Stories
Biography
- Coached by Ruslan Evseechev
- Mother, Natalia, was Olympic bronze medalist in field hockey (introduced her to tennis at age 6); husband, Alexander Kucher is a former officer who worked in the administration of the Moscow Oblast; their daughter Evelina was born in 2016
- Has two degrees (one from Russian State Academy of Physical Education, the second in international economic relations at Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in Moscow)
- Loves travelling; favorites include mom's cooking, "Peter the First" by Tolstoy and actor Matt Damon
- Other interests include volleyball, hockey, computers, reading and listening to music
- Works with International Rett Syndrome Foundation to increase awareness and raise funds for research (Rett Syndrome is a nervous system disorder that leads to developmental reversals); after 2010 US Open, donated portion of prize money and went to Russia to help create organizing committee for Russian Rett Syndrome Foundation (also serves on board of directors)
Plays
Right-HandedCareer High
2Height
5' 7 3/4" (1.72 m)Birthday
Sep 7, 1984 September 7, 1984Birthplace
Moscow, RussiaCareer Highlights
SINGLES
Winner (12): 2011 - Doha, Baku; 2010 - Pattaya City; 2009 - Pattaya City, Indian Wells; 2008 - Prague, Guangzhou; 2006 - Birmingham, Cincinnati; 2005 - Memphis; 2004 - Memphis; 2003 - Bol.
Finalist (18): 2011 - Carlsbad, Tokyo [Pan Pacific]; 2010 - Charleston, Wimbledon, Montréal, US Open, Beijing; 2008 - Hobart, Doha, Charleston, Moscow, Linz, WTA Finals; 2007 - Auckland; 2006 - Auckland; 2004 - Cincinnati, Philadelphia; 2002 - Palermo.
DOUBLES
Winner (15): 2023 - Washington DC (w/Siegemund), Ningbo (w/Siegemund), Nanchang (w/Siegemund), WTA Finals (w/Siegemund); 2022 - Lyon (w/Siegemund), Miami (w/Siegemund); 2020 - US Open (w/Siegemund); 2019 - Budapest (w/Alexandrova); 2018 - St. Petersburg (w/Bacsinszky), Moscow [River Cup] (w/Potapova); 2012 - Australian Open (w/Kuznetsova); 2009 - Indian Wells (w/Azarenka); 2006 - Auckland (w/Likhovtseva), US Open (w/Dechy); 2005 - Berlin (w/Likhovtseva); 2004 - Moscow (w/Myskina).
Finalist (7): 2023 - US Open (w/Siegemund); 2010 - Wimbledon (w/Vesnina); 2008 - Stanford (w/Vesnina); 2005 - Eastbourne, Stanford (both w/Likhovtseva); 2004 - Memphis (w/Sharapova); 2003 - Moscow (w/Myskina).
WTA 125
DOUBLES
Finalist (1): 2024 - Antalya (w/Babos).
MIXED DOUBLES
Winner (2): 2006 - Wimbledon (w/Ram); 2004 - US Open (w/B.Bryan).
ADDITIONAL
Russian Fed Cup Team, 2003-04, 2008, 2011; Russian Olympic Team, 2008, 2012.
Career in Review
Finished 2022 season ranked No.273, a season in which she made eight main draw appearances
Highlights of 2021 campaign were SF at St. Petersburg (l. Gasparyan) and 3r showings at Yarra Valley Classic (l. Vondrousova) and Rome (l. Ka.Pliskova); during Rome run upset No.10 Kvitova to score first Top-10 win since the end of 2018
Returned to tour after eight-month break due to wrist injury in February 2020 with 2r showing at $25k ITF/Trnava-SVK. Went on to make SF showing at WTA 125K Series event at Indian Wells in early March and then R16 at Western & Southern Open in August (l. Konta)
Ended 2019 ranked No.141 after a promising start to season was ended prematurely by wrist injury - during time away from court commentated for Russian TV
Highlights in 2019 were SF runs at Shenzhen (l. Riske via ret. w/left hip injury) and St. Petersburg (d. No.16 Goerges and No.12 Kasatkina, l. Vekic). Also won ninth career WTA doubles title, at Budapest (w/Alexandrova) - now owns 9-6 career record in doubles finals
Broke back into Top 100 after Shenzhen (January 7, 2019), making it as high as No.76 following St. Petersburg run (February 4, 2019)
At 2018 Wimbledon, overcame three rounds of qualifying to enter her first Grand Slam main draw in over three years, falling to eventual champion Kerber in 1r. Previous main draw appearance at a major was 2015 Australian Open (l. eventual champion S.Williams in 2r)
Enjoyed doubles success in 2018, winning seventh and eighth career titles, at St. Petersburg (w/Bacsinszky) and Moscow [River Cup] (w/Potapova)
Returned to the tour in 2017 following a two-year hiatus, finishing with a year-end ranking of No.204
Comeback season was highlighted by title at $15k ITF/Sharm El Sheikh-EGY, runner-up finish at WTA 125K Series event at Dalian (l. Kozlova) and a SF run at Tashkent (l. eventual champion K.Bondarenko)
Prior to her return to tour, last played in 2015 - highlighted by QF appearances at Shenzhen and Pattaya City
A 2013 shoulder injury sidelined her for a year and a half prior to returning for another injury-stricken season in 2014 - best result was 3r finish at 2014 Wimbledon (l. Diyas)
Has won 12 career WTA singles titles (most recent 2011 Baku); biggest title to date is 2009 Indian Wells
Reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals in 2010 as runner-up at both Wimbledon (l. S.Williams) and US Open (l. Clijsters)
Finished ranked in Top 10 four consecutive years (2008-2011), including a year-end No.2 ranking in 2010 - became fifth Russian to rank in Top 2 in October 2010 and held No.2 for 14 weeks (Oct. 25, 2010 to Jan. 30, 2011)
Has four wins vs. World No.1s: Maria Sharapova (2007 Indian Wells), Jelena Jankovic (2008 WTA Championships) and Caroline Wozniacki, twice (2011 Doha and WTA Championships)
Participated at WTA Championships six times in career (2004, 2008-11; includes 2009 as alternate); reached final in 2009 (l. V.Williams)
Has won seven doubles titles, including 2009 Indian Wells (w/Azarenka), completing singles-doubles sweep
Missed second half of 2005 season with left ankle injury; missed four months of 2007 with left wrist injury; also missed two months in 2009 due to a right ankle injury; had surgery to remove scar tissue in November 2009
Represented Russia in Olympics twice: 2008 Beijing (replaced Sharapova, won singles bronze) and 2012 London
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