Tennis has seen its fair share of stars who shone brightly but faded too soon. Justine Henin, Monica Seles, and Gabriela Sabatini all left the game earlier than expected, despite their immense talent.
Another name on that list is Anna Chakvetadze, a Russian player who reached a career-high ranking of World No. 5 and defeated some of the sport’s biggest names, such as Venus Williams, before injuries and personal struggles forced her to retire at just 26.
Born in Moscow in 1987, Chakvetadze turned professional in 2003. She quickly gained recognition for her baseline-style of play. By 2006, she was making deep runs at major tournaments, signaling her arrival on the WTA Tour. That year, she claimed her first WTA title in Guangzhou and reached the quarterfinals of the US Open.
Her peak came in 2007, when she won four WTA titles and advanced to the semifinals of the US Open. That year, she also was a key member of Russia’s team, helping them secure the Fed Cup. By the end of the season, she had climbed to No. 5 in the world rankings, becoming one of the top players in women’s tennis.
Anna Chakvetadze of Russia in action against Mariya Koryttseva of Ukraine ( Dima Korotayev/Epsilon/Getty Images)
Career highlights and triumphs
Chakvetadze’s career was marked by several impressive victories, including wins over Top 10 opponents. Among her most notable triumphs was her victory over Venus Williams at the 2007 US Open. That same year, she defeated No. 6 Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals of the US Open, as well as No. 5 Daniela Hantuchová in the Stanford final.
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In 2006, she recorded one of her biggest wins by defeating then-No. 3 Justine Henin in Stuttgart. She also secured victories over Jelena Jankovic, Nadia Petrova, and Amelie Mauresmo, proving she could compete with the best.
The robbery that changed everything
In December 2007, Chakvetadze’s career took an unexpected and traumatic turn. Six armed men broke into her family home outside Moscow, tying her up and threatening her at knifepoint. The attackers beat her parents before escaping with an estimated $306,000 worth of cash and valuables.
“I thought that my life was over, at times, during that night,” she later recalled to The New York Times in 2013. “They had weapons, and we didn’t know what they were going to do.”
The robbery was targeted, as the thieves specifically demanded a Rolex watch she had received at an exhibition event. Before leaving, she told the newspaper, they issued a chilling warning: “Keep playing. We’ll come again.”
Chakvetadze dealt with injuries during her career (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Despite the ordeal, Chakvetadze returned to the court just two weeks later. “From then onwards, I’ve just been trying to enjoy the moment instead of thinking what could be better,” she said. However, the mental toll of the incident marked the start of her physical decline, as she started to deal with serious injuries.
Injuries and early retirement
Following the break-in, Chakvetadze struggled to regain her top form. The 2008 season proved particularly challenging, as she battled injuries and lacked the preparation needed to compete at her best. By 2010, persistent back issues began to take their toll. In 2011, she suffered a health scare when she collapsed on court in the United Arab Emirates due to a virus.
Chakvetadze collapsed while playing in Dubai (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
After multiple attempts at a comeback, Chakvetadze made the difficult decision to retire in 2012 at the age of 25. “If I could turn back the clock, I would try to listen to my body more,” she admitted to The New York Times in 2013. “I would not push myself so hard.”
However, a year later, she would admit she missed tennis. “Sometimes, when I watch tennis, I want to be at the tournaments to chat with the girls,” she told the paper. “And I miss playing matches. I miss that feeling when you’re playing well, you’re in good shape and you feel there’s so much you can achieve. But unfortunately, I had to quit. I thought I would quit a lot later than 26, but it wasn’t to be.”
Though her time at the top was brief, Chakvetadze made a significant impact on the sport. She was a formidable competitor who proved she could challenge the best, even if circumstances ultimately prevented her from reaching her full potential. Today, she remains involved in tennis as a commentator.
