Maria Kirilenko Facts for Kids

In this article, the patronymic is Yuryevna and the family name is Kirilenko.

Quick facts for kids
Maria Kirilenko
Мари́я Кириле́нко

Kirilenko at the 2014 Italian Open

Full name

Maria Yuryevna Kirilenko

Native name

Мари́я Ю́рьевна Кириле́нко

Country (sports)

Russia

Residence

Moscow, Russia

Born

25 January 1987 (age 38)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union

Height

1.74 m (5 ft 81⁄2 in)

Turned pro

2001

Retired

2014

Plays

Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Prize money

$6,855,919

Singles

Career record

364–257 (58.62%)

Career titles

Highest ranking

No. 10 (10 June 2013)

Grand Slam singles results

QF (2010)

QF (2013)

QF (2012)

4R (2011)

Other tournaments

Olympic Games

SF – 4th (2012)

Doubles

Career record

255–150 (62.96%)

Career titles

Highest ranking

No. 5 (24 October 2011)

Grand Slam doubles results

F (2011)

F (2012)

3R (2007)

SF (2011)

Other doubles tournaments

Tour Finals

W (2012)

Team competitions

Fed Cup

3–4

Medal record

Olympic Games

Bronze	2012 London	Doubles

Maria Yuryevna Kirilenko (born 25 January 1987) is a former professional tennis player from Russia. She was a talented young player, winning the junior title at the 2002 US Open when she was only 15.

As a professional, Kirilenko became one of the best players in the world in both singles and doubles. In singles, she won six WTA Tour titles and reached the quarterfinals of three Grand Slam tournaments: the 2010 Australian Open, the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, and the 2013 French Open. Her highest singles ranking was world No. 10, which she achieved in 2013.

In doubles, she was even more successful, winning 12 titles and reaching the world No. 5 ranking. She played in two Grand Slam doubles finals and won the 2012 WTA Tour Championships with her partner Nadia Petrova. Kirilenko also won a bronze medal in doubles at the 2012 London Olympics.

Tennis Career
Life Outside of Tennis
- Fashion and Media
- Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Tennis Career

Early Success

Kirilenko at the French Open, also known as Roland Garros, in 2006.

Kirilenko showed great promise from a young age. In 2002, she won the junior tournaments at both the Canadian Open and the US Open, marking her as a future star.

She turned professional in 2001 and started playing in WTA events. By 2005, she won her first professional singles title in Beijing, China. This victory helped her climb the world rankings, and by June 2006, she was in the top 20 for the first time.

In 2007, she won her second singles title at the Sunfeast Open in India. She continued to have strong results, defeating top players like Jelena Janković and Marion Bartoli.

Reaching the Top

Kirilenko at the 2008 US Open.

The year 2008 was a big one for Kirilenko. At the 2008 Australian Open, she reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time. Later that year, she won two more singles titles in Estoril, Portugal, and Barcelona, Spain.

Her biggest breakthrough came in 2010 at the 2010 Australian Open. Unseeded (meaning she was not ranked among the top players), she defeated former champion Maria Sharapova in a very long and exciting first-round match. She went all the way to the quarterfinals, her best result at a Grand Slam so far.

Over the next few years, Kirilenko was a consistent top player. She reached the fourth round of the 2011 US Open and played in the doubles final of the 2011 Australian Open with her partner Victoria Azarenka.

Olympic Glory and Top 10 Ranking

Kirilenko practicing at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

One of the highlights of Kirilenko's career was the 2012 London Olympics. In the singles event, she played incredibly well, reaching the semifinals. Although she narrowly missed out on a singles medal, she won a bronze medal in the doubles event with her partner Nadia Petrova.

Later that year, Kirilenko and Petrova won the prestigious WTA Tour Championships, a tournament for the best doubles teams of the year.

In 2013, Kirilenko continued her excellent form. She won a tournament in Pattaya City, Thailand, and reached the semifinals of the major tournament at Indian Wells. At the 2013 French Open, she reached the quarterfinals, matching her best Grand Slam performance. This achievement helped her reach her career-high singles ranking of world No. 10 on June 10, 2013.

Later Career and Retirement

Kirilenko at the 2014 French Open.

Unfortunately, Kirilenko began to struggle with injuries after her successful 2013 season. A knee injury forced her to miss the 2014 Australian Open. She returned to the tour but found it difficult to compete at her previous level.

Her last strong performance was at the Korea Open, where she reached the semifinals. She played her final professional match in late 2014. Kirilenko has not competed professionally since then and has focused on her family.

Life Outside of Tennis

Fashion and Media

For three years starting in 2006, Kirilenko was the face of the Adidas tennis clothing line designed by famous fashion designer Stella McCartney. In 2009, she was also featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition along with other tennis players.