_(29569439690)_(cropped).jpg) Pironkova at the 2016 US Open | |
| Full name | Tsvetana Kirilova Pironkova |
|---|---|
| Native name | Цветана Пиронкова |
| Country (sports) |  Bulgaria |
| Residence | Plovdiv, Bulgaria |
| Born | 13 September 1987 Plovdiv, People's Republic of Bulgaria |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] |
| Turned pro | 2002 |
| Plays | Right (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$ 5,321,439 |
| Official website | tsvetanapironkova.com |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 413–321 |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Highest ranking | No. 31 (13 September 2010) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) |
| French Open | QF (2016) |
| Wimbledon | SF (2010) |
| US Open | QF (2020) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Olympic Games | 2R (2008, 2012) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 13–31 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 141 (23 March 2009) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2007, 2009) |
| French Open | 2R (2006, 2008) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2011, 2013) |
| US Open | 2R (2008) |
| Team competitions | |
| Fed Cup | 29–27 (singles 22–17) |
| Hopman Cup | RR (2012) |
Tsvetana Kirilova Pironkova (Bulgarian: Цветана Кирилова Пиронкова [tsvɛˈtanɐ piroŋˈkɔvɐ]; born 13 September 1987) is a Bulgarian former tennis player. Considered to be one of the best grass court players of her generation, she has been noted for her "cerebral" skills on the surface, reaching the semifinals at the Wimbledon Championships.[2][3] Pironkova also found success playing on the quick hardcourts throughout her career, winning a title in Sydney and reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open.[4][5]
Pironkova started playing tennis at the age of four on being introduced to the sport by her father. She made her WTA Tour debut at the İstanbul Cup in 2005, and achieved moderate success early in her career. That changed in 2010, when she entered Wimbledon with a 1–4 career record at the event, and went on reach the semifinals of the tournament, becoming first Bulgarian tennis player in history to reach the semifinal stage of a Grand Slam in singles.[6] She garnered wide recognition for her performance, and after her semifinal finish reached her highest singles ranking at No. 31 in September 2010. Pironkova followed it up with a quarterfinal run at the event the following year.
Pironkova won her first title on WTA Tour at the 2014 Sydney International, defeating three top-10 ranked players in a row. She defeated then world No. 2, Agnieszka Radwańska, in the fourth round of the 2016 French Open, reaching her first quarterfinal at a Grand Slam tournament other than Wimbledon. Following an injury in 2017, Pironkova announced a sabbatical from the sport - which was later extended to accommodate her maternity leave. Playing at her first professional tournament in over three years, she made a successful return at the 2020 US Open;[7] she made it all the way to the quarterfinals, her first at a Grand Slam championship since 2016.[8][9] Her performances in 2020 earned her the Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year Award and a nomination for the WTA Comeback Player of the Year.[10][11]
Pironkova has a total of twelve wins over top-10 ranked players and, at a point of time, held one of the longest streak of consecutive Grand Slam appearances at 47. Ahead of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships, she launched her own women's clothing and lifestyle brand, Pironetic.[12][13]
- ^ "Профил на Цветана Пиронкова" (in Bulgarian). tennis.bg. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Kane, Dane (2 July 2017). "Insider Top 10: Dangerous floaters at Wimbledon 2017". WTA. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Rothenberg, Ben (28 June 2013). "Something About Wimbledon Agrees With Lisicki and Pironkova". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
- ^ "Ranking movers: Watson heads back towards Top 100 territory". Women's Tennis Association. 3 July 2017. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ^ Kane, David (16 January 2015). "A Beginner's Guide: Tsvetana Pironkova". Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "Tsvetana Pironkova Bio | Bio & Career". WTA Tennis. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ "Phenomenal Pironkova comeback rolls on into US Open round of 16". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Rothenberg, Ben (9 September 2020). "Pironkova Surprises Even Herself in Her Return at the U.S. Open". The New York Times.
- ^ "2020 Season WTA Player Awards: Nominations announced".
- ^ "Grand Slam winners Sofia Kenin, Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek on WTA Player of the Year shortlist". 3 December 2020.
- ^ "Pironetic". Pironetic. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ^ Orlinov, Borislav (3 July 2017). "Pironetic". TennisKafe.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.