia Open.
At 2013 US Open, he was working with Novak Djokovic as his sparring partner.
Early and personal life Vasko was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, as the only child of Vasil, who is from Bulgaria and, Elena, who is from Russia. When he was five he began to play with his grandfather, Lev Shulga, who is a well known coach from the former U.S.S.R. Vasko speaks fluent Bulgarian, Russian and English. He is known for his aggressive and all-court style of play. Mladenov has a right-handed forehand and double-handed backhand. His favourite surface is hard. His hobbies are listening to music, playing the piano, playing snooker, billiards and playing football.
The Bachelorette Ukraine In 2021, as a public figure, Mladenov took part in the second season of the Ukrainian version of “The Bachelorette” («Холостячка»), a famous romantic TV reality show, which ended up being the most watched TV show in Ukraine that year.
After the TV show, Vasko gained a large amount of fans in Ukraine.
Junior career He won three tournaments as a junior. The first one was in 2005, he defeated Plamen Avramov in Plovdiv in straight sets, final score was 6–0, 6–1. The second one also was in 2005, in Timișoara, he defeated Maksim Bakunin in three sets, 6–4, 4–6, 7–6(4). The third and final one was in 2006, in Kyiv, he won the tournament after beating Uladzimir Ignatik in three sets, 3–6, 6–3, 6–1. All these tournaments were played on clay court. In 2007, in France, he played the European Junior. Bulgaria was represented by Vasko, Valentin Dimov and Aleksandar Lazov, they were runners-up.
Padel career After finishing his professional tennis career in 2020, Vasko moved on to padel. Alongside his partner Kiril Dimitrov (BUL) he achieved a total of 5 international tournament titles between 2021 and 2023.
In 2022, Mladenov and Dimitrov took part in the Padel World Cup qualifications, there they managed to deliver the first ever padel victory (against Norway) in the history of Bulgarian padel.
Mladenov and Dimitrov are currently known as the best padel team in Bulgaria.
Music career
In 2009 Mladenov starred a career in music as a rap/hip-hop performer as “Vasko”. The majority of his songs are in Russian, however, Vasko has released 5 songs in Bulgarian over the years. So far he has released 4 albums: «Сердце Солдата» (2010), «Дороги» (2012), «VNY3» (2014) and «Отражения» (2022).– ATP World Tour – Tennis Players – Vasko MladenovTennis – ATP World Tour – Tennis Players – Vasko Mladenov – Playing Activity – SinglesTennis – ATP World Tour – Tennis Players – Vasko Mladenov – Playing Activity – DoublesTennis – ATP World Tour – Tennis Players – Vasko Mladenov – Rankings HistoryITF Tennis – Pro Circuit – Player Profile – MLADENOV, Vasko (BUL)
Vasko has also released multiple singles.
Year-end rankings Year200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019Singles149715419699501268----137268991810719651201Doubles-1476796727584----695427687759483872
Challenger and Futures/World Tennis Tour finals
Singles: 2 (0–2) Legend (singles)ATP Challenger Tour (0–0)ITF Futures/World Tennis Tour (0–2)Titles by surfaceHard (0–0)Clay (0–2)Grass (0–0)Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss0–1Turkey F28, AnkaraFuturesClay Ivan Nedelko 5–7, 3–6Loss0–2Ukraine F6, CherkasyFuturesClay Ivan Nedelko 5–7, 4–6
Doubles: 31 (17–14) Legend (doubles)ATP Challenger Tour (0–0)ITF Futures/World Tennis Tour (17–14)Titles by surfaceHard (10–5)Clay (7–8)Grass (0–0)Carpet (0–1)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin1–0Bulgaria F3, PlevenFuturesClay Pirmin Haenle Roman Kelečić Nikola Martinović2–6, 6–4, 6–4Loss1–1Bulgaria F4, SofiaFuturesClay Ilia Kushev David Savić Miljan Zekić4–6, 3–6Win2–1Bulgaria F6, BurgasFuturesClay Sergey Betov Roman Kelečić Nikola Martinović3–0 ret.Win3–1Bulgaria F8, Stara ZagoraFuturesClay Boris Nicola Bakalov Ivan Bjelica Miljan Zekić6–3, 6–4Win4–1Brazil F33, São PauloFuturesHard (i) Nikita Kryvonos Diogo Cruz Rodrigo-Antonio Grilli4–6, 6–1, [10–5]Loss4–2Brazil F34, São PauloFuturesHard (i) Nicolás Pastor Mario Eckardt Patrick Taubert2–6, 2–6Win5–2Brazil F35, São PauloFuturesHard Lars Pörschke Diego Matos Eládio Ribeiro Neto6–1, 6–2Win6–2Ukraine F4, RivneFuturesClay Nikita Kryvonos Yurii Dzhavakian Volodymyr Uzhylovskyi6–4, 6–4Loss6–3Ukraine F5, RivneFuturesClay Nikita Kryvonos Yurii Dzhavakian Volodymyr Uzhylovskyi2–6, 4–6Loss6–4Bulgaria F5, PlovdivFuturesClay Dinko Halachev Romain Arneodo Luca Margaroli6–7(4–7), 4–6Win7–4Tunisia F13, El KantaouiFuturesHard Anis Ghorbel Remy Chala Daniil Medvedev4–6, 6–1, [11–9]Loss7–5Ukraine F1, CherkasyFuturesClay Vadym Ursu Sergiy Sergiienko Artem Smirnov6–3, 4–6, [7–10]Loss7–6Turkey F29, AnkaraFuturesClay Alexander Igoshin Daniele Capecchi Federico Maccari6–7(6–8), 6–3, [7–10]Win8–6Tunisia F21, El KantaouiFuturesHard Anis Ghorbel Aziz Dougaz Jordan Dyke6–2, 6–7(6–8), [10–6]Win9–6Tunisia F22, El KantaouiFuturesHard Anis Ghorbel Romain Bauvy Ugo Nastasi2–6, 7–5, [12–10]Loss9–7Tunisia F33, El KantaouiFuturesHard Anis Ghorbel Jordi Muñoz Abreu David Pérez Sanz3–6, 1–6Win10–7Tunisia F34, El KantaouiFuturesHard Anis Ghorbel David Pérez Sanz David Vega Hernández6–7(2–7), 6–4, [10–8]Loss10–8Tunisia F35, El KantaouiFuturesHard Anis Ghorbel Peter Bothwell Lloyd Glasspool1–6, 4–6Win11–8Ukraine F3, CherkasyFuturesClay Volodymyr Uzhylovskyi Denys Mylokostov Danylo Veremeychuk6–4, 6–1Win12–8Bulgaria F3, Stara ZagoraFuturesClay Yan Sabanin Carlos Calderón Pedro Martínez6–2, 7–6(7–2)Loss12–9Belarus F1, MinskFuturesHard Markos Kalovelonis Yaraslav Shyla Dzmitry Zhyrmont6–7(8–10), 3–6Loss12–10Turkey F25, IstanbulFuturesClay Nikola Ćaćić Miki Janković Dimitar Kuzmanov4–6, 6–2, [9–11]Loss12–11Turkey F26, IstanbulFuturesClay Alexander Igoshin Sarp Ağabigün Marat Deviatiarov2–6, 6–7(5–7)Loss12–12Tunisia F18, DjerbaFuturesHard Anis Ghorbel Diego Hidalgo Sem Verbeek2–6, 4–6Win13–12Tunisia F19, DjerbaFuturesHard Anis Ghorbel Hady Habib José Vidal Azorín4–6, 7–6(9–7), [12–10]Win14–12Tunisia F20, DjerbaFuturesHard Anis Ghorbel Alexis Klégou Francesco Vilardo6–3, 4–6, [10–7]Win15–12Tunisia F21, DjerbaFuturesHard Anis Ghorbel John Paul Fruttero Albano Olivetti6–3, 6–2Win16–12Tunisia F32, MonastirFuturesHard Anis Ghorbel Alexander Merino Christoph Negritu6–3, 6–3Loss16–13Estonia F2, TartuFuturesCarpet (i) Luca Castelnuovo Vladimir Ivanov Maxim Ratniuk4–6, 6–1, [4–10]Win17–13M15 Tabarka, TunisiaWorld Tennis TourClay Anis Ghorbel Sergio Martos Gornés Oriol Roca Batalla6–4, 6–1Loss17–14M15 Irpin, UkraineWorld Tennis TourClay Sagadat Ayap Vladyslav Orlov George Tsivadze6–1, 3–6, [5–10]
Davis Cup Vasko Mladenov debuted for the Bulgaria Davis Cup team in 2016 against Turkey in Ankara. Since then he has a 1–0 singles record and a 4–2 doubles record (5–2 overall). He participated in Davis Cup in doubles in March 2016 against Turkey, bringing Bulgaria a historic win 7:6, 6:7, 6:7, 7:6, 6:4 alongside fellow Bulgarian Alexander Lazov. Mladenov also took part in the Davis Cup tie against Tunisia in August 2016, where he won his singles match against Moez Echargui in a thrilling 6:7, 7:5, 7:6 match. He also took part in the Davis Cup group 3 tie against Iceland, Macedonia, Albania and finally Bulgaria faced Monaco in the deciding playoff to promote to group 2, unfortunately Bulgaria lost the tie.
Singles (1–0) EditionRoundDateSurfaceOpponentW/LResult2016 Europe/Africa Zone Group IIRPO 17 July 2016Hard Moez EcharguiW 6–7(5–7), 7–5, 7–6(7–5)
Doubles (4–2) EditionRoundDatePartnerSurfaceOpponentsW/LResult2016 Europe/Africa Zone Group IIR1 5 March 2016 Alexander Lazov Hard (I) Cem İlkel Tuna AltunaW 7–6(8–6), 6–7(5–7), 6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–4RPO 16 July 2016 Alexandar Lazarov Hard Malek Jaziri Skander MansouriL 4–6, 4–6, 3–62018 Europe Zone Group IIIRR 4 April 2018 Dimitar Kuzmanov Clay Elbi Mjeshtri Genajd ShyphejaW 6–0, 6–0RR 5 April 2018 Dimitar Kuzmanov Clay Birkir Gunnarsson Egill SigurdssonW 6–2, 6–1RR 6 April 2018 Adrian Andreev Clay Stefan Micov Gorazd SrbljakW 6–4, 6–3PRO 7 April 2018 Dimitar Kuzmanov Clay Romain Arneodo Benjamin BalleretL 4–6, 3–6
RPO = Relegation Play–off PPO = Promotion Play–off RR = Round Robin
References
External links
https://www.facebook.com/vaskomladenovtennis/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel https://www.facebook.com/vaskomusic/?fref=ts https://twitter.com/vaskomladenov https://soundcloud.com/vasko-music