Lucie Šafářová

Lucie Šafářová ( Czech pronunciation:  [ˈlutsɪjɛ ˈʃafaːr̝ovaː]) (born 4 February 1987) is a professional Czech tennis player. She was born in Brno. Šafářová has won six WTA tour singles titles, six doubles titles and reached the quarterfinals of the 2007 Australian Open, upsetting defending champion Amélie Mauresmo en route. She has reached twelve singles finals. She reached her first Grand Slam semifinal in 2014 at Wimbledon. In 2015, she won the Australian Open doubles title partnering withBethanie Mattek-Sands. As of 25 May 2015, she is ranked world No. 13.

Contents
[hide]
 * 1 Playing style
 * 2 Career
 * 2.1 2005–2006
 * 2.2 2007
 * 2.3 2008
 * 2.4 2009
 * 2.5 2010
 * 2.6 2011
 * 2.7 2012
 * 2.8 2014
 * 2.9 2015: Debut in Top 10
 * 3 Personal life
 * 4 Significant finals
 * 4.1 Grand Slam finals
 * 4.1.1 Doubles: 1 (1 title)
 * 4.2 Premier Mandatory/Premier 5 finals
 * 4.2.1 Doubles: 1 (1 title)
 * 5 WTA career finals
 * 5.1 Singles: 13 (6 titles, 7 runners-up)
 * 5.2 Doubles: 7 (6 titles, 1 runner-up)
 * 6 Singles performance timeline
 * 7 Doubles performance timeline
 * 8 Top 10 Wins Per Season
 * 8.1 Wins Over Top 10 Players Per Season
 * 9 References
 * 10 External links

Playing style[edit]
Šafářová plays left-handed with a two-handed backhand,[1] and possesses a high topspin forehand similar to that of male tennis star Rafael Nadal. Her timing off the ground allows her to project groundstrokes with power, and she is quick to spot opportunities to take the initiative. Šafářová is notorious for having a volatile return, capable of hitting clean winners, as well as unforced errors. Her preferred surface is clay.[1]

2005–2006[edit]
Šafářová won in Portugal, but lost in the Netherlands to fellow Czech tennis player Klara Koukalová, 6–3, 2–6, 2–6. In August, she won her second tournament overSania Mirza in the final.

Šafářová started off 2006 with a straight-set victory in the final of the Gold Coast tournament, upsetting world no. 6 Patty Schnyder in the semifinal, en route to the title. Also in 2006, she made her first Tier II semifinal at Amelia Island, upsetting Nicole Vaidišová in the round of 16. She later lost to eventual champion Nadia Petrova. Šafářová then made another semifinal, this time at the Tier IV Palermo. She was eventually defeated by Anabel Medina Garrigues.

2007[edit]
At the start of 2007, instead of defending her Gold Coast title, Šafářová played the Hopman Cup, representing the Czech Republic. Due to not defending the points at that tournament, she came into the first Grand Slam of the year ranked no. 70 and unseeded. Yet Šafářová made headlines at the 2007 Australian Open, when she stunned the defending champion and no. 2 seed Amélie Mauresmo in the fourth round, 6–4, 6–3. She then lost to fellow Czech Nicole Vaidišová, 1–6, 4–6, in the quarterfinals. After the Australian Open, her ranking rose from no. 70 to no. 31.

Šafářová continued her good start to 2007 at the Open Gaz de France in Paris. She reached the final, defeating Tsvetana Pironkova in three sets and Nicole Vaidišová, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Justine Henin, all in straight sets. However, she failed against Nadia Petrova, 6–4, 1–6, 4–6. She pulled out of her next event in Antwerp due to a shoulder injury.

Šafářová lost in round 3 of both Indian Wells and Miami to Shahar Pe'er and Serena Williams, respectively. She defeated Daniela Hantuchová, 7–6, 4–6, 6–3, in the Czech Republic vs. Slovak Republic Fed Cup encounter. Šafářová then lost in the SF of Tier IV Estoril to Victoria Azarenka, 4–6, 0–6.

At Roland Garros, Šafářová defeated Mauresmo again, this time in the third round, 6–3, 7–6. It was the second time in a row that Šafářová had beaten Mauresmo in a Grand Slam, after winning their only previous encounter in January at the Australian Open. In the next round, Šafářová lost in three sets to Anna Chakvetadze.

As the 25th seed, Šafářová defeated Zuzana Ondrášková at Wimbledon, followed by a win over Eleni Daniilidou in three sets. However, she lost to third seed (and world no. 3) Jelena Janković in round 3, also in three sets, after coming within two points of another Grand Slam upset. The match was described as the best WTA match of 2007 up to that point and the best women's Wimbledon match in many years.

Šafářová entered the 2007 US Open as the 20th seed, defeating Jessica Moore in the first round and Andrea Petkovic in the second round. She fell to Marion Bartoli in the third round. Closing out the 2007 Grand Slams, she placed third round or better in all, and made the quarterfinals in the Australian Open.

2008[edit]
At the beginning of 2008, Šafářová once again decided to enter the Perth Hopman Cup. She was ranked no. 23 and took on world no. 56 Alicia Molik. The Czechs lost the match, 5–7, 2–6, followed by a loss with her partner on and off the court, Tomáš Berdych, in mixed Doubles. She then competed against Serena Williams. Šafářová lost the first set, 0–6. She managed to come back to win the second set, 6–2, but lost the final set, 5–7. Šafářová and Berdych lost the first set of the mixed doubles, 0–6. They eventually had to leave the tournament, due to Berdych's health concerns.

Šafářová's second competition of the year was the Medibank International. In round 1, she faced Australia's Alicia Molik. Šafářová won the first set, 7–6. In the second set, Molik was up, 6–5, but Šafářová was able to force a tiebreaker. Both had set points and match points throughout the tiebreaker, but Šafářová was able to come out on top, 12–10, leaving the final score, 7–6, 7–6. She subsequently pulled out of the second round against world no. 1 Justine Henin.

Šafářová entered the Australian Open as the 22nd seed. In the first round, she faced Catalina Castaño of Colombia, losing, 1–6, 4–6, in 71 minutes. Later it was revealed that a gluteal strain was plaguing Šafářová during the match. She sustained the injury from her first-round encounter against Molik at the 2008 Sydney Medibank International.

Competing at the Pacific Life Open in the United States, Šafářová, seeded 26th, lost 6–7, 6–2, 4–6, in the second round to American Ashley Harkleroad. Following that, Šafářová played the Sony Ericcson Open, where she lost, 2–6, 1–6, in the third round to fourth seed Jelena Janković.

2009[edit]
Šafářová began the year with a quarterfinal showing at the international hard-court event in Brisbane. She defeated the Australians Isabella Holland and Samantha Stosur, before being defeated by second-seededVictoria Azarenka of Belarus, 6–7, 4–6. After failing to qualify for the premier event in Sydney, Šafářová reached the third round of the Australian Open en route defeating Sybille Bammer and Marina Erakovic, before losing to Marion Bartoli, 6–3, 2–6, 1–6.

2010[edit]
Šafářová at the 2010 US Open

Šafářová started the 2010 season by reaching the quarterfinals of the 2010 Brisbane International, before losing to eventual champion Kim Clijsters, 1–6, 6–0, 4–6.

She then suffered disappointing first-round losses at the 2010 Moorilla Hobart International, retiring against Kateryna Bondarenko at 2–6, 7–6, 2–3 and the 2010 Australian Open, losing to sixth seed Venus Williams, 2–6, 2–6.

Šafářová made her first final of the year at the 2010 Open GDF Suez in Paris by defeating Flavia Pennetta in the semifinals, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4. She won the first set, but could not hold on, falling 7–6, 1–6, 4–6 to top seed Elena Dementieva in the final.

Šafářová then suffered two more first-round losses at the 2010 Monterrey Open, losing to Julie Coin 7–5, 4–6, 4–6, and the 2010 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, losing toJulia Görges, 5–7, 6–3, 3–6.

At the 2010 Sony Ericsson Open, Šafářová was unseeded and won her first-round match, defeating Kaia Kanepi, 6–7, 6–4, 6–3, and then defeated María José Martínez Sánchezin the second round, 4–6, 7–6, 6–2, after being down match points at 5–2 in the second set. She then fell to fourth seed Victoria Azarenka.

At the 2010 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Šafářová upset world no. 2 and top seed Caroline Wozniacki in the second round. She then fell in three sets to qualifier Anna Lapushchenkova in the quarterfinals.

Šafářová upset world no. 9 Agnieszka Radwańska in the third round of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, but lost to eventual champion María José Martínez Sánchez, 6–7, 4–6, in the quarterfinals.

Šafářová upset world no. 12 Maria Sharapova in the first round of the Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open. She then defeated Olga Govortsova and Alexandra Dulgheru to advance to the quarterfinals, where she beat world no. 18 Nadia Petrova. She retired from a thigh injury while trailing Aravane Rezaï, 1–6, in the semifinals.

Šafářová was seeded 24th at the 2010 French Open. She defeated Jelena Dokić in the first round, but was defeated by Polona Hercog, 1–6, 2–6, in the second round.

2011[edit]
Šafářová attended the 2011 Brisbane International and made it to the quarterfinals with tough matches from Akgul Amanmuradova and Shahar Pe'er, before losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 2–6, 7–6, 3–6.

As the 31st seed at the 2011 Australian Open, Šafářová struggled through her first two rounds, defeating Shuai Zhang 7–5 4–6 6–1, in the first round, and Klára Zakopalová, 6–3, 6–7, 7–5 in the second. In the third round, she lost in two sets to world no. 2 Vera Zvonareva, 4–6, 6–7, having had a set point in the second set.

Following the Australian Open, Šafářová defeated Daniela Hantuchová of Slovakia in the 2011 Fed Cup, but retired in her second rubber against Jana Čepelová.

Her next tournament was the 2011 Open GDF Suez, where she fell to a resurgent Jelena Dokić in the first round, 6–4, 3–6, 4–6. A week later at the 2011 Dubai Tennis Championships, Šafářová once again lost in the first round, this time to fellow Czech Klára Zakopalová 2–6, 2–6. Her performance at the 2011 Qatar Ladies Open was more positive, as she defeated world no. 10 Agnieszka Radwańska 7–6, 6–3, before falling in three sets in the second round to Flavia Pennetta.

Šafářová had her best result in 2011 at the 2011 Malaysian Open, where she reached the final and held championship points against an in-form Jelena Dokić, but succumbed 2–6, 6–7, 4–6, having held two match points in the second-set tiebreaker.

She reached the second round of Indian Wells, beating Kristina Barrois in round 1, 7–6, 6–7, 6–0, serving a WTA season-high 18 aces, before losing a close match to 21st seed Petkovic, 6–7, 5–7. The following week as 31st seed, she had a bye in round 1 of Miami, before beating Patty Schnyder, 6–2, 6–4, in round 2. She then lost to fourth seed Samantha Stosur, 0–6, 6–7 in round 3.

Šafářová was forced to pull out of the Czech Fed Cup tie against Belgium the following week due to a left thigh problem. She attempted to play Stuttgart, but lost 1–6, 4–6 to Barrois. She then pulled out of Barcelona with the same leg injury.

Her next tournament was the premier Madrid event. She defeated Spanish player Anabel Medina Garrigues, 6–2, 2–6, 7–6 coming back from 0–3 and match point down in the third set to win. She followed this with a 6–4, 4–6, 7–5 win over seventh seed Jelena Janković in round 2, and a 6–3, 6–3 win over Gajdosova in round 3, making this the second consecutive year she has reached the Madrid quarterfinals. She lost a hard-fought match to fourth seed Victoria Azarenka, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6 in the quarterfinals.

In Rome the following week, she began with a 7–5, 6–2 win over Kimiko Date-Krumm. In the second round, she fell to Janković, 0–6, 3–6.

Unseeded at the French Open, she opened with a 6–1, 6–1 win over Kirsten Flipkens. In round 2, she led 6–2, 4–2 against 17th seeded German Julia Görges, but eventually succumbed 6–2, 5–7, 2–6. In the doubles event, she and Michaëlla Krajicek opened with a win over Miami champions A. Radwańska/Hantuchová, 6–7, 6–3, 6–2. In round 2, they defeated Pauline Parmentier and Kristina Mladenovic, 2–6, 7–6, 6–0, before falling to fifth seeded Madrid Champions Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko, 5–7, 3–6. This marked her best doubles result at the French Open.

As the fourth seed in Copenhagen, she made a series of tough three-set wins, never winning the first set. Beating Konta, Krajicek, Zhang, and Martić (after trailing 6–1, 4–0), she lost the final to home favourite and world no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, 1–6, 4–6. She then travelled to Eastbourne, where she lost in the opening round to eventual champion Marion Bartoli, 3–6, 6–3, 6–7, despite holding match point.

At Wimbledon, Šafářová was seeded 31st. She defeated fellow Czech Lucie Hradecká, 2–6, 6–3, 6–3, in round 1; her first win at Wimbledon since 2007. She was defeated by another Czech, Zakopalová in round 2, 0–6, 7–6, 4–6. She next played on clay in Båstad, but was taken out by Vesna Dolonts, 3–6, 4–6, in round 1.

She pulled out of tournaments in Baku and San Diego, before returning to the tour in Toronto. Following wins over Polona Hercog and Simona Halep, she took out 8th seeded Francesca Schiavone, 6–3, 6–3 to reach her second Toronto quarterfinal. She lost this match to eventual champion Serena Williams, 6–4, 3–6, 2–6. In Cincinnati the following week, she defeated Zakopalová, 6–2, 6–2, but lost her second-round match to fifth seed, Li Na, 3–6, 4–6.

Seeded 27th at the US Open, she began by defeating Magdaléna Rybáriková, 2–6, 6–3, 6–2, scoring her first US Open win since 2007. She then defeated American wildcard Madison Keys, 3–6, 7–5, 6–4, before a disappointing round-3 loss to Monica Niculescu. In Quebec City the week following the US Open, she lost in round 2 to Andrea Hlaváčková as the second seed.

Taking a small break, she re-entered the tour in Beijing. She lost in the first round to Petkovic, 6–7, 4–6. She followed this up with a semifinal appearance in Linz, Austria, losing to Dominika Cibulková. The following week in the premier Moscow event, she took out second seed Agnieszka Radwańska in round 2, 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, before losing to Kaia Kanepi in the semifinals, 7–6, 4–6, 3–6.

To finish the year, Lucie was a part of the Czech Fed Cup team. Despite losing both her matches to the higher-ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, she and the Czech team won 3 rubbers to 2.

2012[edit]
Šafářová reached the quarterfinals in Sydney, but lost to Li Na, 2–6, 6–7. She was taken out in the first round of the Australian Open by Christina McHale, 2–6, 4–6.

On 23 March 2012, at the Miami Masters, Šafářová lost to Heather Watson of Great Britain 2–6 1–6 in a match lasting one hour, 20 minutes. The young British player was ranked 129 in the world.

Šafářová reached the semi-finals of the Rogers Cup in Montreal, losing to Li Na in 3 sets. With this result she will be ranked well within the top 20 for the first time in her career.

2014[edit]
Šafárová had a match point in the third round of the Australian Open against Li Na, but was eventually beaten in three sets as Li went on to win her second Grand Slam. At the 2014 Sony Open Tennis she lost in three tight sets to Maria Sharapova in the 3rd round. She would go on to lose to Sharapova again in the first round of the 2014 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. Roland Garros was her next grand slam. Šafárová was the 23rd seed at the tournament. She defeated the in-form Ana Ivanovic in the 3rd round 6–3, 6–3, but lost in the next round to Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets. At Wimbledon, she reached her first ever Grand Slam Semifinal, losing in 2 sets to fellow Czech Petra Kvitová for the 5th time this year.

2015: Debut in Top 10[edit]
Šafárová captured her first Grand Slam title by partnering with American Bethanie Mattek-Sands to win the Australian Open women's doubles final, defeating the 14th seeds Chan Yung-jan and Zheng Jie.

In Qatar Total Open, Safarova defeated former grand slam champion Sam Stosur in the first round, took out 5th seed Ekaterina Makarova, 6th seed Andrea Petkovic and 9th seed Carla Suarez Navarro en route to her first final in over one and a half year. In the final she defeated former No.1 Victoria Azarenka in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, and won her first premier and the biggest title so far.

Safarova started her French Open campaign by defeating long time friend Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in two tiebreakers. She went on defeating Kurumi Nara and 20th seed Sabine Lisicki, before setting up a clash with the defending champion Maria Sharapova in the fourth round. The czech overpowered the 2nd seed and ended the Russian defending campaign in straight sets 7-6, 6-4. In the quarter final match against upcoming talent 21st seed Garbine Muguruza, after a very tight first set tiebreaker, she finished off the match 6-3, advancing to her second semi final in a grand slam in her career. With the quarter final win against the Spaniard, she secured her place in the top 10. She will play former champion Ana Ivanovic for a place in the finals.

Personal life[edit]
Šafářová speaks three languages, Czech, German and English.[1] She was in a relationship with fellow Czech tennis player Tomáš Berdych until they broke up in 2011.