By Scoop Malinowski
Status: 2004 US Open and 2009 Roland Garros champion. Highest WTA ranking was no. 2 in Sept. 2007. Won 18 career singles titles. Won Australian Open doubles titles in 2005, 2012 and made finals in other three Grand Slams in doubles.
Ht: 5-8 1/2 Wt: 160
DOB: June 27, 1985 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: “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: “Just focus on the game, to be focused all the time. And just to work on my shots. Do my game.”
First Car: ‘Toyota Celica (silver).”
Current Cars: “Porsche. Range Rover super-charged, red cherry, white interior, wheels 21-inches [smiles].”
Last Book Read: “La Sombra Del Viente (Shadow of the Wind) – Carlos Ruiz Zafon.”
Favorite Meal: “Sushi.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Favorite Movies: “Love Actually. Save The Last Dance. Gladiator.”
Hobbies/Interests: “Music, electronics, computer, DVDs, shopping a little bit.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning US Open 2004.”
Most Painful Moment: “Losing first round of US Open 2005.”
Favorite Tournaments: “US Open and French Open.”
Favorite Players To Watch: “Roger Federer.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “Elena Likhovtseva.”
Funniest Player Encountered: “Funniest player… mmmmm…myself [smiles].”
Fiercest Competitors Encountered: “Justine Henin. Serena.”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Don’t have any.”
Funny Memory: “Just couldn’t stop laughing during doubles matches.”
Which Match Were You At Your Best: “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: “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 –