Sacha Hughes facts for kids
Sacha Hughes at the ASB Classic in Auckland in 2014.
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| Country (sports) |  Australia (2012–2018) New Zealand (2005–2012) |
|---|---|
| Residence | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Born | 8 November 1990 Auckland |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Turned pro | 2008 |
| Retired | 2018 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $193,622 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 212–119 (64.05%) |
| Career titles | 10 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 150 (8 October 2012) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2013) |
| French Open | Q1 (2011, 2012) |
| Wimbledon | Q2 (2011, 2013) |
| US Open | Q2 (2011) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 35–37 (48.61%) |
| Career titles | 2 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 169 (29 October 2012) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2012) |
Sacha Hughes (born on November 8, 1990) is a former professional tennis player from New Zealand and Australia. She was known as Sacha Jones during her playing career. Sacha became the captain of the New Zealand Fed Cup team in May 2019. Her highest ranking in singles tennis was 150th in the world, which she achieved on October 8, 2012. She also reached a high junior ranking of 11th in the world. In 2009, she became the top-ranked player in New Zealand. Sacha played in the ASB Classic, a big tennis event in New Zealand, seven times.
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About Sacha Hughes
Sacha's father is from Australia, and her mother is from New Zealand. She has two older brothers and one older sister. In 2023, she lived in Noosa, Queensland.
Life After Tennis
Sacha stopped playing professional tennis in 2014. She had several injuries, including stress fractures in her ribs. After retiring, she earned her private pilot's license.
In 2016, Sacha co-founded a website called RealYou with her friend Stephanie Hughes. This website helps young women build their confidence. It also offers support for challenges that teenagers face. Sacha has spoken openly about her own experiences with topics like depression and body image.
Sacha's Tennis Journey
Early Tennis Days
In 2003, Sacha made history by becoming the youngest person to win the New Zealand 18 & Under National Championships. She was only 13 years and one month old. She won the final match with a score of 6–0, 6–1.
In 2005, Sacha started the year ranked outside the top 500 junior players. By the end of the year, she was in the top 75. This was thanks to winning three tournaments in a row. One of these wins was the Oceania Junior Championships in Fiji.
In 2006, Sacha played in all four Junior Grand Slam tournaments. She reached the second round of the Australian Open and Junior Wimbledon. She made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open. At just 16 years old, Sacha finished 2006 ranked 11th in the world for junior players under 18.
When she was 17, Sacha played in the 2008 ASB Classic. She lost in the first round to a top player, Vera Zvonareva. Later that year, Sacha joined the Washington Kastles team. She played alongside famous players like Justin Gimelstob and Serena Williams.
Rising Through the Ranks
Sacha started 2009 ranked 306th in the world. In June, she won her first professional tournament in Texas. In September, she went on an amazing winning streak, winning 24 matches in a row.
At a tournament in Darwin, Australia, Sacha won her second title of the year. She even beat Alicia Molik, a former top-10 player. Two weeks later, she won another title in Mount Gambier, beating Molik again in the final. Her winning streak continued in Port Pirie, where she defeated Molik for a third time.
Sacha then traveled to Rock Hill, South Carolina, and won another tournament without losing a single set. The next week, she reached another final in Phoenix, Arizona. Her winning streak finally ended there. After this great run, her ranking reached a career high of 167th in the world.
Facing Challenges
Sacha was supposed to play in the Auckland Open in 2010. However, she had to pull out because of an abdominal injury. She played in the Pattaya Open but lost in the first round. She could only play a few tournaments that year due to stress fractures in her ribs.
In 2011, Sacha played in the Auckland Open as a wildcard. She lost a close match in the first round to Svetlana Kuznetsova. During this tournament, Sacha also served as the hitting partner for Maria Sharapova. She also played in the US Open qualifying rounds, losing in the second round.
Grand Slam Moments and Wins
Sacha started 2012 at the Auckland Open. She lost her first-round match in a very close three-set match. She then qualified for the Hobart International. There, she won her first main-draw match at a WTA event. She beat Kristina Barrois in straight sets. She lost in the second round to Shahar Pe'er.
At the Australian Open, Sacha played in the women's doubles with her partner Bojana Bobusic. They won their first-round match. This was Sacha's first win in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament.
Sacha had mixed results for most of 2012. She had a three-set win over Eugenie Bouchard to secure her spot in the French Open. At the Gastein Ladies, Sacha won her second main-draw match on the WTA Tour. She won three $25,000 tournaments on the ITF Circuit that year. These included one title in Sweden and two in Australia.
Retirement and New Adventures
In 2013, Sacha made her Grand Slam singles debut at the Australian Open. She was beaten in the first round. In 2013, she suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome and stress fractures in her shin. This meant she played a limited number of tournaments.
At the 2014 Auckland Open, Sacha lost a very close match in the third set. She had several chances to win. In the doubles event, she teamed up with her best childhood friend. They beat the top-seeded team, including former world No. 1 Cara Black. Sacha announced that the Auckland Open would be her last tournament, and she retired from professional tennis. Later in 2014, she won the New Zealand Women's Open in both singles and doubles.
A Short Comeback
In 2018, Sacha made a short return to tennis. She played at the Auckland Open. She lost in the first round of qualifying.
Sacha's Tennis Achievements
Sacha Hughes had a successful career on the ITF Circuit. She won 10 singles titles and was a runner-up 5 times. In doubles, she won 2 titles and was a runner-up 2 times.
