Italian female tennis players have made a significant impact on the sport, both nationally and internationally. With their unique playing styles, grit, and determination, these athletes have captured the hearts of fans worldwide. In this article, Pro Tennis News will take a closer look at the top 15 Italian female tennis players and their achievements, both on and off the court.
Top Italian Female Tennis Players
Italy has a rich history in tennis and has produced many talented players over the years, including some notable female players. In the list below, we highlight some of the most successful and promising Italian female tennis players, from Grand Slam winners to rising stars. Read on to discover more about these talented athletes.
Flavia Pennetta
Flavia Pennetta is one of the most successful Italian female tennis players of all time. Born on February 25, 1982, in Brindisi, Italy, Pennetta turned pro in 2000. She was the first Italian woman to enter the top 10 of the WTA rankings and achieved a career-high ranking of No. 6 in singles and No. 1 in doubles.
Pennetta’s list of achievements includes winning 28 WTA titles, including the 2015 US Open, where she defeated her childhood friend and fellow Italian Roberta Vinci in the final. She also reached the quarterfinals or better at all four Grand Slam tournaments and won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics in doubles.
Off the court, Pennetta is known for her charity work, especially for the reconstruction efforts after the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake. She retired from professional tennis in 2015, ending her career on a high note by winning the US Open.
Camila Giorgi
Camila Giorgi is a young Italian tennis player with a bright future ahead of her. Born on December 30, 1991, in Macerata, Italy, Giorgi turned pro in 2006. She is known for her aggressive playing style and powerful groundstrokes.
Giorgi’s achievements include reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2018 and winning two WTA titles, including the 2018 Linz Open. She has also defeated several top players, including former world No. 1s Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki.
Off the court, Giorgi is a fashion enthusiast and has her own fashion line. She is also an animal lover and supports animal rights organizations.
Francesca Schiavone
Francesca Schiavone is one of the most successful Italian female tennis players of all time. She was born on June 23, 1980, in Milan, Italy, and turned professional in 1998 at the age of 18. Throughout her career, Schiavone won eight singles titles and six doubles titles, including the 2010 French Open.
Schiavone’s achievements include reaching a career-high ranking of No. 4 in singles and No. 8 in doubles. In addition to her French Open title, she was a runner-up at the 2011 Australian Open and a semifinalist at the 2009 US Open. Schiavone also played a vital role in Italy’s Fed Cup team, helping them win the title in 2006, 2009, and 2010.
Off the court, Schiavone is known for her infectious personality and her love for life. She retired from professional tennis in 2018 but remains involved in the sport as a coach and commentator.
Corinna Dentoni
Corinna Dentoni is a former Italian professional tennis player. She was born on August 30, 1989, in Pietrasanta, Italy, and turned professional in 2007 at the age of 18. Throughout her career, Dentoni won two singles titles and five doubles titles on the ITF Circuit.
Dentoni’s most notable achievement came at the 2009 French Open, where she reached the third round as a qualifier, defeating top-50 players Alona Bondarenko and Lucie Šafářová. Despite retiring from professional tennis in 2018, Dentoni remains an inspiration for young players with her fighting spirit and determination.
Sara Errani
Sara Errani is a former Italian professional tennis player. She was born on April 29, 1987, in Bologna, Italy, and turned professional in 2002 at the age of 15. Throughout her career, Errani won nine singles titles and 27 doubles titles, including five Grand Slam doubles titles.
Errani’s achievements include reaching a career-high ranking of No. 5 in singles and No. 1 in doubles. In addition to her Grand Slam doubles titles, she was a runner-up at the 2012 French Open and a semifinalist at the 2012 US Open in singles. Errani also played a crucial role in Italy’s Fed Cup team, helping them win the title in 2009, 2010, and 2013.
Off the court, Errani is known for her fierce competitiveness and her dedication to the sport. She retired from professional tennis in 2022 but remains involved in the sport as a coach.
Roberta Vinci
Roberta Vinci is an Italian retired tennis player, born on February 18, 1983, in Taranto, Italy. She turned professional in 1999 and had an illustrious career that spanned over two decades. Vinci is best known for her victory over Serena Williams in the semifinals of the 2015 US Open, which ended Williams’ bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam. Vinci went on to reach the final but lost to compatriot Flavia Pennetta in what was an all-Italian Grand Slam final.
Vinci also won 10 WTA singles titles, 25 doubles titles, and four Grand Slam doubles titles in her career. She also won an Olympic bronze medal in doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, partnering with Pennetta. Vinci retired from professional tennis in 2018, having reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 7 and a doubles ranking of No. 1. She is widely regarded as one of the most talented and versatile players of her generation, known for her unique playing style that combined crafty volleys with solid groundstrokes.
Deborah Chiesa
Deborah Chiesa is an Italian tennis player, born on August 23, 1995, in Como, Italy. She turned professional in 2010 and has since been steadily climbing the rankings. Chiesa has had some notable victories in her career, including wins over former top-20 players Andrea Petkovic and Yanina Wickmayer.
Chiesa is primarily a singles player and has won four ITF singles titles in her career. She has also reached the doubles final of one ITF event. Chiesa’s highest singles ranking was No. 144 in the world, which she achieved in October 2018. She is considered one of the most promising young talents in Italian tennis, with a game that is built around her strong serve and aggressive groundstrokes.
Lisa Sabino
Lisa Sabino is an Italian retired tennis player, born on February 7, 1973, in Naples, Italy. She turned professional in 1991 and had a successful career that spanned over a decade. Sabino was primarily a doubles specialist and won a total of 11 WTA doubles titles in her career. She also reached the final of three Grand Slam doubles events, finishing as the runner-up at the 1995 US Open, the 1997 French Open, and the 1999 Wimbledon Championships.
Sabino reached her career-high doubles ranking of No. 8 in the world in August 1997. She retired from professional tennis in 2003 and has since been working as a tennis coach. Sabino is widely regarded as one of the most talented doubles players of her generation, known for her quick reflexes and strong volleying skills.
Maria Elena Camerin
Maria Elena Camerin is a former professional Italian tennis player who was born on March 21, 1982, in Mestre, Italy. She turned pro in 1999 and retired in 2013. Throughout her career, she won four singles titles and six doubles titles on the WTA tour.
Camerin’s best performance in a Grand Slam came at the 2007 US Open, where she reached the fourth round in singles. In doubles, she reached the quarterfinals of the French Open in 2004 and the US Open in 2006.
Mara Santangelo
Mara Santangelo is a former professional Italian tennis player born on June 28, 1981, in Latina, Italy. She turned pro in 1997 and retired in 2013. Throughout her career, she won three doubles titles on the WTA tour and was ranked as high as No. 26 in the world in doubles.
Santangelo’s most notable achievement came at the 2007 Wimbledon Championships, where she won the women’s doubles title with her partner, Alicia Molik. She also reached the quarterfinals of the French Open and the US Open in doubles.
Liudmila Samsonova
Liudmila Samsonova is a Russian tennis player who was born on November 11, 1998, in Omsk, Russia. She began playing tennis at a young age and turned professional in 2016.
Samsonova has had a breakthrough year in 2021, winning her first WTA singles title at the Berlin Open in June. She also reached the fourth round of Wimbledon, where she defeated former Grand Slam champion and world No. 1, Karolina Pliskova, in the third round.
Samsonova is known for her aggressive playing style and strong serve. She has shown promise as a rising star on the WTA tour and has the potential to become a top player in the future.
Jessica Pieri
Jessica Pieri is an Italian tennis player who was born on December 12, 1995, in Fano, Italy. She turned professional in 2011 and has competed on the ITF Women’s Circuit and the WTA Tour.
Pieri has had success on the ITF Circuit, winning nine singles titles and 12 doubles titles. She reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 231 in 2021.
Pieri is known for her strong forehand and aggressive playing style. She has shown promise as a young player and has the potential to become a top player in Italian women’s tennis.
Jasmine Paolini
Jasmine Paolini is an Italian tennis player who was born on January 4, 1996, in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Italy. She turned professional in 2013 and has competed on the ITF Women’s Circuit and the WTA Tour.
Paolini has had success on the ITF Circuit, winning five singles titles and 13 doubles titles. She reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 58 in 2021 and has shown consistency as a performer on the tour.
Paolini is known for her strong baseline game and defensive skills. She has shown promise as a young player and has the potential to become a top player in Italian women’s tennis.
Nastassja Burnett
Nastassja Burnett is a professional Italian tennis player born on February 20, 1992, in Rome, Italy. She turned pro in 2009 and has since then had a steady career with notable performances on both the WTA and ITF circuits.
Burnett is known for her steady baseline game and ability to move well around the court. She has won six ITF singles titles and six ITF doubles titles throughout her career. Her best performance in a Grand Slam came at the 2013 French Open where she reached the third round before losing to Sloane Stephens.
In addition to her singles career, Burnett has had success in doubles, reaching the final of the 2014 Australian Open alongside fellow Italian player Sara Errani. The pair also won two WTA doubles titles in 2013.
Lea Pericoli
Lea Pericoli is a former professional Italian tennis player born on April 22, 1941, in Rimini, Italy. She turned pro in the early 1960s and was a pioneer in Italian women’s tennis, helping to lay the foundation for the success of future generations of Italian female players.
Pericoli was a talented doubles player, winning 15 Grand Slam doubles titles throughout her career. She won the French Open doubles title five times, the Wimbledon doubles title four times, and the US Open doubles title twice. She also won the mixed doubles title at the US Open in 1961.
In singles, Pericoli reached the quarterfinals of the French Open twice, in 1961 and 1965. She retired from professional tennis in 1975 but continued to be involved in the sport as a commentator and tennis administrator.
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Other Female Italian Tennis Players
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Silvia Albano
|
Gabriella Boschiero | Martina Colmegna |
| Eleonora Alvisi | Annalisa Bossi | Claudia Coppola |
| Susanna Attili | Nuria Brancaccio | Stefania Dalla Valle |
| Alice Balducci | Alberta Brianti | Laura Dell’Angelo |
| Elisa Balsamo (tennis) | Lucia Bronzetti | Martina Di Giuseppe |
| Gioia Barbieri | Emanuela Brusati | Germana Di Natale |
| Lucia Bassi | Alice Canepa | Federica Di Sarra |
| Nathalie Baudone | Martina Caregaro | Silvia Disderi |
| Roberta Beltrame | Giulia Casoni | Silvia Farina Elia |
| Maria Francesca Bentivoglio | Cathy Caverzasio | Cristiana Ferrando |
| Astrid Besser | Cristina Cavina | Linda Ferrando |
| Federica Bilardo | Sandra Cecchini | Anna Floris |
| Paola Bologna | Stefania Chieppa | Federica Fortuni |
| Annalisa Bona | Nicole Clerico | Giulia Gabba |
| Federica Bonsignori | Elisabetta Cocciaretto | Rosetta Gagliardi |
Conclusion
Italian female tennis players have made a significant impact on the sport, both domestically and internationally. From pioneers like Lea Pericoli to modern-day stars like Jasmine Paolini, these players have achieved great success in both singles and doubles competitions. The achievements of Francesca Schiavone, Sara Errani, and Roberta Vinci have shown that Italian women can compete at the highest level and win Grand Slam titles. Young players like Liudmila Samsonova, Deborah Chiesa, and Jessica Pieri are also showing great promise and could be the future of Italian women’s tennis. With a rich history and a bright future, Italian female tennis players will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the sport.