Katarina Srebotnik Bio & Pics

The Slovenian - one of the world's top doubles players - has happy memories of Wimbledon for she won the junior title here back in 1998. Has yet to make a big impact at senior level though with the last 32 being her best effort. Recent form gives hope that reaching the second week is possible though. Made the fourth round at the French Open where title favourite Serena Williams was sent packing. A lower seed who could shine.

KATARINA SREBOTNIK Slovenia
KATARINA SREBOTNIK Slovenia
KATARINA SREBOTNIK Slovenia
KATARINA SREBOTNIK Slovenia
KATARINA SREBOTNIK | Slovenia

Katarina Srebotnik was born March 12, 1981 in Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia. Srebotnik is a Slovenian professional tennis player, coached by Biljana Veselinovic. Srebotnik is right-handed, 1.80 m, weighs 65 kg and lives in Dubai. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 20 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour on August 7, 2006. Her nickname amongst fans is Kata. Although she has a career-high of No. 20 in singles, she has had better results in the doubles circuit. With 18 victories in WTA doubles tournaments (as of July 2008) and a career-high doubles ranking of No. 3, she is considered as one of the best doubles players on the WTA Tour.

In juniors, Srebotnik won the 1998 Wimbledon singles title and was singles runner-up at the US Open. Srebotnik attained the second spot on the junior rankings in 1997 and 1998. Katarina Srebotnik made her ITF Debut in 1995. She won the ITF singles tournament in Ismailia (1996), Zadar (1997); Sibenik (1998) and in Dubai (1999). In 1998, Srebotnik won her first Tour doubles title at the Makarska Open (with Tina Krizan), and became later that year doubles runner-up at Maria Lankowitz (also with Krizan). In 1999, her win at the ITF tournament in Dubai, gave her 'feed up' direct entry into her first-ever singles Tour event at Estoril, where she became the fourth player ever to win her Tour debut event by defeating Kuti Kis in the final. She broke into the Top 100 on April 12, 1999 at No.88. Srebotnik reached the semifinal at Palermo, and played in her first Grand Slam main draw at Roland Garros, losing in the second round; but winning the mixed doubles tournament with Norval.


Katarina Srebotnik's best season to date was in 2005, highlighted by two singles and four doubles titles, and her career-best victory over Amelie Mauresmo. Srebotnik captured her third and fourth career Tour singles titles at Auckland (defeating Shinobu Asagoe in the final, while she also teamed with Asagoe for the doubles title) and in Stockholm (defeating world No.14 Anastasia Myskina in the final, and teaming with Emilie Loit for doubles title). Srebotnik was the only player in 2005 to sweep singles and doubles titles twice. She also finished runner-up at Portoroz, losing to Koukalova (now Zakopalova ) in three sets in the final. She also became runner-up in doubles with Kostanic.

Srebotnik reached the quarterfinal five times, at Tier II Antwerp (lost to Anastasia Myskina), Tier I Charleston (losing to Elena Dementieva in three sets), Budapest (losing to Laura Pous Tio in a third set tie-break), Tier I Zurich (upset No.4 Amelie Mauresmo 6–2 6–0 for her career-best victory en route; losing to Ana Ivanovic) and Hasselt (losing to Safina in a third set tie-break). Her best Grand Slam finish was the third round at Wimbledon (losing to Maria Sharapova 6–2, 6–4, but she was the only player to break the defending champion's serve before Sharapova's semifinal loss to Venus Williams).

A new career-high singles ranking of No.28 came on November 7. In addition to Auckland and Stockholm, Srebotnik also won doubles titles at Budapest and Hasselt (both with Émilie Loit). She reached the US Open mixed doubles final (with Zimonjic; losing to Daniela Hantuchova/Mahesh Bhupathi). Srebotnik withdrew from Canberra with a left adductor strain.

Quote
Today I woke up and it was just another opportunity...
--Katarina Srebotnik