Anastasia Myskina facts for kids
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| Native name | Анастасия Мыскина |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Russia |
| Residence | Moscow, Russia |
| Born | 8 July 1981 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Turned pro | 1998 |
| Retired | (last match 2007) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $5,606,725 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 355–191 (65.02%) |
| Career titles | 10 |
| Highest ranking | No. 2 (13 September 2004) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (2003, 2004) |
| French Open | W (2004) |
| Wimbledon | QF (2005, 2006) |
| US Open | QF (2003) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | SF (2004) |
| Olympic Games | SF – 4th (2004) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 100–92 (52.08%) |
| Career titles | 5 |
| Highest ranking | No. 15 (21 February 2005) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (2005) |
| French Open | 3R (2004, 2006) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2006) |
| US Open | 1R (2003, 2005) |
| Other doubles tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | 2R (2000) |
| Team competitions | |
| Fed Cup | W (2004, 2005) Record 18–6 |
Anastasia Andreyevna Myskina (Russian: Анастасия Андреевна Мыскина; born on July 8, 1981) is a former professional tennis player from Russia. She made history by winning the 2004 French Open singles title. This made her the first Russian woman to win a major singles title in tennis.
After her big win, Anastasia reached No. 3 in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. This was the first time a Russian woman had been ranked so high. In September 2004, she reached her highest ranking ever, No. 2 in the world.
Contents
Anastasia Myskina's Tennis Journey
Early Career: 1999–2001
Anastasia Myskina was born in Moscow, Russia. She became a professional tennis player in 1998. That year, she entered the top 500 players in the world. She won her first WTA title in Palermo, Italy, very early in her career.
She played in her first major tournament, the US Open, and also played for Russia in the Fed Cup. In 2000, Anastasia beat a top-20 player for the first time. She also played at the Roland Garros and Wimbledon for the first time. She even competed in the Sydney Olympics.
Breaking Through: 2002 Season
The year 2002 was a big one for Anastasia. She earned her first win against a top-10 player in Rome. This helped her enter the top 20 rankings. She reached two grass-court finals in a row in England. Her ranking then rose to No. 15.
Anastasia won her first big Tier II title in Brazil. She also finished second in another tournament in Germany. This helped her qualify for the WTA Tour Championships, a tournament for the best players. She ended 2002 in the top 15 for the first time.
Rising Star: 2003 Season
In 2003, Anastasia played in the Hong Kong Tennis Classic. She reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, which was her first time reaching the quarterfinals at a major tournament. She won the title in Doha, beating her friend Elena Likhovtseva in the first-ever all-Russian WTA final. This win pushed her into the top 10 players in the world.
She continued to play well, winning in Sarasota, USA. Later that year, she reached the quarterfinals at the US Open. She then won two titles back-to-back in Germany and Moscow. The Moscow win was her first Tier I title, and she was the first Russian woman to win the Kremlin Cup. She also reached the finals in Philadelphia. Anastasia earned over $1 million in prize money and finished the year in the top 10.
French Open Champion: 2004 Season
The year 2004 was Anastasia's best season. She successfully defended her title in Doha. After that, she became the second Russian woman to enter the top 5 rankings.
The biggest moment of 2004 was her victory at the French Open. She had to save match points in one match to keep going. She then beat famous players like Venus Williams and Jennifer Capriati. In the final, she played against her fellow Russian, Elena Dementieva, winning 6–1, 6–2. This was the first time two Russian women played each other in a major final. Anastasia became the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. Before this, she had never gone past the second round at the French Open.
After her win in Paris, she moved up to No. 3 in the rankings. She reached another final in San Diego, USA, where she ended Maria Sharapova's 14-match winning streak. She also won a very long match against Vera Zvonareva, saving nine match points.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, she reached the semifinals but lost. She then reached her career-high ranking of No. 2. Anastasia won the Kremlin Cup for the second year in a row, beating No. 2 Lindsay Davenport along the way. She also performed well at the WTA Championships. Anastasia helped Russia win its first Fed Cup title, winning eight of her nine matches in the competition. She finished 2004 as world No. 3, which was the best year-end ranking for a Russian woman at that time. She earned over $2 million in prize money and had ten wins against top-10 players that year.
Challenges and Comebacks: 2005 Season
The year 2005 brought mixed results for Anastasia. She struggled in the first half of the year due to personal issues with her mother's health. She lost in the first round of both Doha and the Roland Garros, becoming the first Roland Garros champion to lose in the opening round the next year.
Despite a tough start, she turned things around at Wimbledon. She reached her first quarterfinal at Wimbledon, winning three matches after being far behind. She fell out of the top 10 in August. She then won her tenth career title in Kolkata, India. She also beat Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in the Fed Cup semifinals. Anastasia finished the year in the top 15 for the fourth time in a row.
Injuries and Final Years: 2006–2007
The year 2006 was difficult for Anastasia. She had chances to return to the top 10 but couldn't quite make it. At the Roland Garros, she reached the fourth round before losing to the eventual champion, Justine Henin.
She showed flashes of her old form during the grass season, reaching the final in Eastbourne, UK, where she lost a very close match. She also made it to the Wimbledon quarterfinals but lost to the eventual champion, Amélie Mauresmo. After Wimbledon, her game struggled. She lost in the first round of the US Open to future world No. 1, Victoria Azarenka, while dealing with an injury. Anastasia missed most of the indoor season due to foot and toe injuries. She played only two singles matches in 2007, losing both, and then retired from professional tennis.
How Anastasia Played Tennis
Anastasia Myskina was a baseline player. This means she liked to hit the ball from the back of the court. She was great at defending but could also hit powerful shots. Her two-handed backhand was very strong and accurate, often leading to winning points. Her forehand was also powerful, especially when she hit it "inside-out," but sometimes it could lead to mistakes.
Her serve was reliable, but not super fast. Her first serve was usually around 95 miles per hour (153 km/h), and her fastest recorded serve was 107 miles per hour (172 km/h). Her second serve was slower, around 70 miles per hour (113 km/h), and could be attacked by opponents. When she was nervous, she sometimes made double faults.
Anastasia's best qualities were her amazing speed and how well she covered the court. She had precise footwork and could anticipate where the ball would go. She was also good at improvising during matches. She had a delicate touch, using drop shots and lobs effectively to win points. Because she played doubles, she was also skilled at hitting volleys when she came to the net. Her main weakness was being inconsistent, and she sometimes showed her strong emotions on court.
Sponsors and Gear
Anastasia Myskina was sponsored by Nike for her clothing and shoes. She used Head rackets.
Anastasia Myskina's Life Off the Court
Anastasia Myskina has three sons, who were born in 2008, 2010, and 2012.
She has spoken about being a mother and how it compares to tennis. She said that being a mom is much tougher than playing tennis. She also believes that tennis is a better sport for girls than boys. She thinks team sports are better for men because they teach friendship and helping each other.
In 2004, Anastasia was involved in a disagreement about some photos that were published without her full consent. She filed a lawsuit, saying she didn't fully understand the agreement she signed because she wasn't fluent in English at the time. In 2005, a judge ruled that she could not stop the photos from being distributed because she had signed a release form.
Awards and Honors
- ITF World Champion: 2004.
- Sports title "Merited Master of Sports of Russia" (2004).
- Sports title "Merited Coach of Russia" (2021).
- Order of Friendship (2009).
Images for kids
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Anastasia Myskina (right) with Vera Zvonareva
See also
In Spanish: Anastasía Mýskina para niños
