Alla Alexandrovna Kudryavtseva (born November 3,
1987 in Moscow) is a professional tennis player from
Russia. Kudryavtseva qualified for the 2007
Australian Open and defeated Finland's Emma Laine in
the first round 4–6, 6–2, 9–7, and then was defeated
by her lifetime heroine, Martina Hingis, in straight
sets, 6–2, 6–2 in the second round. Her highest
singles ranking as of June 26, 2007 World Number 59.
Also on and as of June 26, 2007, her career-high
doubles ranking is: World Number 73. As of June 18,
2007, Kudryavtseva was ranked World number 59 for
singles. Before the 2007 Australian Open, she had
never competed in a Grand Slam tournament in the
main draw. She currently resides in Moscow, the city
of her birth. Kudryavtseva has won $US129,352 in
prize money, and has not won a title on the WTA
tour, but has won 1 singles title and 6 doubles
titles playing for the ITF.
In 2007, Alla defeated Gisela Dulko (29th seed) 7–5,
1–6, 8–6 to reach the third round of Roland Garros,
where she was defeated by Maria Sharapova (2nd seed)
in straight sets 6–1, 6–4. After this match, she
reached her new career high of #67. She then went on
to push eventual champion Venus Williams to a close
third set, losing 2–6, 6–3, 7–5 at Wimbledon.
During the 2008 Wimbledon, Kudryavtseva shocked the
tennis world by beating fellow Russian and 3rd seed
Maria Sharapova in the second round in straight sets
6-2 and 6-4. She was referred to by NBC's Mary
Carillo (a former tennis player herself) as the
woman Marat Safin. Her coach is Nick Rybakov. Her
main sponsor is Wilson and has an endorsement deal
with Diadora. She was the finalist of the Orange
Bowl Championships in juniors.
