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. She reached her highest ranking of No. 21 in June 2009. This made her the fifth highest-ranked Canadian singles player ever.
Aleksandra won one WTA tournament and eleven ITF tournaments. In 2008, she won 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 do this. She was named Female Player of the Year by Tennis Canada five times.
Contents
Early Life and Tennis Start
Aleksandra Wozniak's family moved to Canada from Poland in 1983. She can speak 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
Early Years (2002–2007)
In 2002, when she was 14, Aleksandra won two Canadian championships. She won the Under-16 and Under-18 indoor titles. In 2004, she won the Kentucky International Junior Tennis Derby. By 2005, she was ranked No. 3 in junior tennis.
She also won several smaller tournaments called Challengers. In 2006, she won the Pittsburgh Challenger, beating Victoria Azarenka. She also beat her first top-100 player, Li Na, in Thailand. Later that year, she defeated Olga Puchkova, who was ranked in the top 50.
First WTA Title (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, Aleksandra won her first and only WTA singles title. This happened at the Stanford Classic. She beat strong players like Francesca Schiavone and Sybille Bammer. She also played against Serena Williams, who had to stop the match early. In the final, Aleksandra defeated Marion Bartoli.
To win, she had to play eight matches in nine days, including qualifying rounds. She was the first Canadian woman in 20 years to win a WTA Tour singles title. Her ranking jumped from No. 85 to No. 45 in the world. The mayor of Blainville, Quebec, even gave her the key to the city.
Reaching New Heights (2009)
Aleksandra played in the Australian Open as the 30th seed. She teamed up with Daniel Nestor for mixed doubles and reached the quarterfinals.
In March, she beat Nadia Petrova, who was ranked No. 10, at the Indian Wells tournament. Her world ranking went up to No. 29. In April, she reached another final in Ponte Vedra Beach. She lost to Caroline Wozniacki in that match.
At the French Open, Aleksandra was the 24th seed. This was the first time a player from Quebec was seeded at this tournament. She made it to the fourth round, which was a great achievement. She was the first Canadian woman to reach the second week of the French Open in 17 years.
After the French Open, her ranking reached a career-high of No. 21. She was also the first Canadian woman to be seeded in singles at Wimbledon in 20 years.
Aleksandra was named "Athlete of the Year" by Tennis Quebec. She was also named Female Athlete of the Year by the Canadian Press.
Challenges and Comebacks (2010–2011)
In 2010, Aleksandra faced some tough matches and injuries. She lost to Caroline Wozniacki again at the Australian Open. She also had early losses in other tournaments.
At the French Open, she lost in the third round after a long match. She had to end her season early because of a forearm injury.
In 2011, Aleksandra returned to play after her injury. She qualified for the 2011 French Open. She won her first match but then lost to world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki. She also won the Vancouver Open, which was her second biggest tournament win.
Olympic Experience (2012)
In 2012, Aleksandra started strong at the Australian Open. She reached the second round for the first time. She also won the Bahamas Open in March.
She reached the third round of the Miami Open. She played in the Summer Olympics in London, which was her first Olympic experience. She reached the second round there.
At the Rogers Cup in Canada, she made it to the quarterfinals. This was the first time a Canadian woman had done that in 20 years. Her season ended early due to a shoulder injury.
More Injuries and Returns (2013–2017)
Aleksandra continued to face injuries in 2013 and 2014. She had to take breaks to let her shoulder heal. In 2014, she had shoulder surgery.
Despite the injuries, she helped Canada's Fed Cup team. She played a key role in helping Canada reach the World Group I for the first time ever in 2014.
She made her return to tennis in August 2015 after her surgery. She continued to play in various tournaments. In 2017, she won two more titles on the ITF Circuit. She won the Challenger de Gatineau in July and another tournament in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in October.
Fed Cup Achievements
Aleksandra Wozniak has an amazing record in the Fed Cup. She won her first Fed Cup match in 2004. She has a record of 40 wins and 12 losses.
Her 40 total victories are a Canadian Fed Cup record. Her 32 wins in singles matches are also a record. She has played in 36 Fed Cup ties, which is another record for Canada.
Playing Style
Aleksandra Wozniak had a strong all-court game. This means she could play well from all parts of the court. She had a powerful first serve and a strong backhand shot. She was also good at overhead shots. Her favorite playing surface was clay.
Awards and Recognition
Aleksandra Wozniak received many awards during her career:
- 2004 – Tennis Canada female player of the year
- 2006 – Tennis Canada female player of the year
- 2008 – Tennis Canada female player of the year
- 2009 – Tennis Canada female player of the year
- 2009 – Bobbie Rosenfeld Award (given to Canada's female athlete of the year)
- 2012 – Tennis Canada female player of the year
- 2012 – Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
See Also
In Spanish: Aleksandra Wozniak para niños
