Who is Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova? The Russian who waited 15 years for her first breakthrough performance at a Grandslam


Who is Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova? The Russian who waited 15 years for her first breakthrough performance at a Grandslam

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Russia is known to produce some big names in women’s tennis. Maria Sharapova, Dinara Safina and Anna Kournikova are some of the most popular names in the sport, and were one of the most followed athletes during their playing days. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has joined this league of extraordinary Russian women, after her incredible run at the French Open 2021.

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Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova stormed into the finals of the French Open 2021, after defeating Tamara Zidansek in the semifinals. The Russian will now face Barbora Krejcikova in a blockbuster final, as we are all set to have yet another Grandslam winner in Paris.

The Russian made the headlines during the mid 2000s, when she dominated on the junior’s stage, where she won three Grandslam titles, and was ranked number one in the world. Russian tennis was at it’s peak that time, and many expected Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to dominate women’s tennis alongside Maria Sharapova.

However, as things panned out to be, she never reached her true potential on the senior circuit, and had to wait for 15 years to reach her first Grandslam final at French Open 2021. “Good things come to those who wait,” this truly applies in the case of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

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Who is Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova? A look at her career so far

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has been ranked inside the top 50 rankings in women’s singles since November 2008, which is quite an extraordinary achievement. She has participated in 48 consecutive Grandslams, which draws her level on eighth spot with the Serbian, Ana Ivanovic.

The Russian has has 12 singles career titles to her name, and five in doubles. She reached her best singles ranking of world number 13 in July 2011. The 29-year old has reached the quarterfinals of Australian Open on three occasions in 2017, 2019 and 2020. She also reached the last 8 of Wimbledon in 2016, and US Open in 2011.

Her biggest titles came in 2014, at the GDF Suez Open and the Kremlin Cup. She is currently ranked 32nd in the world, and she is expected to take a huge jump in her rankings after the conclusion of the French Open 2021.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has had a great run in Paris this year, and will hope to claim her maiden French Open title. Barbora Krejcikova, her opponent in the finals, is also making her first appearance in the finals of the Grandslam, and there are expected to plenty of nerves.

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Also Read: Who is Barbora Krejcikova? The woman who to surprised the tennis world at French Open 2021