Tennis is a sport that has been enjoyed by millions of people around the world for decades. Russian female tennis players have been a dominant force in the world of tennis for many years. From Maria Sharapova to Elena Dementieva, these women have proven time and time again that they are some of the best players in the world. In this article, Pro Tennis News will take a closer look at the top 15 Russian female tennis players of all time, including Maria Sharapova, Anna Kournikova, and Ekaterina Makarova, among others. We will explore their careers, achievements, and personal lives, providing you with a comprehensive overview of their careers.
History of Women’s Tennis in Russian
Before we dive into the lives and careers of the top Russian female tennis players, let’s take a brief look at the history of women’s tennis in Russia. The sport of tennis became popular in Russia during the 1980s, with the emergence of Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Andrei Chesnokov. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that Russian women began to make their mark in the sport.
The first Russian woman to make a significant impact in the sport of tennis was Natasha Zvereva. She won a total of 18 Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles, including four women’s doubles titles at Wimbledon. Following in her footsteps, the next generation of Russian women’s tennis players went on to become some of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
Top Russian Female Tennis Players Ranking 2023
Russian female tennis players have made a significant impact in the world of tennis, with their exceptional talent, dedication, and hard work. From Maria Sharapova’s five Grand Slam titles to Anastasia Myskina’s historic French Open win, these women have proven themselves as some of the most successful athletes in the sport. In this segment, we will explore some of the top Russian female tennis players who have made a name for themselves on the international stage.
Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova is one of the most well-known Russian female tennis players in the world. She was born on April 19, 1987, in Nyagan, Russia. She turned professional in 2001 at the young age of 14. Throughout her career, Sharapova won five Grand Slam singles titles, including Wimbledon in 2004, the US Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2008, and the French Open in 2012 and 2014.
Sharapova’s achievements include winning 36 singles titles, 3 doubles titles, and an Olympic silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2005, she became the first Russian woman to reach the number one ranking in singles. She was also the world’s highest-paid female athlete for 11 consecutive years, according to Forbes.
Off the court, Sharapova has been involved in various business ventures, including her own candy line and a successful modeling career. In 2016, she founded the Maria Sharapova Foundation, which focuses on helping children in need around the world.
Anna Kournikova
Anna Kournikova is another Russian female tennis player who has gained global recognition both on and off the court. She was born on June 7, 1981, in Moscow, Russia, and turned professional in 1995 at the age of 14. Kournikova is widely known for her beauty and her success as a doubles player, although she never won a singles title.
Throughout her career, Kournikova won 16 doubles titles and reached the number one ranking in doubles in 1999. She also reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 1997 and the Australian Open in 2001. Despite her lack of success in singles, Kournikova remains a popular figure in the tennis world.
Off the court, Kournikova has been involved in various business ventures, including modeling and television appearances. She has also been a philanthropist, supporting charities such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Maria Kirilenko
Maria Kirilenko is a retired Russian female tennis player who was born on January 25, 1987, in Moscow, Russia. She turned professional in 2001 at the age of 14 and retired in 2017. Throughout her career, Kirilenko won six singles titles and 12 doubles titles.
Kirilenko’s achievements include reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open and Wimbledon in 2010, as well as the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2012. She also won a bronze medal in doubles at the 2012 London Olympics.
Off the court, Kirilenko has been involved in various business ventures, including modeling and fashion design. She also married NHL player Alexander Ovechkin in 2015.
Elena Dementieva
Elena Dementieva was born on October 15, 1981, in Moscow, Russia. She turned professional in 1999 and retired from professional tennis in 2010. During her career, Dementieva won 16 WTA singles titles and a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in singles. She also won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in doubles.
Dementieva’s achievements include reaching the final of the French Open in 2004 and the US Open in 2004 and 2005. She also reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2008 and the Australian Open in 2009. In addition, she was a runner-up at the 2004 WTA Tour Championships and a semifinalist in 2000, 2002, and 2009.
Off the court, Dementieva is known for her philanthropic efforts. She has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2005 and has also been involved in various other charitable causes, including the Elena Dementieva Foundation, which supports underprivileged children in Russia.
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Kuznetsova was born on June 27, 1985, in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now St. Petersburg, Russia). She turned professional in 2000 and has since won 18 WTA singles titles and 16 doubles titles. Kuznetsova won the US Open in 2004 and the French Open in 2009.
Kuznetsova’s achievements also include reaching the finals of the French Open in 2006 and the US Open in 2007. She has been a consistent top 10 player throughout her career and has represented Russia in multiple Fed Cup competitions, helping the team win four titles.
Off the court, Kuznetsova is known for her artistic talents, including painting and photography. She has also been involved in various charitable causes, including the World Wildlife Fund.
Daria Kasatkina
Daria Kasatkina was born on May 7, 1997, in Togliatti, Russia. She turned professional in 2014 and has since won three WTA singles titles. Kasatkina’s breakthrough year came in 2018 when she reached the final of the Indian Wells Masters and the quarterfinals of the French Open and Wimbledon.
Kasatkina’s achievements also include reaching the finals of the Kremlin Cup in 2017 and the Dubai Tennis Championships in 2018. She has been a consistent top 30 player and is known for her versatile playing style, which includes a mix of power and finesse.
Off the court, Kasatkina is an avid reader and enjoys literature, particularly Russian classics. She is also a fan of music and enjoys playing the guitar in her free time.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was born on July 3, 1991, in Samara, Russia. She turned professional in 2005 and has since won 13 WTA singles titles and 14 doubles titles. Pavlyuchenkova’s breakthrough year came in 2011 when she reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the semifinals of the French Open.
Pavlyuchenkova’s achievements also include reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2016 and the US Open in 2011 and 2020. She has been a consistent top 50 player throughout her career and has represented Russia in multiple Fed Cup competitions, helping the team win four titles.
Yaroslava Shvedova
Yaroslava Shvedova is a retired Kazakhstani-Russian tennis player, born on September 12, 1987, in Moscow, Russia. She turned professional in 2006 and achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 25 in singles and No. 3 in doubles.
Shvedova won 1 WTA singles title and 11 WTA doubles titles, including three Grand Slam doubles titles, two at Wimbledon in 2010 and 2014, and one at the US Open in 2010. She also won two Olympic medals, a bronze in women’s doubles at the 2012 London Olympics and a gold in mixed doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Anastasia Myskina
Anastasia Myskina is a retired Russian female tennis player, born on July 8, 1981, in Moscow, Russia. She turned professional in 1998 and achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 2 in singles and No. 3 in doubles.
Myskina won 10 WTA singles titles, including the French Open in 2004, becoming the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. She also won 9 WTA doubles titles and a bronze medal in singles at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Vera Zvonareva
Vera Zvonareva is a retired Russian tennis player, born on September 7, 1984, in Moscow, Russia. She turned professional in 2000 and achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 2 in singles and No. 4 in doubles.
Zvonareva won 12 WTA singles titles, including the 2008 US Open and the 2010 Australian Open, where she reached the final. She also won 9 WTA doubles titles and two Grand Slam doubles titles, the 2006 US Open and the 2012 Australian Open.
Dinara Safina
Dinara Safina is a retired Russian female tennis player, born on April 27, 1986, in Moscow, Russia. She turned professional in 2000 and achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 1 in singles and No. 7 in doubles.
Safina won 12 WTA singles titles and was the runner-up in three Grand Slam singles tournaments, the 2008 French Open, the 2009 Australian Open, and the 2009 French Open. She also won one WTA doubles title and a silver medal in singles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Anna Kalinskaya
Anna Kalinskaya is one of the professional Russian female tennis players. She was born on December 2, 1998, in Moscow, Russia. She began playing tennis at the age of six and turned professional in 2015. Kalinskaya has won five singles and three doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. She is currently ranked world No. 116 in singles and No. 199 in doubles.
In 2019, Kalinskaya made her Grand Slam main draw debut at the US Open, where she defeated Viktoriya Tomova in the first round before losing to Karolína Plíšková in the second round. She has also represented Russia in the Fed Cup and won her singles debut against Switzerland in 2019.
Yulia Putintseva
Yulia Putintseva is a Kazakhstani professional tennis player who was born on January 7, 1995, in Moscow, Russia. She turned professional in 2010 and has won one singles and three doubles titles on the WTA Tour. Putintseva is currently ranked world No. 45 in singles and No. 51 in doubles.
Putintseva has made four Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances, including at the 2020 US Open. She has also represented Kazakhstan in the Fed Cup and helped lead the team to the World Group II playoffs in 2020.
Vitalia Diatchenko
Vitalia Diatchenko is one of the professional Russian female tennis players. She was born on August 2, 1990, in Sochi, Russia. She turned professional in 2006 and has won two singles titles on the ITF Circuit. Diatchenko is currently ranked world No. 289 in singles and No. 214 in doubles.
Diatchenko has made three Grand Slam main draw appearances in singles, with her best result coming at the 2018 US Open, where she reached the third round. She has also represented Russia in the Fed Cup.
Ekaterina Makarova
Ekaterina Makarova is a retired Russian professional tennis player who was born on June 7, 1988, in Moscow, Russia. She turned professional in 2004 and won six singles and 12 doubles titles on the WTA Tour. Makarova achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 8 in doubles in 2015.
Makarova won two Grand Slam doubles titles, at the 2012 French Open and the 2014 US Open, and reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and Wimbledon in doubles. She also won an Olympic gold medal in doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, partnering with Elena Vesnina. Makarova retired from professional tennis in 2019.
Other Female Russian Tennis Players
| Ekaterina Afinogenova | Alina Jidkova | Svetlana Parkhomenko |
| Ksenia Aleshina | Olga Kalyuzhnaya | Eugeniya Pashkova |
| Ekaterina Alexandrova | Viktoria Kamenskaya | Veronika Pepelyaeva |
| Erika Andreeva | Victoria Kan | Ksenia Pervak |
| Mirra Andreeva | Ekaterina Kazionova | Olesya Pervushina |
| Amina Anshba | Nina Khrisanova | Nadia Petrova |
| Julia Apostoli | Irina Khromacheva | Anastasia Pivovarova |
| Darya Astakhova | Alisa Kleybanova | Alexandra Podkolzina |
| Elina Avanesyan | Anastasiya Komardina | Elena Pogorelova |
| Vasilisa Bardina | Maria Kondratieva | Valeriya Pogrebnyak |
| Anna Bastrikova | Alina Korneeva | Anastasia Poltoratskaya |
| Margarita Betova | Irina Kornienko | Aleksandra Pospelova |
| Anna Blinkova | Ekaterina Kosminskaya | Anastasia Potapova |
| Maria Bondarenko | Irina Kotkina | Olga Puchkova |
| Elena Bovina | Vlada Koval | Kamilla Rakhimova |
| Nina Bratchikova | Ekaterina Kozhokina | Natalia Reva |
| Yana Buchina | Maria Kozyreva | Ekaterina Reyngold |
| Anastasia Bukhanko | Lina Krasnoroutskaya | Evgeniya Rodina |
| Ekaterina Bychkova | Polina Kudermetova | Anastasia Rodionova |
| Anna Chakvetadze | Veronika Kudermetova | Arina Rodionova |
| Elena Chalova | Alla Kudryavtseva | Elena Rybakina |
| Alina Charaeva | Elizaveta Kulichkova | Liudmila Samsonova |
| Anna Danilina | Anastasia Kulikova | Daria Saville |
| Vasilisa Davydova | Regina Kulikova | Valeria Savinykh |
| Vesna Dolonc | Evgenia Kulikovskaya | Oksana Selekhmeteva |
| Olga Doroshina | Sofya Lansere | Ekaterina Shalimova |
| Ekaterina Dranets | Anna Lapushchenkova | Marina Shamayko |
| Vera Dushevina | Polina Leykina | Diana Shnaider |
| Natela Dzalamidze | Elena Likhovtseva | Marta Sirotkina |
| Julia Efremova | Anna Linkova | Yana Sizikova |
| Natalia Egorova | Ekaterina Lopes | Lioudmila Skavronskaia |
| Gulnara Fattakhetdinova | Julia Lutrova | Anna Smolina |
| Varvara Flink | Ksenia Lykina | Valeriya Solovyeva |
| Galina Fokina | Ekaterina Makarova (tennis player, born 1996) | Ekaterina Sysoeva |
| Alena Fomina-Klotz | Elena Makarova | Anastasia Tikhonova (tennis) |
| Anastasia Frolova | Ludmila Makarova | Maria Timofeeva |
| Angelina Gabueva | Eugenia Maniokova | Mariia Tkacheva |
| Anastasia Gasanova | Anna Arina Marenko | Avgusta Tsybysheva |
| Elina Gasanova | Maria Marfutina | Elena Vesnina |
| Ksenia Gaydarzhi | Marina Melnikova | Natalia Vikhlyantseva |
| Irina Glimakova | Daria Mishina | Ecaterina Visnevscaia |
| Maria Goloviznina | Maria Mokh | Galina Voskoboeva |
| Raissa Gourevitch | Polina Monova | Ekaterina Yashina |
| Varvara Gracheva | Anna Morgina | Anastasia Zakharova |
| Evgenia Grebenyuk | Liudmila Nikoyan | Maria Zharkova |
| Nadejda Guskova | Valeriia Olianovskaia | Sofya Zhuk |
| Anzhelika Isaeva | Ekaterina Paniouchkina | Anastasia Zolotareva |
| Ivanna Israilova | Alexandra Panova | Irina Zvereva |
| Valentina Ivakhnenko | Olga Panova | |
| Olga Ivanova (tennis) | Tatiana Panova | |
Conclusion
Russia has produced some of the greatest female tennis players in history, with a long list of Grand Slam champions and Olympic medalists. These Russian Female Tennis Players have not only excelled on the court but also represented their country with pride and professionalism. From the legendary players like Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova to the rising stars like Daria Kasatkina and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the future of Russian tennis looks bright.