Eleni Daniilidou facts for kids
Daniilidou in 2014
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| Country (sports) |  Greece |
|---|---|
| Residence | Thessaloniki |
| Born | 19 September 1982 Chania, Crete |
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Turned pro | 1996 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$ 2,929,165 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 509–431 (54.15%) |
| Career titles | 5 |
| Highest ranking | No. 14 (12 May 2003) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 4R (2003) |
| French Open | 3R (2003) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (2002) |
| US Open | 4R (2004) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 298–277 (51.83%) |
| Career titles | 3 |
| Highest ranking | No. 21 (29 January 2007) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (2005) |
| French Open | SF (2006) |
| Wimbledon | QF (2006) |
| US Open | 2R (2004, 2007) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | F (2003) |
| French Open | 1R (2007) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2006) |
| US Open | 2R (2003) |
| Team competitions | |
| Fed Cup | 29–15 (65.91%) |
Eleni Daniilidou (born September 19, 1982) is a former professional tennis player from Crete, Greece. She is known as one of Greece's best tennis players from the modern era. Eleni won five singles titles and three doubles titles on the WTA Tour. In 2003, she made history by reaching the mixed-doubles final at the Australian Open. This made her the first Greek player ever to reach a Grand Slam final! She also reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 14. For a long time, she was the only Greek female player to be ranked in the top 20. She even beat the reigning French Open champion, Justine Henin, in the first round of Wimbledon in 2005. This was a huge upset!
Eleni Daniilidou's Tennis Journey
Eleni started her professional tennis career in 1996. She was only 14 years old when she reached the final of her first ITF tournament. By 1998, she had earned her first world ranking. In 2001, she broke into the top 100 players after reaching the third round of the US Open.
Rising to the Top in 2002
The year 2002 was Eleni's best. She finished the year ranked No. 22 in the world. She won her first WTA singles title at the Rosmalen Championships. To win, she beat some amazing players like Amélie Mauresmo, Elena Dementieva, and Justine Henin. She also reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time at Wimbledon. Later that year, she made it to her second WTA final at the Brasil Open. She even defeated Monica Seles on her way to the final, but lost to Anastasia Myskina.
More Success in 2003 and 2004
Eleni started 2003 strong by winning her second WTA title at the Auckland Open. She also reached the fourth round of the Australian Open. These great results helped her break into the top 20 players for the first time. She reached her highest ranking of No. 14 after the German Open. She also made it to the semifinals in Paris and at the DFS Classic.
In 2004, Eleni successfully defended her title at the Auckland Open, which was her third WTA singles win. She also reached the semifinals at the big Miami Open, where she beat Jennifer Capriati. Later that year, she matched her best Grand Slam performance by reaching the fourth round at the US Open.
Big Wins and Challenges
The year 2005 was a bit tougher for Eleni, as she didn't win any titles. However, she caused a huge surprise at Wimbledon. She beat Justine Henin, who was the reigning French Open champion at the time. This was a historic moment because it was the first time a French Open champion had lost in the first round of Wimbledon! This win also ended Henin's impressive 24-match winning streak. Eleni reached the third round at Wimbledon that year. She also made it to the semifinals of a smaller WTA event in Slovenia.
In 2006, Eleni improved and got back into the top 50. She won her fourth WTA singles title at the Korea Open. She also reached the semifinals of the Ordina Open again. She stayed in the top 50 in 2007, with her best result being a semifinal at the Connecticut Open. There, she beat Dinara Safina after saving a match point.
Injuries and Later Career
In 2008, Eleni faced challenges due to a right knee injury, which made her miss almost half the year. She still managed to win her fifth and final WTA singles title at the Hobart International. She returned to play at the Summer Olympics in August. However, she struggled to win matches for the rest of the season and finished the year outside the top 100 rankings.
Eleni Daniilidou also had success in doubles. She won three WTA doubles titles during her career. Her highest doubles ranking was world No. 21 in 2007.
Career Highlights and Achievements
Eleni Daniilidou achieved several notable milestones throughout her career.
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Final
In 2003, Eleni reached the final of the mixed doubles event at the Australian Open. She teamed up with Todd Woodbridge from Australia. They played against Leander Paes and Martina Navratilova in the final, but unfortunately lost. This was a big achievement, as it was her first Grand Slam final.
WTA Singles Titles
Eleni won five singles titles on the WTA Tour:
- 2002 Rosmalen Open (Netherlands, Grass) - She beat Elena Dementieva in the final.
- 2003 Auckland Open (New Zealand, Hard) - She defeated Cho Yoon-jeong.
- 2004 Auckland Open (New Zealand, Hard) - She successfully defended her title against Ashley Harkleroad.
- 2006 Korea Open (South Korea, Hard) - She won against Ai Sugiyama.
- 2008 Hobart International (Australia, Hard) - She won by walkover against Vera Zvonareva.
WTA Doubles Titles
Eleni also won three doubles titles on the WTA Tour:
- 2004 Stanford Classic (United States, Hard) - Partnered with Nicole Pratt.
- 2010 İstanbul Cup (Turkey, Hard) - Partnered with Jasmin Wöhr.
- 2011 Tashkent Open (Uzbekistan, Hard) - Partnered with Vitalia Diatchenko.
ITF Circuit Success
Before and during her WTA career, Eleni also played on the ITF Women's Circuit. She had great success there, winning 11 singles titles and 16 doubles titles. These wins helped her gain experience and improve her ranking.
Notable Wins Against Top Players
Eleni Daniilidou was known for her ability to upset top-ranked players. She had 7 wins against players who were ranked in the top 10 at the time of their match. Some of these big wins include:
- Beating Justine Henin (ranked No. 7) at the 2002 Rosmalen Championships.
- Defeating Monica Seles (ranked No. 5) at the 2002 Brazil Cup.
- Winning against Jennifer Capriati (ranked No. 5 and No. 7) at the 2004 Dubai Championships and Miami Open.
- Her famous win over Justine Henin-Hardenne (ranked No. 7) at Wimbledon.
- Beating Svetlana Kuznetsova (ranked No. 4) at the 2005 LA Championships.
Longest Winning Streak
In 2002, Eleni had an impressive 8-match winning streak. This streak included her winning the Ordina Open title and reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon.
See also
In Spanish: Eleni Daniilidou para niños
