She was World No. 2, won two Grand Slams, beat Serena Williams and holds two unique WTA records

In a sport that often rewards showiness, some players quietly build legendary careers without ever becoming household names. Svetlana Kuznetsova was never tennis’s poster child, but the numbers tell a different story: two Grand Slam singles titles, two more in doubles, and a place in the top three in both rankings.

Kuznetsova’s journey to the topof tennis began in earnest in 2001, when she played her first WTA Tour event. Born in Leningrad to a family of accomplished athletes, her early years were marked by strict discipline. “From childhood, my father taught me to train for many hours. If I didn’t train for five hours, he simply wouldn’t talk to me,” she revealed in 2024 on the Russian YouTube channel Business on a Napkin. 

A powerful baseliner with excellent movement and one of the heaviest topspin forehands on tour, Kuznetsova found early success not only in singles but also in doubles. She teamed up with legends like Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Alicia Molik, reaching No. 3 in the world in doubles in 2004. But it was in singles where she truly left her mark, with consistent performances across two decades.

Two-time Grand Slam winner

Kuznetsova’s breakthrough at the 2004 US Open made her the third Russian woman to win a major, and she followed it up with a second title at Roland Garros in 2009, where she defeated world No. 1 Dinara Safina in straight sets. “When I won my first Grand Slam I was only 19,” she told The Daily Telegraph in 2018. “It was unbelievable and time flies by.” She was also runner-up twice—at the 2006 French Open and the 2007 US Open, both times losing to Justine Henin.

Known as one of the most complete players of her era, Kuznetsova’s versatility was especially evident in doubles. She lifted the Australian Open doubles title twice, in 2005 with Molik and again in 2012 with Vera Zvonareva. 

Her fitness, speed, and tactical sense made her a nightmare to play against, especially on clay. She re-entered the top ten in 2016 and reached the semifinals of the WTA Finals that same year, an impressive resurgence for a player who had dropped well outside the elite.

Rivalries with top players

While she never dominated the tour, Kuznetsova held her own against some of the game’s greats. Her head-to-head record against Serena Williams was a lopsided 3–10, but she was one of the few players to beat the American more than once in major events.

In 2024, she was quick to praise her long-time rival: “Serena has won so many Grand Slams, I can’t think of a player today who can compare with her. There was Martina Hingis, then came the Williams sisters.”

She also had intense battles with other No. 1s like Justine Henin, Dinara Safina, and Caroline Wozniacki. Though not always victorious, she was frequently the player who pushed the best to their limits. Her ability to absorb pace and wear opponents down over long rallies made her a dangerous draw for anyone, especially in the latter stages of a tournament.

Her curious WTA records

If there’s one area where Kuznetsova quietly made history, it’s endurance. She was involved in the longest women’s Grand Slam match in the Open Era at the 2011 Australian Open, losing to Francesca Schiavone in a 4-hour, 44-minute marathon. She also played the longest Fed Cup singles match ever: four hours against Richel Hogenkamp in 2016.

Kuznetsova racked up three-set wins like no one else. In 2016, she tied for the second-most three-set matches won in a single season with 22, alongside Ai Sugiyama and Anastasia Myskina. Only Petra Kvitová (25 in 2013) has done better in the 21st century. Her resilience and physical stamina often left younger players in the dust.

Retirement and life after tennis

After undergoing knee surgery and struggling with injuries in her final years, Kuznetsova announced her retirement in 2021. “The tennis tour schedule is very hard, but nobody plans to soften it,” she told RT International in 2018.

These days, the former world No. 2 appears to be enjoying her well-earned break from competition. In August 2024, she posted a video practicing golf, proving that she stays fit.

Yet she’s still tied to tennis, frequently sharing training drills and fitness tips with her 158,000 Instagram followers. For fans and players alike, Kuznetsova remains as one of the top players in the sport, even if she isn’t as appreciated as she should be.