 
Status: US Open and Roland Garros champion. Currently in the semifinals of the WTA Finals in Singapore.
Ht: Â 5-8 1/2 Â Wt: 160
DOB: Â June 27, 1985 Â In: St. Petersburg, Russia
Tennis Inspirations:  “Well, just be on the top for me. I didn’t believe it when I start. When I was little, no way was I gonna be there with the other girls. And just watching everybody play was amazing. I loved Marcelo Rios, Malivai Washington  and Yevgeny Kafelnikov. This is my three players. I had their posters on the walls.”
First Tennis Memory: Â “I went to practice then somehow I came back with my broken racquet. (What happened?) I don’t know! I don’t remember! I just came back like, oh, that’s weird, my racquet is broken. But I didn’t hit it. So I was surprised how I broke it.”
Pre-Match Feeling: Â “Just focus on the game, to be focused all the time. And just to work on my shots. Do my game.”
First Car: Â ‘Toyota Celica (silver).”
Current Cars: Â “Porsche. Range Rover super-charged, red cherry, white interior, wheels 21-inches [smiles].”
Last Book Read: Â “La Sombra Del Viente (Shadow of the Wind) – Carlos Ruiz Zafon.”
Favorite Meal: Â “Sushi.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Â “Vanilla.”
Favorite Movies: Â “Love Actually. Save The Last Dance. Gladiator.”
Hobbies/Interests: Â “Music, electronics, computer, DVDs, shopping a little bit.”
Greatest Sports Moment: Â “Winning US Open 2004.”
Most Painful Moment: Â “Losing first round of US Open 2005.”
Favorite Tournaments: Â “US Open and French Open.”
Favorite Players To Watch: Â “Roger Federer.”
Closest Tennis Friends: Â “Elena Likhovtseva.”
Funniest Player Encountered: Â “Funniest player… mmmmm…myself [smiles].”
Fiercest Competitors Encountered: Â “Justine Henin. Serena.”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Don’t have any.”
Funny Memory: Â “Just couldn’t stop laughing during doubles matches.”
Which Match Were You At Your Best: Â “Justine Henin in Berlin. That was an amazing match to me. To finally get to beat her. And then, I guess, the final of the US Open 2004. Because I came on the court and I knew everything was gonna go well. I’m not going to say winning. I knew everything was going to go well. It’s a very strange feeling before a final, first time you ever play. Martina Navratilova came to me before the match and she goes: You know, first final I made it so you can do that too. And I was like, Oh, thank you Martina. But going on the court I knew everything was gonna go well and I played (Elena) Dementieva before – I lost to her – I knew everything was gonna go well. I don’t know why I had it.”
People Qualities Most Admired: Â “Trust and open-minded.”
Martina gave Sveta key advice before US Open win
Hartt · October 28, 2016 at 12:37 pm
Given how much Sveta is in the news these days, a very timely Biofile. Love the way she says she is the funniest player she’s encountered. Makes sense!
Scoop Malinowski · October 28, 2016 at 5:48 pm
Everybody loves Sveta – I was told by veteran photographer who go back to juniors with Sveta that she was always very very nice person and never changed unlike other players – Sveta is as nice as they get in tennis – Cool to see she was a Rios and Washington fan – Gonna have to tell Mal this –