By Scoop Malinowski
Status: Former WTA tennis player reached a career high ranking of 10. Won six WTA singles titles and 12 in doubles. Won bronze medal in doubles for Russia in 2012 Olympics. Reached finals of French Open and AO in doubles. Last competed in 2014. Turned pro in 2001.
Ht: 5-8Â Wt: 127
DOB: January 25, 1987Â In: Moscow, Russia
First Tennis Memory:Â âWhen I came to the club when I was seven-years-old and I came to one of the bigger clubs in Moscow â Dynamo. It was my first time. My father, he brought me there. We were expecting the coach would group me, like, if she likes me, she will take me â or I go home. And then when I came there I didnât play tennis at all. I mean, I could hit some balls but it was a little bit strange technique. And coaches gave me some exercises to run, and this kind of stuff. And she said, Okay, Iâm gonna take her. And everybody was surprised. And also, all the girls who were in the club, who were my age, already played for one year and everybody was laughing about me. Like, Why did you come here? Because you canât play tennis. I was like, We will see later [laughs].â
Hobbies/Leisure Activities:Â âWell, when Iâm back at Moscow, I like to go to theater and be with friends. Also, maybe playing some golf as well. Reading, music and just to do some different stuff, like snowboarding, for example. I like to do something different.â
Nickname:Â âMakiri.â
Tennis Inspirations:Â âI like to play tennis since I was small and nobody push me. And I like to win the match because the feeling, especially when you beat the top players and when you win the tournament. Itâs a feeling you couldnât compare with others [smiles]. Itâs great. I want to practice more and more and to be a better and better player.â
Favorite Movie:Â âI like Butterfly Effect.â
Last Book Read:Â âTwilight, the four books. Iâm on the fourth one.â
Musical Tastes:Â âDifficult to say. Like, I donât like the one singer, I like many different songs. And last time Iâm listening to Scorpions, I like those songs.â
Current Car:Â âI donât drive. I have a license but Iâm not driving yet [smiles]. Dangerous in Moscow to drive [laughs]. Because of traffic, crazy drivers.â
Favorite Meal:Â âRussian food.â
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:Â âVanilla with walnuts.â
Pre-Match Feeling:Â âDifferent things. Sometimes youâre completely not nervous. You have nerves sometimes. But I prefer to have some nerves, because you concentrate more on the game and youâre there from the first point.â
Greatest Sports Moment:Â âYeah I won China Open, first WTA title (d. Groenfeld 63 64 in 2005). And also the junior U.S. Open (2002) when I was under 18, when I was 15 years.â
Most Painful Moment:Â âYeah, losing in the first match in the Grand Slams. Itâs always sad when you lose in the first round.â
Closest Tennis Friends:Â âMaybe now itâs Sorana Cirstea and Marta Domochowska.â
Funniest Players Encountered:Â âWomen â nobody funny [laughs].â
Toughest Competitors:Â âI donât like to play with lefties.â
Funny Tennis Memory:Â âMaybe in the moment when youâre going for a dropshot, you make it and then you go in the net [laughs]. And youâre losing the point. (When did it happen?) A few times in my career, I couldnât stop before the net. Iâm like, hanging.â
Favorite Players To Watch:Â âEverybody [laughs].â
adidas · Maria Kirilenko · Olympics · Russia · Yonex