Friday, September 2, 2011

Anastasia Rodionova


anastasia rodionova


Anastasia Rodionova (Pron: Rodi-o-nova) (Russian: Анастаси́я Ива́новна Родио́нова, born 12 May 1982 in Tambov, Soviet Union) is an Australian professional female tennis player, and the current Australian No. 1 in doubles. She achieved her career high rank of #62 on 16 August 2010. She lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Representing Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Rodionova won the gold medal in both women's singles and women's doubles, and won the silver medal in mixed doubles.

She won the 2000 Russian Championships 18s in singles and doubles.

She was a finalist in Wimbledon 2003 in mixed doubles with Andy Ram.

Rodionova underwent major hip surgery in September 2008 in Melbourne to treat an injury that she had carried since Wimbledon 2003.

Rodionova is an Official Ambassador for Guide Dogs Victoria since January 2009 and regularly visits puppies in training when home in Melbourne.
Rodionova started to play tennis at age 7, but she was introduced to tennis much earlier. Her father Ivan was an amateur player so instead of toys, Rodionova had tennis balls in her pram. He coached her until 18 years old when she left Tambov, Russia and moved to Germany to practice for 3 years before returning to Moscow to live in 2003. She has resided in Melbourne, Australia with her partner Lorne Padman since 2005. Rodionova's sister Arina has also been a professional tennis player since 2004.
In 2006, after reaching the 2nd round in the 2nd tier tournament in Los Angeles, Rodionova entered the Top 100 WTA rankings for the first time in her career. At the US Open she became one of the leading players after making it to the 3rd round (her best result in singles at a Grand Slam tournament to date). This catapulted Rodionova to 81 in the world. In doubles with Elena Vesnina she also reached the WTA tournament final in Bangalore, India and she captured her 11th ITF title in Italy in partnership with her sister Arina Rodionova. In 2007 Rodionova played a whopping 28 WTA tournaments. At the Australian Open Grand Slam she reached the 2nd round but lost to world number 2 and eventual finalist, Maria Sharapova. In Miami's Tier 1 tournament Rodionova took more games off the eventual tournament champion Serena Williams in her 2nd round defeat than any other person in that tournament. In the Estoril Open, Portugal, Rodionova won her 2nd title in doubles with Andreea Ehritt-Vanc from Romania. Together they also made the finals in Morocco. In the 1st tier tournament in Los Angeles Rodionova made the semi-finals, partnering with Tatiana Poutchek. In Guangzhou, China Rodionova reached the singles semi-final but was unable to finish the match due to heat stroke. At the Tashkent Open, Rodionova once again teamed up with Tatiana Poutchek making the final, but lost in 3 sets to Ekaterina Dzehalevich and Anastasiya Yakimova. Rodionova ended the year ranked 78th place in singles.
Rodionova started the new 2008 season in New Zealand, but it began unsuccessfully as she was forced to retire in the opening round due to eye problems, where she was experiencing double vision. After a short-course of treatment in Melbourne Rodionova began preparations for the Australian Open. There she played under the Australian flag for the first time and successfully reached the 2nd round losing to Katarina Srebotnik. In the next few tournaments of Pattaya, Doha and Dubai Rodionova struggled with her vision with three 1st round defeats in singles, but made a doubles semi-final with Arina at the Pattaya Open. Then success increased remarkably, resulting in her gaining several considerable victories over the multiple top 30 players. In India she defeated the number 20 in the world Sybille Bammer from Austria on the way to the quarter-final, where she went down to Serena Williams. She carried that confidence through the USA series, passing qualification in Miami and reaching the 2nd round and making the 3rd round in Charleston, losing to Jelena Janković.
May 2008 saw the beginning of a spate of injuries that significantly hampered the rest of her year, taking 1st round honours in tournaments that she would have otherwise performed much more brightly. Movement did not restrict her as much in doubles and she made quarter finals in a Moscow ITF, semi-finals in New Haven, 3rd round in the US Open, and semi-final in Guangzhou. However, it was clear that without major hip surgery, Rodionova's career would forever be handicapped so in September she underwent a specialised operation in Melbourne and spent the remainder of the year in rehabilitation.
Results were restricted significantly for the first half of the year while Rodionova strengthened her hip and built on-court fitness following the major hip operation in September 2008. She sustained a badly sprained ankle during 1st round singles at Los Angeles in July and was forced to retire. Rodionova represented Australia at the US Open and equalled her career best 3rd round in singles before returning home to Melbourne to receive intensive treatment on a heavily injured ankle and torn leg muscle. She withdrew from the tournament in Seoul to complete treatment and rejoined the WTA Tour in Tokyo, Japan. Rodionova's final tournament for 2009 was in Poiters, France and she ended her season ranked back inside the Top 100 at 97.
Rodionova started the year the Brisbane Open falling in qualifying but making the doubles final. Then played Sydney fell in the last round of qualifying to Kimiko Date Krumm, At the Australia Open Rodionova lost to Kuznetsova 6–1 6–2, but partnered with Vera Dushevina to make the 3rd round of doubles, knocking off 5th Seeds Nadia Petrova and Sam Stosur en route. Rodionova then played numerous tournaments in Asia and Arab Emerates. Highlighted by a Quarterfinal showing at Kuala Lumpur, and 2nd round loses at Dubai and Pattaya City. Rodionova lost in qualifying at Indian Wells but successfully qualified through to the main draw of Miami.

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