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 Sacha Jones on 8 November 1990) is a former professional tennis player from New Zealand and Australia. She is now the captain for New Zealand's Fed Cup team, a role she started in May 2019. Sacha reached her highest singles ranking of 150 in the world on 8 October 2012. As a junior player, she was ranked as high as 11th globally. In 2009, she became the top-ranked player in New Zealand. She also played in the ASB Classic, a big tennis event in New Zealand, seven times.
About Sacha's Life
Sacha's father is from Australia, and her mother is from New Zealand. She has two older brothers and one older sister.
Why Sacha Stopped Playing Tennis
In 2014, Sacha decided to stop playing professional tennis. This was because she had many injuries, including three stress fractures in her ribs. After leaving professional tennis, she earned her private pilot's license.
Helping Young Women with RealYou
In 2016, Sacha started a website called RealYou with her friend Stephanie Hughes. This website helps young women feel more confident about themselves. It also offers support for challenges that teenagers might face. Sacha is open about her own experiences, which helps others.
Where Sacha Lives Now
As of 2023, Sacha lives in Noosa, a town in Queensland, Australia.
Sacha's Tennis Journey
Early Years: 2003–2008
In 2003, when Sacha was just 13 years old, she made history. She became the youngest person ever to win the New Zealand 18 & Under National Championships. 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. But she quickly improved, finishing the year in the top 75. This was thanks to winning three tournaments in a row, including the Oceania Junior Championships.
In 2006, Sacha played in all four Junior Grand Slam tournaments. These are the biggest junior tennis events in the world. She reached the second round of the Australian Open and Junior Wimbledon. She also made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open. By the end of 2006, at 16 years old, Sacha was ranked 11th in the world for junior players under 18.
In 2008, Sacha played in the 2008 ASB Classic. She lost in the first round to a top player, Vera Zvonareva. Later that year, she joined the Washington Kastles team. She played alongside famous players like Serena Williams.
A Strong Year: 2009
Sacha started 2009 ranked 306th in the world. In June, she won her first professional tournament in Texas. In September, she had an amazing winning streak, winning 24 matches in a row!
During this streak, she won a tournament in Darwin, Australia. 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. The next week, Sacha continued her winning streak 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 following week, she reached another final in Phoenix, Arizona. After this great run, her world ranking went up to a career-high of 167.
Facing Injuries: 2010–2011
Sacha had to pull out of the Auckland Open in 2010 due to an abdominal injury. She played in the 2010 PTT Pattaya Open but lost in the first round. For the rest of the year, she could only play sometimes because of stress fractures in her ribs.
In 2011, Sacha played in the WTA Auckland Open as a wildcard. She lost a close match to the third seed, Svetlana Kuznetsova, in the first round. During this tournament, she also worked as a hitting partner for Maria Sharapova. Sacha also played in the US Open qualifying rounds, losing in the second round.
Big Steps: 2012
Sacha started 2012 at the Auckland Open. She lost her first match in three close sets. She then qualified for the Hobart International. There, she won her first main-draw match at a WTA event, beating Kristina Barrois. She lost a very close match in the second round.
At the 2012 Australian Open, Sacha teamed up with fellow Australian player Bojana Bobusic for women's doubles. They won their first-round match, which was Sacha's first win in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament.
Sacha had mixed results throughout 2012. She beat Eugenie Bouchard in three sets to earn her spot in the French Open. At the 2012 Gastein Ladies, Sacha won her second main-draw match on the WTA Tour. She won three $25,000 titles on the ITF Circuit that year. These wins included one in Sweden and two in Australia.
Final Years and Retirement: 2013–2014
In 2013, Sacha played in her first Grand Slam singles match at the 2013 Australian Open. She lost in the first round. That year, she struggled with chronic fatigue syndrome and stress fractures in her shin. This meant she could only play a few tournaments.
At the 2014 Auckland Open, Sacha lost a very close match after having several chances to win. In the doubles event, she played with her best childhood friend. They had a big win, beating the top-ranked team in the first round. 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: 2018
In 2018, Sacha made a brief return to tennis at the Auckland Open. She lost in the first round of the qualifying matches.
Sacha's Professional Titles
Sacha won 10 singles titles and 2 doubles titles on the ITF Circuit during her career.
