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Browse: Home / Russian Sports

The best Russian tennis player ever?

Question by julian6789: Who is the best Russian tennis player ever?
Maria Sharapova, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Anna Kournikova, Marat Safin, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nikolay Davydenko, Elena Dementieva, Mikhail Youzhny, Anna Chakvetadze, Nadia Petrova, Dinara Safina, or someone else?
Anastasia Myskina as well

Answers and Views:

Answer by S_M_B
Maria Sharapova because she is in form and is a great representative for Russia! When people hear that Maria is playing they immediately know that it will be a good game. Being an offensive player, Sharapova is usually able to overpower her opponents or keep them on the run with sharp angles from the baseline. Because of this agressive play, she excels on the fast-playing grass and hard courts, but is not as dangerous on clay (indeed, as of January 2008, she is yet to reach a WTA final on the surface). This is because she is not among the strongest of defensive players.

2003

Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Newcomer of the Year
2004

WTA Player of the Year
WTA Most Improved Player of the Year
2005

ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
Named the country’s best female player for the year by Russia’s tennis federation
Master of Sports of Russia
Prix de Citron Roland Garros
2006

Named the country’s best female player for the year by Russia’s tennis federation
Whirlpool 6th Sense Player of the Year

2007

ESPY Best Female Tennis Player
ESPY Best International Female Athlete
ESPN Hottest Female Athlete

Read all the answers in the comments.

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Comments ( 22 )

  1. Kuzya says

    Actually, Russian no.1 have had notably brief reigns as no.1. Kafelnikov – 6 weeks, Safin – 9, Sharapova -17. Safina was the only one with a decent reign – around 7 months.

    Reply
  2. Kuzya says

    Kafelnikov leads by way of slams – he has 6 – 2 in singles and 4 in doubles. Funny how all of the Russian slam winners except Myskina and Safina have won the Australian Open. Maybe Russians cope with the heat better. I'd have to go with Safin for men and a tie between Sharapova/Dementieva for women.

    Reply
  3. Jerry says

    Maria Sharapova

    Reply
  4. tho con says

    Sharapova

    Reply
  5. Chee says

    Nikolay Davydenko, best mens return server !!!!!!!!

    Reply
  6. suvs says

    kafelnikov
    safin
    sharapova(though i am not sure she counts as russian)

    Reply
  7. loh says

    Anna Kournikova

    Reply
  8. (Ω) Dr D says

    Female: Maria has 3 grandslams.
    Male: Safin has 2.

    So I guess it'd have to be them.

    Reply
  9. hotchick says

    sharapova

    why did you put kournikova in your list?

    Reply
  10. The Three Little Pig says

    Sharapova.

    Reply
  11. Hope Solo Fan says

    maria sharapova

    Reply
  12. Akesher says

    ESPYs dont mean crap, but Sharapovas three grandslam titles do. You shouldn't compare men and women though in general because Sharapova could not beat any guy. This is an interesting question though as best ever can be determined as who the Russians consider the best ever. A Ukranian is considered, Andrei Medvedenko is often considered among the best and heavily influenced later generations (ask Kafelnikov).

    Anna Kournikova started off the craze and got so many Russian girls into playing and her impact is much stronger than Sharapova's ever will.

    Kafelnikov won a gold medal, 2 grand slam singles and 2 doubles titles and was a perennial top ten player in both.

    Marat Safin, though is the player who I think was the best ever to come out of Russia. He won 2 slams, led Russia to Davis Cup victories (Kafelnikov had to be pulled for Youzhny since he always choked). Safin definitely had a rollercoaster career, but he achieved a level of tennis that was vastly superior to any other Russian player and it is not even close. The other players are not even worth mentioning, but I think Safin was hands down the best ever

    Edit: one thing to remember in regarding the best ever, you are considering a player at their best. Anybody that says Agassi is great is only talking about him at his best not any of his long slumps or Sampras' clay court debacles. Safin at his best beat Sampras, Agassi and Federer at their best.

    Reply
  13. steo says

    Even though I don't like to say it, Sharapova's the best by some way.

    Reply
  14. RENA says

    Maria Sharapova and Marat Safin

    Reply
  15. Uber Twink says

    maria sharapova no doubt for the womens and marat safin for the mens

    Reply
  16. Michael N says

    Men: Yevgeni Kafelnikov and Marat Safin. They both won two grand slams and both reached #1 in the world. Kafelnikov probably has the slight edge of over Safin because he also won an Olympic gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games, but I personally like Safin better.

    Women: Maria Sharapova, without a doubt. She has three grand slam titles and is the only Russian woman to reach #1.

    Reply
  17. lolo m says

    Safin in his prime coz his days are over, Davydenko when he wants to play, do you remember last year's Rome's SF against Nadal, he was amazing.

    Reply
  18. Eric C says

    Safin is the best raw talent from Russia, however the most successful player I'd give it to Kafelnikov.
    On the female side, Sharapova is the best and most successful player so far.

    Reply
  19. One Man Crew 'D says

    Anna Chakvetadze

    Reply
  20. Sudeep Holia than th says

    Masha is one vicious wench on court and never lets the opponents forget it. 3 slams is good.
    Kalashnikov won 2 slams, got beat Pete and Agassi.
    Anna could have.
    Marat is most naturally talented, 2 slams
    Kuzi is a tough babe, but not all there in the finals.
    Davydenko is in the same era as Federer.
    Dementieva had the best year in 2000. She's got no serve.
    Youzhny can, yet to be seen.
    Chakvetadze is talented, the champs are tougher.
    Nadia is not all there mentally. Height and weight causes injuries.
    Safina, most beautiful smile, game deserts her on imp days.
    Aunty played like Hingis in 2004 at Roland Garros.
    Evgenia Linetskaia came and went.
    Zvonareva was 4.
    Etc. etc.
    Every country has its top players.

    Reply
  21. sj says

    looking purely at slam results,at the moment,sharapova is leading the way as a champion. kuznetsova as well as she not only won one,but was a finalist multiple times. myskina,french champ. dementieva,twice a finalist. some of course are still rising and some just haven't lived up to their potential yet. case in point: petrova and safina.

    Reply
  22. JK says

    Maria Sharapova, at least on the female side

    Reply

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