Mirjana Lucic-Baroni emerged as one of Croatia’s most promising tennis talents in the 1990s. At just 15 years old, she captured her first WTA title in her debut tournament, an early glimpse of the prodigious skill that once made her a rising star. But despite the bright start, the years that followed were marred by personal and professional challenges. After a long hiatus, she staged a remarkable comeback on the WTA Tour, ultimately concluding her career in 2018.
Lucic-Baroni’s journey in tennis began at the age of four. Alongside her sister, she quickly stood out. In a moment that hinted at her passion and determination, she once hid in the back seat of her older sister’s car just to sneak into a tennis session. From that point forward, her family embraced and supported her dream.
Driven by relentless passion, Lucic-Baroni dominated the junior circuit. She captured three Grand Slam titles before turning 15, winning singles titles at the Australian Open and the US Open, along with a doubles title at the Australian Open. That feat placed her among only three players in history to achieve such a milestone at that age.
Shortly after her 15th birthday, Lucic-Baroni turned professional. She made her WTA debut in Bol, Croatia, and won the tournament, defeating Corina Morariu in the final. Her stunning entry onto the pro scene turned heads across the tennis world. In just her second tournament, Strasbourg, she reached the final again, this time falling to none other than Steffi Graf, one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Lucic-Baroni’s tumultuous hiatus from tennis
After two of the most successful years of her early career, Lucic-Baroni faced one of the most harrowing periods of her personal life. The Croatian tennis prodigy, who had burst onto the scene by reaching a Grand Slam semifinal just two years after turning pro, stepped away from the spotlight to reveal the disturbing truth about her past.
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Lucic-Baroni accused her father of physical and emotional abuse, a revelation that shocked the tennis world. Compounding her personal trauma, she also struggled with severe financial issues that made continuing her WTA career nearly impossible. With these challenges mounting, she made the difficult decision to walk away from tennis between 2003 and 2007.
During that four-year stretch, Lucic-Baroni competed in only two professional tournaments. She focused instead on rebuilding her life and regaining control of her future. When she returned to the circuit in 2007, she lacked the momentum and ranking points to enter top-tier events and often found herself battling through qualifiers or falling in the early rounds of minor tournaments.
Lucic-Baroni’s resurgence: A remarkable return to the spotlight
Although she won her first tournament in over a decade in 2010, it wasn’t until 2017 that Lucic-Baroni truly reclaimed her place among tennis’s elite. That year, she stunned the sport by reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open, 16 years after her last Grand Slam semifinal appearance.
Following her 2010 title, Lucic-Baroni endured inconsistent form and frequent early exits. But signs of resurgence began to emerge in 2012, when she advanced to the Round of 32 at the Australian Open, showing glimpses of her old brilliance.
The breakthrough came in 2014. At the Bol Open in Croatia, she captured her first singles title since 1998, setting a WTA record for the longest gap between career titles at 16 years and four months. That victory proved more than symbolic. It launched a new chapter in her career, culminating in her 2017 Australian Open semifinal run and a rise into the WTA Top 20 for the first time.
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni: Career by the numbers
Though her trophy count may not rival the sport’s all-time greats, Lucic-Baroni’s journey tells a story of perseverance, passion, and grit. Her career is defined not just by titles, but by the resilience that brought her back to the highest level after years away from the game.
- Singles career:
- Titles: 3 WTA singles titles
- Grand Slam Semifinals: 2 (Wimbledon 1999, Australian Open 2017)
- Highest Ranking: World No. 20 (May 1, 2017)
- Doubles career:
- Titles: 3 WTA doubles titles
- Grand Slam Titles: 1 (Australian Open 1998, mixed doubles with Mahesh Bhupathi)
- Highest Ranking: World No. 19 (September 28, 1998)
- Notable achievements:
- Youngest Grand Slam Champion (Open Era): In 1998, won the Australian Open mixed doubles at 15 years and 10 months old.
- Remarkable Comeback: Returned to prominence after a near-complete absence from 2003 to 2009, ultimately reaching a Grand Slam semifinal in her mid-thirties.
