Yanina Wickmayer facts for kids
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Wickmayer at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships
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| Country (sports) |  Belgium |
|---|---|
| Residence | Hasselt, Belgium |
| Born | 20 October 1989 Lier, Belgium |
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Turned pro | 2004 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Coach | Germain Gigounon |
| Prize money | $5,952,975 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 532–364 (59.38%) |
| Career titles | 5 |
| Highest ranking | No. 12 (19 April 2010) |
| Current ranking | No. 758 (28 October 2024) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 4R (2010, 2015) |
| French Open | 3R (2010, 2011, 2016) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (2011) |
| US Open | SF (2009) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | 2R (2012) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 194–133 (59.33%) |
| Career titles | 4 |
| Highest ranking | No. 61 (11 September 2023) |
| Current ranking | No. 446 (28 October 2024) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2010) |
| French Open | 2R (2017) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2009, 2013) |
| US Open | 2R (2023) |
| Team competitions | |
| Fed Cup | 28–14 (66.67%) |
Yanina Wickmayer (born on October 20, 1989) is a professional tennis player from Belgium. She is known for reaching the semifinals at the 2009 US Open. She also reached her highest singles ranking of No. 12 in the world on April 19, 2010. In doubles, she reached a career-high ranking of No. 61 on September 11, 2023. The WTA named her "Most Improved Player" in 2009. Time magazine also recognized her as one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis" in June 2011.
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About Yanina Wickmayer
Yanina was born on October 20, 1989. Her parents are Marc Wickmayer and Daniella Dannevoye. She started playing tennis when she was nine years old. Friends introduced her to the sport at local courts. Sadly, her mother passed away when Yanina was young.
Yanina's name comes from Gianinna, the youngest daughter of famous soccer player Diego Maradona. Her family name, 'Wickmayer', has roots in Austria from her father's side. Yanina speaks Dutch, English, and French very well. She looks up to former Belgian tennis star Kim Clijsters. In 2017, Clijsters even helped her during the 2017 Wimbledon Championships.
On July 16, 2017, Yanina married her long-time boyfriend, Jérôme van der Zijl. He used to be a professional football player. In April 2021, Yanina became a mother when she gave birth to her daughter.
Yanina's Tennis Journey
Early Career Success
Yanina started her professional tennis journey in 2004. In 2006, she won her first three singles titles and two doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. This circuit is where many players start their careers.
In 2007, she continued to do well on the ITF Circuit. She won several tournaments in Asia. By November 2007, her ranking had jumped from No. 534 to about No. 170 in the world. She won eight singles and seven doubles titles on the circuit that year. Yanina was also chosen to play for the Belgian team in the 2007 Fed Cup.
First WTA Tour Final
In 2008, Yanina had a big win against Kateryna Bondarenko in the 2008 Fed Cup. She reached her first final on the WTA Tour at the Birmingham Classic. She played against Kateryna Bondarenko again but lost in a very close match.
Reaching the US Open Semifinals
Yanina won her first WTA Tour singles title in 2009 at the Estoril Open. She beat Ekaterina Makarova in the final. Later that year, she reached the finals in both singles and doubles at the Rosmalen Open.
Her biggest achievement in 2009 was reaching the semifinals at the US Open. This was a huge step in her career. She played against Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinal match.
After the US Open, she won another title at the Linz tournament. She beat Petra Kvitová in the final. This win helped her enter the top 20 players in the world for the first time.
Breaking into the Top 15
Yanina started 2010 strong by winning the Auckland Open. She didn't lose a single set in the tournament, beating top player Flavia Pennetta in the final. This was her third career title. She also had a great run at the Australian Open, reaching the fourth round. Her performance helped her reach a new career-high ranking of No. 15.
She continued to play well, reaching the quarterfinals at the Miami Open. This strong play pushed her ranking even higher, to world No. 13, and then to No. 12.
Consistent Play
In 2011, Yanina reached the final of the Auckland Open again. She also made it to the semifinals at the Indian Wells Open, which was her best result there. She continued to perform well in major tournaments, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon.
In 2012, Yanina reached another final at the Hobart International. She also made it to the quarterfinals at the Qatar Open. She continued to represent Belgium in the Fed Cup.
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Challenges and Doubles Success
The year 2013 was a bit tougher for Yanina. She reached the final at the Auckland Open but lost. However, she won her first WTA doubles title at the Luxembourg Open with her partner Stephanie Vogt.
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In 2014, Yanina was diagnosed with lyme disease. This illness caused her to miss some tournaments and take time to recover.
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Winning More Titles
Yanina showed great strength in 2015. She reached the fourth round of the Australian Open for the second time. She then won her fourth WTA singles title at the Japan Women's Open. This was her first singles title since 2010. She also won her first WTA Challenger title at the Carlsbad Classic.
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In 2016, Yanina won her fifth career singles title at the Washington Open. She also won the doubles title at the same event with her partner Monica Niculescu.
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Later Career and Comeback
From 2017 to 2019, Yanina faced more challenges with her form and some injuries. She continued to compete in major tournaments and reached two WTA 125 doubles finals in 2019.
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After a break, Yanina made a comeback in 2022. She qualified for Wimbledon after two years away from major tournaments and reached the second round. She also won her third doubles title at the Korea Open with Kristina Mladenovic. In 2023, she qualified for Wimbledon again, making it her 14th time playing in the main draw there.
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See also
In Spanish: Yanina Wickmayer para niños
