Ágnes Szávay
 | This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. (April 2009) |
 | |
| Country (sports) |  Hungary |
|---|---|
| Residence | Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in) |
| Turned pro | 2004 |
| Plays | Right; Two-handed backhand |
| Prize money | US$1,497,650 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 179–88 |
| Career titles | 3 WTA, 3 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 13 (April 14, 2008) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2008, 2009) |
| French Open | 4R (2009) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (2008) |
| US Open | QF (2007) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 84–58 |
| Career titles | 2 WTA, 3 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 22 (September 24, 2007) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (2006, 2009) |
| French Open | 3R (2007, 2008) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2008) |
| US Open | SF (2007) |
| Last updated on: July 13, 2009. | |
Ágnes Szávay (Hungarian: Szávay Ágnes, pronounced [ˈaːɡnɛʃ ˈsaːvɒ.i]; born December 29, 1988) is a professional tennis player from Hungary. She is the country's highest ranked tennis player. She was the WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2007. She achieved her career high ranking of World No. 13 on April 14, 2008. As of July 13, 2009, she is ranked World No. 27.
Background
Szávay was born in Kiskunhalas, Hungary and grew up in Soltvadkert, Hungary. She started to play tennis at the age of six, with her parents acting as her first coaches and managers. Her previous coaches were Zoltán Újhidy, Levente Barátosi, and Miklós Hornok. Currently, her coaches are József Bocskay and Zoltán Kuharszky. She has a younger sister, Blanka, who is five years younger than her and currently plays on the junior circuit.
Tennis career
2006
In 2006 she made it to the final of the Ashland Challenger tournament, but lost there to Aleksandra Wozniak 6-1, 7-6 (2).[1]
2007
Szávay won her first career WTA-level tournament in singles in Palermo, Italy in July. The win caused her ranking to rise to World No. 37, which was the first time she had been included in the top 40. She also won one doubles tournament, the Tier III Budapest Grand Prix, with Vladimíra Uhlířová.
In August, Szávay reached the final of the Tier II Pilot Pen Tennis tournament in New Haven, Connecticut, defeating Daniela Hantuchová, Alyona Bondarenko, and Samantha Stosur before losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final. Szávay was leading Kuznetsova 6–4, 0–3 when Szávay had to retire from the match because of a back injury.[2] At the conclusion of this tournament, she was ranked World No. 31, her highest-ever ranking.
Szávay then reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, defeating 32nd-seeded Michaëlla Krajicek and seventh-seeded Nadia Petrova before losing to Kuznetsova. She also reached the semifinals in women's doubles, teaming with Uhlířová.
At her first tournament after the US Open, Szávay reached the final of the Tier II China Open in Beijing. Szávay, the sixth seed, capitalized on the withdrawal of top-seeded Kuznetsova to reach the semifinals where she defeated Chinese player Peng Shuai to advance to her second career Tier II final. Szávay then defeated Jelena Janković to claim her first Tier II title. Szávay led 5–0 in the first set tiebreak before losing it 9–7. In the second set, Szávay saved a match point while trailing 5–1 with a second serve ace and then won nine consecutive games.[3] Szávay moved into the top 20 due to this performance.
Szávay's year ended prematurely because of a thigh injury. In late September at the Tier IV Hansol Korea Open Tennis Championships in Seoul, she was forced to retire from her quarterfinal match with Eleni Daniilidou while tied at one set apiece. She did not play on the tour the remainder of the year.
2008
Szávay began the year at the Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourt Tournament tournament in Gold Coast, Australia. Szávay and Dinara Safina, the third seeded team, won the doubles title, defeating the first and second seeded teams in the semifinals and final, respectively.[4] In singles, Szávay was the eighth seed but lost to unseeded Yuliana Fedak in the first round 3–6, 7–5, 6–2.
At the Australian Open in Melbourne, Szávay was seeded 20th but lost in the first round to Ekaterina Makarova of Russia 3–6, 6–4, 7–5.
Szávay then reached the final of the Tier II Open Gaz de France in Paris. She defeated second seeded Daniela Hantuchová in the quarterfinals and fourth seeded Elena Dementieva in the semifinals before losing to Anna Chakvetadze in the three-set final.
Szávay then lost in the first round of three consecutive tournaments. She lost to Alisa Kleybanova at the Tier II Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp, Ai Sugiyama at the Tier I Qatar Total Open in Doha, and Akiko Morigami at the Tier II Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.
Szávay ended her four match losing streak by winning her first round match at the Tier II Sony Ericsson International in Bangalore, India before losing in the second round to Akgul Amanmuradova. She then lost in the second round (after receiving a first round bye) of the Tier I Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida to Elena Vesnina.
Szávay started the spring clay court season by reaching the quarterfinals in three consecutive tournaments. At the Tier II Bausch & Lomb Championships in Amelia Island, Florida, Szávay lost to Lindsay Davenport in the quarterfinals. At the Tier I Family Circle Cup in Charleston, South Carolina, Szávay lost to Alizé Cornet. At the Tier I Qatar Telecom German Open in Berlin, Szávay lost to World No. 2 Ana Ivanović in three sets.
Szávay then was upset in the second round of the Tier I Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome and the third round of the French Open in Paris.
At Wimbledon, Szávay was seeded fifteenth but lost in the fourth round to unseeded Jie Zheng of China 6–3, 6–4.
Szávay then was the top seeded player at two Tier III tournaments played on clay. At the Gaz de France Budapest Grand Pix, she lost in the second round after receiving a first round bye. At the Gastein Ladies tournament in Bad Gastein, Austria, she lost in the semifinals to fourth seeded Pauline Parmentier.
Szávay was upset in the early rounds of four hard court tournaments during the summer. At the Tier IV Nordea Nordic Light Open in Stockholm, Szávay was seeded second but lost in the second round. Szávay was seeded eleventh at the Olympic Games in Beijing but lost to Zheng of China in the first round 4–6, 6–3, 7–5. Szávay was seeded fourth at the Tier II Pilot Pen Tennis tournament in New Haven, Connecticut but lost in the second round to unseeded Amélie Mauresmo. Szávay was seeded thirteenth at the US Open but lost in the second round to Tathiana Garbin of Italy 5–7, 6–2, 6–3.
2009
Szavay began the year by competing in the JB Group Classic exhibition event in Hong Kong, representing Europe. She then played the Moorilla Hobart International tournament as the fifth seed. She lost in the first round to the United Kingdom's Anne Keothavong 6–3, 7–5. At the Australian Open, Szávay was seeded 23rd in women's singles but lost in the first round to Galina Voskoboeva 6–3, 3–6, 6–4.
In February, Szávay played in Fed Cup for Hungary, losing for the second time in 2009 to Keothavong 6–3, 6–2. Szávay, with doubles partner Katalin Marosi, also lost against Mel South and Sarah Borwell 6–4, 6–3 and the United Kingdom won the tie 3–0.[5] The next tie was against Luxembourg. Szávay beat Mandy Minella 6–0, 6–1, and in doubles, Szávay and Marosi beat Minella and Claudine Schaul 6–3, 6–0, giving Hungary a 2–1 win in the tie.[6]
Her next tournament was the GDF Suez Open, held on indoor courts in Paris. In 2008 Szávay was the runner up, but in 2009 she lost in the first round Li Na 7–6(6), 6–2. Szavay then played in Dubai losing to Frenchwoman Camille Pin 2-6 6-2 6-3, continuing her torrid form. Her next event was the Abierto Mexicano Telcel tournament in Acapulco. Despite losing in qualifications, Szávay entered the main draw as a lucky loser and got off to an encouraging start by beating Anna Orlik in the first round (7-5 7-5). She then had her best win for over 6 months with a 76(1) 64 victory over Italian Roberta Vinci. She then lost to eventual champion Venus Williams 6-2 5-7 6-1. Szavay then played in Monterrey defeating Frenchwoman Pauline Parmentier in the 1st round 6-2 6-2, showing signs of slowly getting back to form but lost to Vania King after leading a set and 4-1, 3-6 6-4 6-3. Szávay continued to show signs of a return to form at the mandatory tournament in Indian Wells. She beat Edina Gallovits 6-2, 6-2 and Kristina Barrois 6-3, 6-4. However, against the tenth ranked player in the world, Agnieszka Radwanska, Szávay once again showed she is lacking confidence, as she lost 6-0, 5-7, 6-3, having led 3-1 in the third set with four points to go ahead 4-1 on Radwanska's serve. In Miami, she continued to show sings of playing better, defeating Francesca Schiavone 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 and then seventh-seeded Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. She fell in the fourth round to eventual champion Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-4. After a three week break, she returned in Stüttgart, beating Ai Sugiyama in the first round and losing to Elena Dementieva in the second round.
At the Madrid Masters, Szavay upset Flavia Pennetta in the first round. She defeated Aravane Rezai in the second round in three sets and then beat No. 9 in the world Victoria Azarenka in the third round, before eventually losing to Amelie Mauresmo, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, in the quarterfinals.
At the 2009 French Open, Szavay was seeded 29th and upset world No. 3 Venus Williams, beating her 6-0, 6-4 in the 3rd round. She was defeated 6-2, 6-4 by Dominika Cibulkova from Slovakia in the 4th round.
Szavay was seeded 30th at the 2009 Wimbledon Championships, but was eliminated in the first round by Kirsten Flipkens.
Career finals (18)
Singles (8)
Wins (6)
Runner-ups (2)
Doubles (10)Wins (5)
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