Anna Chakvetadze Facts for Kids

In this article, the patronymic is Djambuliovna and the family name is Chakvetadze.

Quick facts for kids
Anna Chakvetadze
Анна Чакветадзе
Singles
Chakvetadze at the 2009 Italian Open
Country (sports)	Russia
Residence	Moscow, Russia
Born	(1987-03-05) 5 March 1987 (age 38) Moscow, Soviet Union
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Turned pro	2003
Retired	11 September 2013
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money	$3,909,756
Career record	296–170 (63.52%)
Career titles	8 WTA, 2 ITF
Highest ranking	No. 5 (10 September 2007)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	QF (2007)
French Open	QF (2007)
Wimbledon	4R (2008)
US Open	SF (2007)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	SF (2007)
Doubles
Career record	38–64 (37.25%)
Career titles	1 ITF
Highest ranking	No. 53 (6 August 2007)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	1R (2007–2012)
French Open	QF (2006)
Wimbledon	2R (2007, 2009)
US Open	3R (2006)
Team competitions
Fed Cup	W (2007, 2008), Record 7–3

Anna Djambuliovna Chakvetadze (Анна Джамбулиевна Чакветадзе; born 5 March 1987) is a former professional tennis player from Russia. She was known for her strong defensive game and smart play on the court.

During her career, Anna won eight major singles titles on the WTA Tour. She reached her highest singles ranking of world No. 5 in September 2007. This happened after she made it to the semifinals of the US Open. In the same year, she also reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open and the French Open. Anna stopped playing tennis professionally on September 11, 2013, because of a back injury that kept bothering her. Today, she works as a tennis commentator for the Eurosport channel.

Anna Chakvetadze's Tennis Journey
How Anna Played Tennis
Anna's Life Off the Court
- A Difficult Event at Home
- In Politics
Images for kids
See also

Anna Chakvetadze's Tennis Journey

Anna Chakvetadze started playing tennis when she was eight years old. Her mother introduced her to the sport. She quickly showed talent and worked her way up in the tennis world.

Early Days: Junior Tournaments

In 2003, Anna had a great year as a junior player.

She reached the final of the Junior Championships at Wimbledon.
She also won the International Bavarian Junior Challenge.

Her junior record was impressive, with 67 wins and 19 losses in singles. She reached a high junior ranking of No. 22 in the world.

Becoming a Pro: 2001–2006

Anna began her professional career in November 2001.

In July 2002, she won her first doubles title in Istanbul.
At the 2004 US Open, she made it to the main tournament for the first time. She even beat the world No. 3 player, Anastasia Myskina.
By September 2004, she was ranked in the top 100 players worldwide.
In June 2005, she entered the top 50.

On September 25, 2006, Anna won her first WTA Tour singles title in Guangzhou, China. Just two weeks later, she won her second WTA title at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. These big wins helped her ranking climb to world No. 16.

Breakthrough Year: Reaching World No. 5 in 2007

Chakvetadze at the 2007 San Diego Open

The year 2007 was Anna's best.

She started by winning the Hobart International in Australia, her third career title.
At the Australian Open, she reached the quarterfinals.
In February, she entered the top ten rankings for the first time, reaching world No. 10.
She made it to the semifinals of the Miami Open.
At the French Open, she again reached the quarterfinals.
She won her second title of the year on grass courts in 's-Hertogenbosch.
During the summer, she won two more titles back-to-back: the Cincinnati Open and the Bank of the West Classic in Palo Alto. This winning streak helped her reach world No. 6.
At the US Open, she had her best Grand Slam result, reaching the semifinals. This achievement pushed her ranking to a career-high of world No. 5.
Anna also qualified for the year-end Tour Championships, where she reached the semifinals.

Continuing Success and Challenges: 2008–2012

Anna continued to play well in 2008.

She won the Open Gaz de France title in February.
She helped Russia win their Fed Cup tie against Israel.

However, from 2009 onwards, Anna faced more challenges, including injuries and illnesses.

In 2009, her ranking dropped out of the top 50.
In 2010, she won her eighth WTA Tour title at the Slovenia Open, showing her fighting spirit. She also won the Bronx Open.
The year 2011 was tough due to illness. She even collapsed during a match in Dubai because of a stomach illness. This led to her missing several tournaments.
In 2012, she continued to struggle with injuries, including a leg cramp at the Hobart International. Her ranking fell out of the top 500.

Retirement and a Possible Comeback

On September 11, 2013, Anna Chakvetadze announced her retirement from professional tennis. This was due to ongoing back problems that made it too difficult to continue playing at a high level.

After retiring, Anna became a tennis commentator for Eurosport. In 2023, she played one doubles match in a smaller tournament, which made some people wonder if she might be thinking about a comeback!

How Anna Played Tennis

Anna Chakvetadze was a baseline player, meaning she usually stayed near the back of the court. Her game was built on excellent defensive skills. She was known for her:

Speed: She could move very quickly around the court.
Court Coverage: She was great at reaching almost any ball.
Shot Selection: She made smart choices about where to hit the ball.
Anticipation: She could often guess where her opponent would hit the ball next.
Footwork: Her movement on the court was very smooth and effective.

Both her forehand and backhand shots were hit flat and deep, making them hard for opponents to return. She was also good at hitting her backhand with a slice when needed. Anna was an excellent counterpuncher, which means she could turn her opponent's strong shots into opportunities for herself. She was very fit, allowing her to keep rallies going until she found a chance to hit a winning shot.

Her first serve was powerful, often reaching speeds of about 155 km/h (96 mph) and sometimes even 175 km/h (109 mph). Her second serve was reliable, helping her avoid mistakes. Even though she mostly played from the back of the court, she was also good at playing close to the net because of her experience in doubles.

Anna's Life Off the Court

A Difficult Event at Home

In December 2007, Anna Chakvetadze experienced a very upsetting event at her home in Moscow. This incident was difficult for her and her family.

In Politics

In December 2011, Anna decided to try a new path. She ran for election in the Russian State Duma, which is like the country's parliament. She was part of the Right Cause party, but she was not elected.