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Ágnes Szávay

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The native form of this personal name is Szávay Ágnes. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Ágnes Szávay
Country (sports) Hungary
ResidenceVienna, Austria
Born (1988-12-29) December 29, 1988 (age 35)
Kiskunhalas, Hungary
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Turned pro2004
Retired06 February 2013[1]
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize moneyUS$2,086,125
Singles
Career record219–122
Career titles5 WTA, 3 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 13 (14 April 2008)
Current rankingNo. 1015 (2 February 2013)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open2R (2010)
French Open4R (2009)
Wimbledon4R (2008)
US OpenQF (2007)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games1R (2008)
Doubles
Career record101–75
Career titles2 WTA, 3 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 22 (September 24, 2007)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open3R (2006, 2009)
French Open3R (2007, 2008)
WimbledonQF (2010)
US OpenSF (2007), 1R (2012)
Last updated on: 2 February 2013.

Ágnes Szávay (Hungarian: Szávay Ágnes, pronounced [ˈsaːvɒ.i ˈaːɡnɛʃ]; born December 29, 1988) is former professional tennis player from Hungary. She was the WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2007. She achieved her career high ranking of World No. 13 on April 14, 2008 [2]

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. She has worked with several coaches including Zoltán Újhidy, Levente Barátosi, Miklós Hornok, József Bocskay, Zoltán Kuharszky, Karl-Heinz Wetter and Gábor Köves. 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).[3]

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, Alona 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.[4]

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.[5] 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.

She was named 2007 Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year for her achievements.

2008

Ágnes Szávay at Roland Garros 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.[6] 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. Going into the Tier I Family Circle Cup in Charleston, South Carolina, Szávay was ranked World No. 13, her highest-ever singles ranking; she reached the quarterfinals but eventually lost to Alizé Cornet 7–5 6–4. 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 wildcard Jie Zheng of China 6–3, 6–4. Zheng had upset the top seed Ana Ivanovic in the third round by the same score.

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

Szávay during the 2009 French Open.

Szávay 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.[7] 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.[8]

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. Szávay 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. Szávay 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 Radwańska, Szávay once again showed she was 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 Radwańska'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 Ivanović 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, Szávay upset Flavia Pennetta in the first round. She defeated Aravane Rezaï 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 Amélie Mauresmo, 5–7, 6–1, 6–1, in the quarterfinals.

At the 2009 French Open, Szávay 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 Cibulková from Slovakia in the 4th round.

Szávay was seeded 30th at the 2009 Wimbledon Championships, but was eliminated in the first round by Kirsten Flipkens. She then won her third title of her career in her hometown at 2009 GDF SUEZ Grand Prix defeating top seed Patty Schnyder in the final. She was defeated in first round at Los Angeles by Elena Vesnina and then reached the second round at 2009 Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open where she was defeated by Flavia Pennetta. She also reached the second round at the 2009 Rogers Cup where she fell to Agnieszka Radwańska. She fell in the first round at the 2009 US Open to Shahar Pe'er. Szávay qualified for the 2009 Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions.

2010

Szávay trained intensely during the off-season, and started to play better than she had been in 2010. At the Brisbane International, she reached the second round beating Peng Shuai before losing to Daniela Hantuchová 6–3 6–1 . At the Sydney International, where she qualified to reach the main draw. She won her first round match again, beating Jelena Janković 5–7, 6–1, 7–5 for her first top ten win since defeating Venus Williams at the 2009 French Open before losing in a close two-set match to Aravane Rezaï in the second round. She finished the month at the 2010 Australian Open reaching the second round again, beating Stéphanie Dubois before falling to sixteenth seed Li Na 3–6, 7–5, 6–2 (Szávay led 4–2 and held two match points in the second set).

Szávay then played the 2010 Open GDF Suez and reached her first quarterfinal of the year. Szávay beat Olga Govortsova (who retired with illness) and Petra Martić before losing to Melanie Oudin 2–6, 6–4, 6–2. Next was the Abierto Mexicano TELCEL in Acapulco, Mexico. Ágnes was the second seed and played well to reach the quarterfinals, beating Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová 2–6, 6–1, 6–3 and Renata Voráčová 7–5, 6–1 however she was forced to retire while trying eighth-seeded Polona Hercog in the quarterfinals 6–4, 0–1 due to a left adductor strain. She also competed in the doubles tournament with Gisela Dulko, however they lost in the first round to Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci 6–3, 6–3.

Szávay continued by playing the Monterrey Open as the fifth seed, she defeated Germans Julia Görges 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 and Anna-Lena Grönefeld 6–1, 6–7 (4), 6–1. However, she fell in the quarterfinals against fourth-seeded Dominika Cibulková 3–6, 6–3, 6–3. She then played at the 2010 BNP Paribas Open and 2010 Sony Ericsson Open reaching the third round of both events losing to Carla Suárez Navarro and Svetlana Kuznetsova. At the European Clay season she fell to Dinara Safina 7–6(5) 3–6 6–0 n the second round of the 2010 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and suffered a back to back loss at the 2010 Estoril Open and 2010 Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open, which caused her to drop out of the top 40. At the 2010 French Open, she lost to Nadia Petrova 6–1 6–2 in the second round.

At the Grass season Szávay played at the 2010 AEGON International losing to Marion Bartoli in he second round. And at the 2010 Wimbledon she was lost to Ekaterina Makarova in the very first round 6–4 7–6(2). However she followed it up with back-to-back titles in 2010 GDF SUEZ Grand Prix upsetting Alexandra Dulgheru in the semifinals 6–1, 5–7, 7–5 and a repeat of last year's final defeating Patty Schnyder 6–2, 6–4 and in 2010 ECM Prague Open defeating Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová 6–2, 1–6, 6–2.

2011

Szávay missed the 2011 Australian Open and the Australian season because of illness. Her next scheduled tournament was the 2011 Open GDF Suez but she withdrew because of a back injury. She came back at the 2011 BNP Paribas Open where she won her first match in nearly five months by beating American veteran Jill Craybas. She lost to Alisa Kleybanova in the second round. Her next tournament was the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open but she lost again in the second round, to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Her next tournament was the 2011 Andalucia Tennis Experience but here she lost in the second round to Svetlana Kuznetsova 6–7 6–2 6–1. She then missed the 2011 Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem and the 2011 Barcelona Ladies Open due to the back injury. At the French Open, Szávay lost in the first round to qualifier Olga Govortsova 6–4 4–6 6–4.

For the remainder of the year, Szávay took time off to recover from the back injury, which was career-threatening.

2012

Szávay's first tournament of 2012 was the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in April. However, she fell in the first round of qualifying to Austrian Yvonne Meusburger 7–6 7–4 6–3. Next, Svávay played the Olympics, losing in the first round to home favorite Elena Baltacha 6–3 6–3.[9] Partnering Timea Babos, she lost in the first round of doubles. In August, she headed to the United States for the New Haven Open at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut, where she lost to Carla Suarez Navarro in the first round. In the doubles competition, she and partner Kimiko Date-Krumm were also knocked out in the first round. But to make matters worse Agnes was forced to retire at 6–4 3–2 in her first round match at the US Open against countrywoman Greta Arn.

2013

On 6th February 2013 Szávay announced retirement from professional tennis due to ongoing back problems.[10]

WTA career finals

Singles: 7 (5–2)

Legend: Before 2009 Legend: Starting in 2009
Grand Slam (0/0)
WTA Championships (0/0)
Tier I (0/0) Premier Mandatory (0/0)
Tier II (1/2) Premier 5 (0/0)
Tier III (0/0) Premier (0/0)
Tier IV & V (1/0) International (3/0)
Titles by Surface
Hard (1/2)
Grass (0/0)
Clay (4/0)
Carpet (0/0)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in Final Score in Final
Winner 1. July 16, 2007 Palermo, Italy Clay Germany Martina Müller 6–0, 6–1
Runner-up 1. August 25, 2007 New Haven, United States Hard Russia Svetlana Kuznetsova 4–6, 3–0 retired
Winner 2. September 23, 2007 Beijing, China Hard Serbia Jelena Janković 6–7(7), 7–5, 6–2
Runner-up 2. February 10, 2008 Paris, France Hard Russia Anna Chakvetadze 6–3, 2–6, 6–2
Winner 3. July 12, 2009 Budapest, Hungary (1) Clay Switzerland Patty Schnyder 2–6, 6–4, 6–2
Winner 4. July 11, 2010 Budapest, Hungary (2) Clay Switzerland Patty Schnyder 6–2, 6–4
Winner 5. July 18, 2010 Prague, Czech Republic Clay Czech Republic Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová 6–2, 1–6, 6–2

Doubles: 8 (2–6)

Legend: Before 2009 Legend: Starting in 2009
Grand Slam (0–0)
WTA Championships (0–0)
Tier I (0–0) Premier Mandatory (0–0)
Tier II (0–1) Premier 5 (0–0)
Tier III (2–3) Premier (0–0)
Tier IV & V (0–1) International (0–1)
Titles by Surface
Hard (1–3)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (1–3)
Carpet (0–0)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponent Score
Runner-up 1. 8 July 2004 Budapest, Hungary Clay Hungary Virág Németh Hungary Petra Mandula
Austria Barbara Schett 		6–3, 6–2
Runner-up 2. 24 October 2005 Hasselt, Belgium Hard Netherlands Michaëlla Krajicek France Émilie Loit
Slovenia Katarina Srebotnik 		6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 3. 20 February 2006 Bogotá, Colombia Hard Germany Jasmin Wöhr Argentina Gisela Dulko
Italy Flavia Pennetta 		7–6, 6–1
Runner-up 4. 3 March 2007 Doha, Qatar Hard Czech Republic Vladimíra Uhlířová Switzerland Martina Hingis
Russia Maria Kirilenko 		6–1, 6–1
Winner 1. April 23, 2007 Budapest, Hungary Clay Czech Republic Vladimíra Uhlířová Germany Martina Müller
Czech Republic Gabriela Navrátilová 		7–5, 6–2
Runner-up 5. 23 July 2007 Bad Gastein, Austria Clay Czech Republic Vladimíra Uhlířová Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
Czech Republic Renata Voráčová 		6–3, 7–5
Winner 2. January 5, 2008 Gold Coast, Australia Hard Russia Dinara Safina China Yan Zi
China Zheng Jie 		6–1, 6–2
Runner-up 6. 18 July 2010 Prague, Czech Republic Clay Romania Monica Niculescu Switzerland Timea Bacsinszky
Italy Tathiana Garbin 		7–5, 7–6(4)

ITF Circuit

Singles (3)

No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in Final Score in Final
1. September 20, 2004 Italy Ciampino, Italy Clay Switzerland Stefania Boffa 6–0, 6–2
2. October 22, 2006 United States Houston, United States Hard United States Bethanie Mattek 2–6 6–4 6–1
3. May 19, 2007 Croatia Zagreb, Croatia Clay Croatia Nika Ožegović 6–0 7–6(2)

Doubles (3)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponent in Final Score in Final
1. April 10, 2005 France Dinan, France Clay Netherlands Michaëlla Krajicek Ukraine Yulia Beygelzimer
Germany Sandra Klösel 		7–5, 7–5
2. July 23, 2006 France Vittel, France Clay Ukraine Yulia Beygelzimer Romania Mădălina Gojnea
Russia Ekaterina Makarova 		6–2, 7–5
3. May 20, 2007 Croatia Zagreb, Croatia Clay Finland Emma Laine Poland Klaudia Jans
Poland Alicja Rosolska 		6–1, 6–2

Singles performance timeline

Current until 2010 Australian Open.

Tournament 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 W-L
Grand Slam Tournaments
Australian Open A A A Q1 Q2 1R 1R 2R A A 1–3
French Open A A A Q3 2R 3R 4R 2R 1R A 12–6
Wimbledon A A A A 2R 4R 1R 1R A A 7–4
US Open A A Q1 A QF 2R 1R 2R A 1R 6–6
Win-Loss 0–0 0–0 0–1 2–2 13–4 6–4 3–4 3–4 0–1 0–1 26–18
Olympic Games
Summer Olympics NH A Not Held 1R Not Held 1R 0–2
WTA Premier Mandatory Tournaments
Indian Wells A A A A A A 4R 3R 2R A 4–3
Miami A A A A A 2R 4R 3R 2R A 4–4
Madrid Not Held QF 1R 2R A 4–2
Beijing NH Not Tier I 1R 1R A 6–3
WTA Premier 5 Tournaments
Dubai Not Tier I 1R A A NP5 0–1
Doha Not Tier I 1R Not Held NP5 A 0–1
Rome A A A A A 2R 1R A A A 1–2
Montreal/Toronto A A A A A A 2R 3R A 3–2
Cincinnati Not Tier I 2R A A 1–1
Tokyo A A A A A 1R 1R 1R A 0–3
Titles 0 1 0 1 3 0 1 2 0 0 5
Year End Ranking – 278 181 207 20 28 40 37 256

Doubles Performance Timeline

Tournament 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 W-L
Grand Slam Tournaments
Australian Open 3R 2R 1R 3R 2R A 6–5
French Open 1R 3R 3R 2R 2R A 6–5
Wimbledon A 2R 3R 1R QF 6–4
US Open A SF A 2R A 1R 5–3
Win–Loss 2–2 8–4 4–3 4–4 5–3 0–1 23–17

References

  1. ^ "Elbúcsúzom... /in Hungarian/". http://www.szavayagnes.hu. Retrieved 6 February 2013. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ WTA | Players | Activity | Ágnes Szávay
  3. ^ Robert Wechsler, Bob Wechsler (2007). Day by Day in Jewish Sports History. KTAV Publishing House, Inc.,. p. 404. ISBN 0-88125-969-1, 9780881259698. Retrieved 2009.06.01.. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  4. ^ Eaton-Robb, Pat., "Svetlana Kuznetsova wins Pilot Pen when Ágnes Szávay retires with back injury", Yahoo! News, 2007-08-25, Retrieved on 2007-09-03
  5. ^ Back From The Brink in Beijing
  6. ^ Mondial Australian Women's Hardcourts main draw doubles
  7. ^ "Dream start for GB Fed Cup team". www.lta.org.uk.
  8. ^ "Fed Cup – Results". www.fedcup.com.
  9. ^ "Elena Baltacha beats Agnes Szavay on Olympics debut". 28 July 2012.
  10. ^ "WTA - Hungary´s Agnes Szavay announces her retirement from the sport". 07 February 2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ágnes Szávay.
Awards
Preceded by Hungarian Sportswoman of The Year
2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by WTA Newcomer of the Year
2007 		Succeeded by

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