WTA Ranking (Season-Ending, Singles)

2002-186; 2001 – NR

Career Review

Career Highlights - Singles

Career Highlights - Doubles

Facts

• Won her first WTA singles title at the Japan Open, becoming the youngest singlest titlist in 2003 and reaching a career high ranking of 33.
  
  
• Won first WTA doubles title at the Japan Open, partnering Tanasugarn.
  
  
• In September as world No. 52 at Shanghai, she eliminated world No. 40 and No. 7 seed Loit, and world No. 45 Sanchez Lorenzo, before l. in QF to world No. 8, top-seed and eventual tournament champion Dementieva ; broke into Top 50 on September 22 at No. 47. Won ITF/Sea Island, USA; debuted at Roland Garros as a qualifier, lost in 1st round to Serena Williams in May 2003.
  
  
• She reached 4th round at debut Wimbledon (third Grand Slam of year and career), lost to No. 33 seed and countrywoman Kuznetsova (world No. 34) while matching the best showing by a female WC at the event. She was the youngest of five Russians in 4th round at Wimbledon (a Grand Slam record).
  
  
• Following Wimbledon success, her ranking raised 35 spots from No. 91 to No. 56 on July 7, 2003.
  
  
• June 2003, she qualified at Birmingham and tore through the draw, eliminating three seeds, No. 5 Dechy (world No. 24) in her opening-round match (following a 1st round bye), No. 11 Mikaelian (world No.34) and No. 1 countrywoman Dementieva (world No. 15), to reach career-first WTA Tour semifinal where she lost to Asagoe; ranking surged into Top 100 from No. 125 to No. 88.
  
  
• Qualified to make her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open; lost in 1st round to fell qualifier Koukalova 6-4, 7-6(6) in January 2003.
  
  
• Maria captured her third ITF Circuit title of the year in Peachtree City (USA) in September 2002, including wins over the third and ninth seeds; ranking jumped 61 spots to a career-high No. 258.
  
  
• An outstanding August 2002 saw Maria beat the first, fourth and fifth seeds en route to her second ITF Circuit title in Vancouver (CAN); in the final against top seed Granville, she rallied to win 0-6, 6-3, 6-1.
  
  
• April 2002, unseeded, upset the second and third seeds to win her first professional title at an ITF satellite event in Gunma (JPN).
  
  
• Maria made her Sanex WTA Tour debut at 14 years of age on March 6 2002 at Indian Wells and defeated No. 302-ranked Brie Rippner 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 before falling to former No. 1-ranked fourth seed Monica Seles 6-0, 6-2; in the doubles she teamed up with Dulko to defeat Mag. Maleeva/A. Stevenson 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 1r, before falling to fifth seeds Hantuchova/Sanchez-Vicario 7-5, 6-3; first appeared on Sanex WTA Ranking March 18 at No. 532.
  
  
• February 2002 saw Maria win her first pro match by defeating No. 288-ranked Teryn Ashley 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 at an ITF event in Columbus, Ohio; she eventually lost in the second round to No. 178-ranked third seeded Michaela Pastikova 6-4, 6-1.
  
  
• 2001 competed in first pro tournament, ITF/Sarasota, USA; losing to Karin Miller in the first round.
  
  
  

Awards

• Finalist at 2002 Junior Australian Open.
  
  
• In 2002, appeared on Teen People’s list of 20 teens who will change the world and named by SPORT Magazine as one of 21 athletes to watch for in the 21st Century.

Personal

• Coached by her father and Robert Lansdorp..
  
  
• Started hitting tennis balls at age four and participated in exhibition in Moscow at age six.
  
  
• Began training at Nick Bollettieri’s Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida, USA at age nine.
  
  
• Off-Court interests include fashion, singing, jazz dancing and movies (her favourite is Pearl Harbour).
  
  
• Maria enjoys reading books, particularly the Sherlock Holmes and Pippi Longstocking series.
  
  
• Favours Russian music and food, Russian food (except for Italian bread) and her favourite dessert is 'anything.'