Nicole Vaidišová facts for kids
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Vaidišová in 2019
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| Country (sports) |  Czech Republic |
|---|---|
| Residence | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Born | 23 April 1989 Nuremberg, West Germany |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Turned pro | 2003 |
| Retired | 2016 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$ 2,778,619 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 225–116 (65.98%) |
| Career titles | 6 WTA, 2 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 7 (14 May 2007) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (2007) |
| French Open | SF (2006) |
| Wimbledon | QF (2007, 2008) |
| US Open | 4R (2005) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | 1R (2008) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 13–31 (29.55%) |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 128 (2 October 2006) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (2008) |
| French Open | 1R (2006, 2009) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2006, 2007) |
| US Open | 1R (2005) |
| Other doubles tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | 1R (2008) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Career record | 4–3 |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| French Open | 2R (2005) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2008) |
| US Open | 2R (2005) |
Nicole Vaidišová Štěpánková (born on April 23, 1989) is a former professional tennis player from the Czech Republic.
She was a very successful player, reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open and French Open. She also made it to the quarterfinals twice at Wimbledon. Nicole started playing tennis at just six years old. She trained at the famous Nick Bollettieri tennis academy in Florida.
Nicole was known for her powerful serve. Her strong groundstrokes, combined with her serve, made her an aggressive player. On August 9, 2006, when she was only 17, she became one of the youngest players ever to reach the top 10 in the WTA Tour rankings. Her highest ranking was world No. 7 in May 2007. She first retired from tennis in 2010, but came back in 2014. She retired again in 2016 due to injuries.
Contents
Career Highlights
Starting Strong: 2003–2004
Nicole Vaidišová began her professional tennis career in 2003. She quickly reached three finals and won an ITF tournament in the Czech Republic.
In 2004, her first full year as a pro, Nicole finished among the top 100 players. She won her first WTA Tour title in Vancouver. She was only 15 years old, making her one of the youngest champions in tour history. She also won her second title of the year at the Tashkent Open. By October, she was ranked No. 74, becoming the youngest player in the top 100.
Nicole played in her first major tournament, the US Open, but lost in the first round. She ended 2004 with two WTA titles and a great record of 31 wins and 8 losses.
Rising Star: 2005–2007
In 2005, Nicole got her first win at a Grand Slam event at the Australian Open. She reached the third round there. In April, she entered the top 50 rankings. She also achieved her first win against a top 10 player, beating Anastasia Myskina.
Nicole reached her first final in Istanbul in May, but lost to Venus Williams. At the US Open, she made it to the fourth round, her best Grand Slam result at that time.
She then won three titles in a row in Asia: Seoul, Tokyo, and Bangkok. This winning streak of 15 matches was very impressive. She became the first player since 2004 to win three titles in three weeks. By October, she was ranked No. 18.
In May 2006, Nicole won her sixth WTA Tour title in Strasbourg. In June, she had her best Grand Slam performance at the French Open, reaching the semifinals. She beat world No. 1 Amélie Mauresmo and Venus Williams there. At Wimbledon, she reached the fourth round. This meant she had reached the round of 16 or better in all four Grand Slam tournaments.
In July, she reached the semifinals in Stanford and San Diego. After San Diego, she moved into the top 10 for the first time, becoming the 12th-youngest player to do so. She finished 2006 ranked No. 10, making it her most successful year.
Starting 2007, Nicole reached the semifinals of the Sydney International. She then reached her second Grand Slam semifinal at the Australian Open, losing to the eventual champion Serena Williams.
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She had a wrist injury that made her miss most of the clay court season. However, she still reached the quarterfinals of the French Open. At Wimbledon, she reached the quarterfinals again. She had beaten defending champion Amélie Mauresmo in the fourth round.
Nicole was out for two months after Wimbledon due to illness. She returned at the US Open. She finished the year by reaching semifinals in Zürich and Linz.
Challenges and Retirement: 2008–2010
In 2008, Nicole reached the semifinals of the Sydney International. She then had a tough period, losing six matches in a row.
At Wimbledon, she surprisingly made it to the quarterfinals. By the end of 2008, her ranking had dropped to No. 41. In 2009, her ranking fell out of the top 100.
In March 2010, at just 20 years old, Nicole's stepfather announced her retirement from professional tennis. He said she had "lack of interest in tennis."
Comeback and Second Retirement: 2014–2016
Nicole Vaidišová made a comeback to professional tennis in September 2014. She played in an ITF event in Albuquerque, winning her first match.
In March 2015, she qualified for her first WTA Tour main draw since 2010 at the Monterrey Open. She also played at the Miami Open, winning her first match before losing to a top player.
In July 2016, Nicole announced her second and final retirement from professional tennis due to injuries.
Personal Life
Nicole Vaidišová was introduced to tennis by her mother, Riana. She has three younger brothers: Filip, Oliver, and Toby. She can speak Czech, English, and German.
Nicole married fellow Czech tennis player Radek Štěpánek in July 2010. They divorced in 2013 but remarried in 2018. They have two daughters, Stella and Meda.
Endorsements
Nicole Vaidišová was a face for Reebok and appeared in their advertising campaigns. She also promoted Citizen Watches. She used Yonex racquets during her career.
In 2007, Nicole was featured in the video game Virtua Tennis 3.
Wins Over Top Players
Nicole Vaidišová had some impressive wins against top-ranked players during her career.
| # | Player | Rank | Event | Surface | Rd | Score | NVR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | |||||||
| 1. |  Anastasia Myskina |
No. 6 | Charleston Open, US | Clay | 2R | 6–3, 5–7, 6–4 | No. 49 |
| 2. | Nadia Petrova |
No. 9 | Bangkok Open, Thailand | Hard | F | 6–1, 6–7(5–7), 7–5 | No. 18 |
| 2006 | |||||||
| 3. |  Amélie Mauresmo |
No. 1 | French Open | Clay | 4R | 6–7(5–7), 6–1, 6–2 | No. 16 |
| 4. | Amélie Mauresmo |
No. 1 | Kremlin Cup, Russia | Carpet | QF | 1–6, 7–5, 7–6(7–3) | No. 11 |
| 2007 | |||||||
| 5. | Elena Dementieva |
No. 8 | Australian Open | Hard | 4R | 6–3, 6–3 | No. 12 |
| 6. | Amélie Mauresmo |
No. 4 | Wimbledon Championships, UK | Grass | 4R | 7–6(8–6), 4–6, 6–1 | No. 10 |
| 7. |  Jelena Janković |
No. 3 | Zurich Open, Switzerland | Hard | 2R | 6–4, 6–4 | No. 15 |
| 2008 | |||||||
| 8. |  Daniela Hantuchová |
No. 9 | Sydney International, Australia | Hard | 2R | 6–4, 6–2 | No. 12 |
| 9. | Jelena Janković |
No. 3 | Sydney International, Australia | Hard | QF | 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 | No. 12 |
| 10. | Anna Chakvetadze |
No. 8 | Wimbledon Championships, UK | Grass | 4R | 4–6, 7–6(7–0), 6–3 | No. 22 |
Images for kids
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Vaidišová in 2019
See also
In Spanish: Nicole Vaidišová para niños
