Russian Sensations – the legacy of female tennis sportswomen
Since the Russian native Anastasia Myskina set a record in the world of woman tennis, the Russians never looked back. An analysis of some of the finest Russian female athletes will give you an insight on what the potential 2010 U.S. Open participants have to offer.
Anastasia Myskina
Anastasiya Andreyevna Myskina, commonly known as Anastasia Myskina belongs to Moscow, Russia. The professional became the first ever Russian to win a Grand Slam after winning her first major tournament in 2004. Her number 3 world ranking also made her the first Russian female tennis player to take it to the top 3.
The 29-year-old sportswoman went up against her country-mate, Elena Dementieva in 2004 French Open Women’s singles final. Myskin easily brought her opponent crashing down with a comfortable 6-1, 6-2.Anastasiya’s injuries however, put a halt to her career in 2007. Nevertheless, she stated that it is possible that she may return. But for the time being, there seems to be no sign of her returning to the mainstream tennis.
Anna Kournikova
Russia’s beauty, Anna Sergeyneva Kournikova is one of the most popular female sensations in the history of tennis. Despite winning 2 grand slam doubles titles; Kournikova only made it to the 8th rank. Known for her drop shots, she had a very successful doubles career with her companion, Martina Hingis from Switzerland. Famously known as “The Spice Girls of tennis”, the duo won their first Doubles Grand Slam in the year 1999. Hingis and Kournikova went up against Belarus’ Natasha Zvereva and America’s Lindsay Davenport in the ’99 Australian Open. The team won 7-5, 6-3 in straight sets.
The dynamic pair made it to the French Open finals in the same year. They were confronted by the “Williams sisters” who unfortunately, defeated them. The team rose 7-6 in the second set after losing the first set 3-6. However, the 8-6 third-set-win by the Williams sisters brought the match to an end. In 2002, after a 3 year gap, the Russian and the Swiss came back to win their second Australian Open Women’s doubles title. The two bagged yet another win in Melbourne, that year. Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchová partnered up with Spain’s Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, only to lose 6-2, 6-7, 6-1.
Kournikova has been missing out the action, since she had to undergo a surgery on her left foot due to an injury. Her sprained back also gave halted her from re-appearing in the tennis festivals. Known for having dated pop star Enrique Iglesias, Anna is still the most searched female athlete on the internet despite her absence from the contemporary tennis scenario.
Dinara Safina
Former World no. 1 Marat Safin’s sibling, Dinara Mikhailovna Safina is the currently No. 32 seed in the Women’s Tennis Association. Dismally, the Russian has yet to win a Grand Slam Singles title. Safina has qualified for three Grand Slam Singles tournaments, apart from winning the 2007 U.S. Open Women’s doubles. The 27 year old has also bagged a Silver medal at the Olympics in her career.
Safina teamed up with Nathalie Dechy of France for the 2007 U.S. Open. The team thrashed China’s Chan Yung-jan and Chuang Chia-jung in the final. The 6-4, 6-2 straight set win, confirmed Safina’s first Grand Slam Doubles title. Prior to the win, the professional lost 2006 U.S. Open doubles final 7-6, 7-5. She was opposed by her 2007 U.S. Open partner, Nathalie Dechy from France and fellow countrywoman, Vera Zvonareva.
The sportswoman lost the 2008 French Open Women’s singles final to Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic. She defeated Safina 6-4, 6-3 in straight sets. In 2009, Dinara made it to her first Australian Open Singles final. However, she lost with an embarrassing score of 0-6, 0-3 to Serena Williams from America. That same year, the athlete was defeated by Svetlana Kuznetsova, another Russian player. Svetlana’s 6-4, 6-2 win, confirmed the 2009 French Open Women’s final title for her.
Dinara did not make an appearance at the 2010 Wimbledon Championship. As far as the 2010 French Open is concerned, she failed to make it past the first round. However, she played well at the 2010 Australian Open, but finally got knocked out in the fourth round.
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