Russian Forces: “Artillery of tennis professionals”
Over the years, the Russian’s have shown a lot of potential in the game of tennis. Tennis professionals from the country have gone on to win a multitude of championships inclusive of the majors. Heaps of action is expected from the Russian crew as the countdown to the 2010 U.S. Open has begun. An overview of the promising athletes will hopefully help with the yearly predictions.
Known for his temperament issues, Russia’s Marat Mikhailovich Safin is a two-time grand slam winner. The 30-year-old turned professional back in 1997. The 2000 U.S. Open Champion and former world no. 1, Safin’s sibling and younger sister Dinara Safina has also been ranked as the no. 1 in the world by the Women’s Tennis Association in her career. Additionally, Marat and Dinara are the first ever brother and sister in the history of tennis to have both been ranked as the no. 1 players in their profession. Safin played a part in the 2002 and 2006 Davis Cup wins for Russia. The Russian was also the first of his kind to reach a hard-court grand slam semi-final.
Anna Djambulilovna Chakvetadze has won 8 Women’s association titles in her career so far. The athlete was ranked as the world no. 5 in 2007 which was the highest of her career. Currently Chakvetadze is ranked no. 74 in the world. Anna made an appearance in the 2007 U.S. Open Women’s singles category. Unfortunately for her, she only made it to the semi-finals. The sportswoman also made it to the 2007 Australian Open and the 2007 French Open quarter-finals. In that very year, the player also bagged four of her eight WTA titles.
Russia’s Nikolay Vladimirovich Davydenko has reached four grand slam semi-finals in his career so far. Davydenko is known for his success in the doubles tournaments. The athlete has won 3 “Masters Series” finals. Nikolay defeated 2009 U.S. Open Men’s singles defending champion Juan Martin Del Potro in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in 2009. The sportsman turned professional in the year 1999. Apart from which, the player is noted to have a winning record against current world no. 1 Spain’s Rafael Nadal.
23-year-old Maria Yuryevna Kirilenko got her break in the 2005 China Open. Presently ranked 27 in the world, Maria defeated Germany’s Anna-Lena Grönefeld at the China Open to win her first Women’s Tennis Association title. Kirilenko has been playing the yearly majors on a regular basis. However, the sportswoman has not been able to make it past the third or fourth round in most cases. Against the odds, she made it to the 2010 Australian Open Women’s singles quarterfinals. The Russian also won the 2002 U.S. Open junior tournament junior event, along with the 2002 Canadian Open.
One of Russia’s most consistent all-court players, Mikhail Mikhailovich Youzhny is a 28-year-old professional from Moscow. Youzhny usually has the crowd on their feet with his usual high-risk winners that he produces when things heat up during a match. Mikhail has remained at the world no. 8 ranking which is so far the highest ranking in his career. The player has made regular appearances in grand slams from the year 2001 through 2010. In 2006, Mikhail made it to the U.S. Open Men’s singles final where he was defeated by America’s Andy Roddick. The athlete has also played 4 ATP Tour finals. Mikhail is also widely known for his distinct back-hand shots.
Moscow’s Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is presently ranked no. 6 in the world. The sportswoman has clinched the world no. 3 spot back in 2009 which proves that the player has all the tools to become the best in the world. Elena is a two-time Olympic medalist as well. She won her first gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Dementieva has also made appearances at the French Open and the U.S. Open. In 2004, the professional made it to the French Open Women’s singles final but unfortunately for her, she couldn’t get her break. That same year, she also made it to the U.S. Open Women’s singles final but came at the second place. Elena has won 10 Tier I, II and III titles collectively. Apart from which, the athlete has won a number of other ATP titles.
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