(July 1, 2013) -- This time last year, a relatively unknown
Jerzy Janowicz reached the third round of Wimbledon but was still struggling to find his way in the tough world of pro tennis. But after reaching the quarterfinals today, Janowicz finds himself continuing to become one of the sport's most intriguing players to watch.
With a big serve and big forehand to match his even bigger personality, Janowicz also has fine touch that allows him to dial up winning drop shots at a moment's notice. A potent combination (that includes 64 aces - the most hit in the tournament so far) is proving effective on the lawns of Wimbledon and allowed him to edge out Austria's
Jurgen Melzer in five sets during their fourth-round match.
With the win, Janowicz set up an historic all-Polish quarterfinal against his countryman and Davis Cup teammate
Lukasz Kubot. With
Agnieszka Radwanska still alive in the women's draw, Poland is having a banner two weeks at the All-England Club.
"Yeah, it's unbelievable what is going on right now. We have this moment two players in quarterfinal in men's draw. Maybe in a few minutes a woman in the quarterfinals. I think this is by far the best what possibly could happen to Polish tennis," said Janowicz in his post match press conference, which happened before Radwanska's fourth-round win.
While Janowicz possesses an exciting game to watch, it is his loud and very confident personality that sometimes proves almost more entertaining. Janowicz is not afraid to make his thoughts known, in very vocal fashion, about line calls or anything else that bothers him during a match.
In perhaps his still most famous moment earlier this year, Janowicz lost his temper after he believed the umpire calling his first round match against
Somdev Devvarman made an incorrect call. Janowicz's meltdown became a You Tube viral sensation, with the Pole admitting later that his emotions got the better of him.
Watch: Janowicz's Melbourne Meltdown
"You can't control your emotions all the time," Janowicz said at the time. "Actually, I went nuts. I calmed down a little bit later on. Sometimes I have problem to control by emotions, but I'm trying to work on this."
The 6-foot-8 Pole, who wears monogrammed socks with the letters "J.J." on them, isn't afraid to speak his mind to the press either. During his press conference Monday, when asked how his life has changed since his breakthrough run to the finals of last year's Masters 1000 event in Bercy, Janowciz made it clear he wasn't interested in talking about the past.
"I gave answer to this question 58 times," said a blunt Janowicz. And that was the end of that line of questioning.
But perhaps it is this candidness, mixed in with a big personality from someone who believes he should be at the top of the men's game, that many fans find refreshing. With Janowicz, you pretty much know what he is feeling every time he plays a match. After he won today, Janowicz dropped to his knees on court in celebration as he earned one of the biggest moments of his career so far.
Janowicz won't look ahead, though, to a possible semifinal berth. For him, he knows the path there is still a difficult one, especially against a friend in Kubot, who he congratulated with a hug after their matches.
"I still have one match to go," said Janowicz when asked about a possible semi against
Andy Murray. "As I said before, the most important is to be focused before every single match. We're still far away from semis. One match to go, but really tough match. "