SZCZECIN/STARNBERG, September 18, 2026
For any young tennis player, the opportunity to compete on the centre court in their hometown is a special moment. Kacper Knitter, who represents Szczecinski Klub Tenisowy (SKT Szczecin), experienced that moment at this year’s prestigious Invest In Szczecin Open ATP Challenger.
Although his professional tennis journey is only beginning to gather momentum, the 19-year-old Pole is already showing that composure, hard work and determination can take him a long way. Knitter’s relationship with tennis started at a very young age. He first picked up a racket when he was just three years old, following in the footsteps of his father, who played tennis recreationally and passed on his passion for the sport.
For years, Knitter attended the tournament at the courts on Aleja Wojska Polskiego as a spectator. From the stands, he watched the professionals compete year after year and dreamed of one day stepping onto the Bohdan Tomaszewski Centre Court himself.
That dream finally came true this year.
In the opening round, the Szczecin native faced Martin Krumich, who is ranked world No. 256. The Czech prevailed 6-2, 6-2, but the match nevertheless provided Knitter with an invaluable experience.
“I realised that I still have a lot of work to do to reach the level my opponent showed. I usually play in front of a small crowd, where it is just my coach and me. Here, quite a few friends and family members came to watch. There was a little bit of pressure because I wanted to perform as well as possible, but playing on a court like this has nothing but positives,” Knitter said.
Two days later, Knitter was back on court for the doubles competition, partnering fellow Pole Oliwier Sterniczuk. The Polish duo lost 6-1, 6-3 to the experienced pairing of Inigo Cervantes and Denys Molchanov.
One of Knitter’s biggest assets is his physical presence. His height allows him to create an advantage from the very first shot of many points, particularly behind his serve.
“I try to focus a lot on my serve so that I can win easier points with the serve-plus-one pattern. I am also definitely a forehand-oriented player, and I build my game around that shot,” he explained.
Away from the court, Knitter comes across as calm and composed. His coaches, however, point to another side of his personality that emerges during matches. He is known for his so-called poker face and exceptional fighting spirit. Knitter himself admits that he never gives up, whether in a match or in training, and fights for every ball until the very end.
Another key factor in his development is the stability of his coaching team. For around eight years, Knitter has worked with head coach Łukasz Markowski as well as a fitness coach. Such a long-term relationship, increasingly rare in modern tennis, is already producing tangible results.
In July 2026, Knitter finished runner-up in the men’s singles competition at the 100th Polish National Championships. He also helped SKT Szczecin win the Polish Junior Team Championships. His career-high ATP singles ranking to date is No. 1196.
The young Szczecin player remains firmly grounded. As his coaches emphasise, he is developing step by step, without looking for shortcuts. Consistency, patiently building his game and gaining further experience in professional tournaments are expected to provide the foundation for regular competition at increasingly higher levels.
