Aleksandra Wozniak facts for kids
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| Country (sports) |  Canada |
|---|---|
| Residence | Blainville, Quebec, Canada |
| Born | September 7, 1987 Montreal, Quebec |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Turned pro | November 2005 |
| Retired | December 2018 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$ 2,028,797 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 363–246 (59.61%) |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Highest ranking | No. 21 (June 22, 2009) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2012) |
| French Open | 4R (2009) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2008, 2010, 2012) |
| US Open | 3R (2009) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | 2R (2012) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 35–58 (37.63%) |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 136 (June 7, 2010) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2009, 2010) |
| French Open | 2R (2010, 2012) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2009, 2010) |
| US Open | 2R (2013) |
| Other doubles tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | 1R (2012) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (2009) |
| Team competitions | |
| Fed Cup | 40–12 (76.92%) |
Aleksandra Wozniak (born September 7, 1987) is a Canadian former tennis player. She became a professional player in November 2005. In June 2009, she reached her highest ranking of No. 21 in the world. This made her the fifth highest-ranked Canadian singles player ever.
Aleksandra won one WTA tournament and eleven ITF tournaments. In 2008, she made history at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford. She was the first Canadian in 20 years to win a WTA singles title. She was also the first person from Quebec to achieve this. Tennis Canada named her Female Player of the Year five times.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Aleksandra Wozniak's family moved to Canada from Poland in 1983. She was born in Montreal, Quebec. Aleksandra speaks Polish, English, and French very well.
She has an older sister, Dorota, who also played tennis. Aleksandra started playing tennis when she was just three years old. Her sister and her idol, Monica Seles, inspired her to play. Her father, Antoni, was her coach.
Tennis Career Highlights
Starting Her Journey (2002–2007)
In 2002, when she was 14, Aleksandra won Canadian championships for players under 16 and under 18. She won the Kentucky International Junior Tennis Derby in 2004. By 2005, she was ranked No. 3 in the world for junior players.
She also won several smaller professional tournaments called Challengers. In 2006, she beat her first top-100 player, Li Na. Later that year, she defeated her first top-50 player, Olga Puchkova.
Big Win and Breakthrough (2008)
At the French Open in 2008, Aleksandra reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time. This was a big step in her career.
In July, she won her first and only WTA singles title at the Stanford Classic. To win, she had to play eight matches in nine days. She beat top players like Francesca Schiavone and Marion Bartoli. She even beat Serena Williams, who had to stop playing during their match. This victory made her the first Canadian woman in 20 years to win a WTA title. Her ranking jumped from No. 85 to No. 45 in the world.
The mayor of Blainville, Quebec, honored her by giving her the key to the city. They even called the town "Wozniakville" for a day!
Reaching Her Peak (2009)
In 2009, Aleksandra continued to play well. At the Australian Open, she played mixed doubles with fellow Canadian Daniel Nestor. They reached the quarterfinals.
She reached her third singles final in April at Ponte Vedra Beach. She beat world No. 10, Nadia Petrova, but lost to Caroline Wozniacki in the final.
At the French Open, Aleksandra was the 24th seed. She became the first player from Quebec to be seeded at this major tournament. She reached the fourth round, which was a first for a Canadian woman in 17 years. After this, her ranking rose to a career-high of No. 21.
She was named Athlete of the Year by Tennis Quebec. The Canadian Press also named her Female Athlete of the Year for her amazing season.
Dealing with Challenges (2010–2011)
The years 2010 and 2011 were tough for Aleksandra. She faced early losses in tournaments and dealt with injuries. At the French Open, she lost in the third round after a long match. A forearm injury forced her to stop playing for the rest of 2010.
She returned in 2011 and played in the 2011 French Open. She won her first match back at a Grand Slam. In August, she won the Vancouver Open, which was her second biggest tournament win.
Back in Form and Olympics (2012)
In 2012, Aleksandra started strong. At the Australian Open, she reached the second round for the first time. In March, she won the Bahamas Open. She also reached the third round of the Miami Open.
She reached the third round of the French Open for the fourth time in five years. Aleksandra also played in the Summer Olympics in London. At the Rogers Cup in Canada, she reached the quarterfinals. This was the first time a Canadian woman had done so since 1992. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury ended her season early.
More Injuries and Comebacks (2013–2014)
Aleksandra continued to struggle with injuries in 2013. She had to take breaks to heal her shoulder. She returned to play at the US Open.
In 2014, she started working with a new coach, Nathalie Tauziat. She helped Canada reach the World Group play-offs in the Fed Cup for the first time since 2004. She also helped Canada get a spot in the World Group I, which was a first for the country. Later in 2014, she needed shoulder surgery, which ended her season.
A New Beginning (2015–2017)
After her shoulder surgery, Aleksandra returned to play in August 2015. She slowly worked her way back. In February 2016, she reached the quarterfinals of a tournament in Arizona. She played in the French Open, her first Grand Slam since 2014.
In July 2017, Aleksandra won her first title since 2012 at the Challenger de Gatineau. She won another title in October 2017 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Playing for Canada: Fed Cup
Aleksandra Wozniak was a key player for the Canadian Fed Cup team. She won her first Fed Cup match in 2004. She has an impressive record of 40 wins and 12 losses in the Fed Cup. Her 40 total victories are a Canadian Fed Cup record. Her 32 singles wins are also a record. She played in 36 Fed Cup matches, which is another record.
How She Played
Aleksandra Wozniak had a strong all-court game. This means she was good at playing from all areas of the court. She had a very effective first serve and a powerful backhand. She was also good at overhead shots. Her favorite type of court to play on was clay.
WTA Tournament Finals
Aleksandra reached three WTA singles finals in her career. She won one of them and was the runner-up in two.
- Win: In July 2008, she won the Stanford Classic in the United States on a hard court.
- Losses:
* In May 2007, she was runner-up at the Morocco Open on clay. * In April 2009, she was runner-up at the Amelia Island Championships in the United States on clay.
ITF Tournament Finals
Aleksandra had a very successful career in ITF tournaments. She played in 14 singles finals, winning 11 titles and finishing as runner-up 3 times. She also reached two doubles finals.
Awards and Recognition
Aleksandra Wozniak received many awards for her tennis achievements:
- She was named Tennis Canada female player of the year five times: in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2012.
- In 2009, she won the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award, which is given to Canada's female athlete of the year.
- In 2012, she received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Images for kids
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Aleksandra Wozniak at the 2011 French Open.
See also
In Spanish: Aleksandra Wozniak para niños
