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Alina Vladimirovna Jidkova (Алина Владимировна Жидкова; born 18 January 1977) is a former professional tennis player from Russia, known for her resilience and competitive spirit on the WTA Tour. Throughout her career, she found success in both singles and doubles. Jidkova reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 51 in March 2005, achieving strong singles performances against top players. Notably, she defeated several high-ranked opponents, including Serena Williams at Generali Linz in 2004, and also claimed wins over Mary Pierce, Jelena Janković, and Samantha Stosur, showcasing her skill in high-stakes matches.[1][2][3][4]
 Jidkova at Kremlin Cup (2009) | |
| Country (sports) |  Russia |
|---|---|
| Residence | The Woodlands, Texas, U.S. |
| Born | January 18, 1977 Moscow, Soviet Union now Russia |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Turned pro | 1993 |
| Retired | 2010 |
| Plays | Right (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $1,128,467 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 466–421 |
| Career titles | 9 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 51 (7 March 2005) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (2000) |
| French Open | 2R (2002) |
| Wimbledon | 1R (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) |
| US Open | 2R (2006) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 281–332 |
| Career titles | 1 WTA, 9 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 50 (4 August 2003) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2003) |
| French Open | 2R (2000, 2003, 2004) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2002, 2005, 2008) |
| US Open | 2R (2005) |
In doubles, she won a WTA title at the Mexican Open 2005 and reached three other WTA finals, including the Memphis Open 2003, Québec Open 2006, and Cincinnati Open 2007. Her doubles ranking peaked at No. 50 in August 2003, reflecting her versatile strength across both singles and doubles play.
Career
editIn 2004, she reached the quarterfinals of Generali Ladies Linz after beating Serena Williams in straight sets.[5] Aside from Williams, she has career victories against Jelena Janković, Mary Pierce, Samantha Stosur, Alicia Molik, Chanda Rubin, Amanda Coetzer, Brenda Schultz-McCarthy, Amy Frazier, Petra Martić, Mirjana Lučić-Baroni, Vera Dushevina and other notable players. In 2005, she won her single WTA Tour event, the Mexican Open doubles title in Acapulco, partnering with Tatiana Perebiynis. She has also finished runner-up on three other occasions.
Retirement and coaching career
editShe retired from professional tennis at the beginning of the 2011 season.[6] Her last official singles match played was against Monica Puig, 2016 Olympic champion at the end of 2010 season.[7] Being a PTA Certified Tennis Coach, she worked as a coach for Galina Voskoboeva, Ksenia Pervak and Kaia Kanepi.[8]
As a coach, Alina Jidkova was part of the 2012 Olympics, coaching Galina Voskoboeva, who represented Team Kazakhstan. In 2017, she also coached Kaia Kanepi to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open, demonstrating her effectiveness at the highest levels of international competition.
Alina Jidkova is currently coaching and consulting with professional players, enhancing their competitive edge. Alongside her work with established athletes, she is passionate about mentoring young, aspiring players, helping them reach the skill level needed for potential recruitment by top college tennis programs. Her coaching emphasizes confidence, technical refinement, and resilience, preparing athletes to excel at every stage.
ITF World Tennis Masters Tour (seniors' circuit)
editAs of 2024, Jidkova has been playing doubles on the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour, now representing the United States of America. Partnering Julie Thu, she won both tournaments she entered so far, an MT1000 in Houston and an MT700 in Austin, Texas, which are amongst the elite tournaments on the World Tour.[9]
Personal life
editNicknamed “Alinka”, Alina Jidkova was born in Moscow, then part of the Soviet Union, into an athletic family. Her father, Vladimir, was an engineer and former weightlifter, while her mother, Lina, was a sprinter before becoming a school teacher.[10] She grew up training at the Spartak Moscow Tennis Club and later the prestigious Spartak Tennis Academy, a renowned training ground for top Russian talent known for its rigorous training methods. Spartak produced many successful players who rose to international prominence, including Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Anna Kournikova, Elena Dementieva, Anastasia Myskina, Dinara and Marat Safin. This intense early training laid the foundation for Jidkova’s professional career.
Seeking further development, Jidkova moved to the United States to train at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, known for nurturing numerous tennis champions. She now resides in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband, entrepreneur Sascha Ghods. The couple married on 18 December 2010 in Vienna, Austria, and have two children. Their son, currently training under Jidkova’s guidance, is also pursuing a career in tennis, extending her legacy in the sport.
WTA Tour Finals
editDoubles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups)
edit| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1. | Feb 2003 | U.S. National Indoors | Hard (i) |  Bryanne Stewart
|
 Saori Obata Akiko Morigami
|
1–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 2. | Feb 2005 | Mexican Open | Clay |  Tatiana Perebiynis
|
 Rosa María Andrés Rodríguez Conchita Martínez Granados
|
7–5, 6–3 |
| Loss | 3. | Oct 2006 | Tournoi de Québec, Canada | Hard |  Jill Craybas
|
Carly Gullickson Laura Granville
|
3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 4. | Jul 2007 | Cincinnati Open, U.S. | Hard |  Tatiana Poutchek
|
Bethanie Mattek  Sania Mirza
|
6–7(4), 5–7 |
ITF finals
edit| Legend |
|---|
| $100,000 tournaments |
| $75,000 tournaments |
| $50,000 tournaments |
| $25,000 tournaments |
| $10,000 tournaments |
Singles: 17 (9–8)
edit| Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 27 October 1997 | ITF Culiacán, Mexico | Hard |  Petya Marinova
|
6–3, 6–0 |
| Runner-up | 2. | 11 May 1998 | ITF Poza Rica, Mexico | Hard |  Vanessa Menga
|
2–6, 7–6, 1–6 |
| Winner | 3. | 18 May 1998 | ITF Coatzacoalcos, Mexico | Hard | Adria Engel
|
6–3, 6–1 |
| Runner-up | 4. | 4 January 1999 | ITF San Antonio, United States | Hard | Holly Parkinson
|
6–3, 4–6, 3–6 |
| Winner | 5. | 17 January 1999 | ITF Miami, United States | Hard |  Helen Crook
|
6–2, 7–5 |
| Runner-up | 6. | 31 January 1999 | ITF Clearwater, United States | Hard |  Miroslava Vavrinec
|
0–6, 6–7 |
| Winner | 7. | 19 July 1999 | ITF Peachtree, United States | Hard | Erika deLone
|
6–7, 7–6, 6–4 |
| Runner-up | 8. | 16 July 2000 | ITF Peachtree, United States | Hard | Sandra Cacic
|
0–6, 2–4 ret. |
| Winner | 9. | 11 September 2000 | ITF Hopewell Junction, United States | Hard | Jennifer Hopkins
|
6–3, 6–0 |
| Winner | 10. | 9 October 2000 | ITF Miramar, United States | Clay |  Rossana de los Ríos
|
1–6, 7–6, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 11. | 27 November 2000 | ITF Tucson, United States | Hard |  Katalin Marosi
|
7–6, 4–6, 3–6 |
| Runner-up | 12. | 29 January 2001 | ITF Clearwater, United States | Hard | Anikó Kapros
|
3–6, 2–6 |
| Runner-up | 13. | 29 January 2001 | ITF Fresno, United States | Hard | Marissa Irvin
|
2–6, 1–6 |
| Winner | 14. | 5 November 2001 | ITF Pittsburgh, United States | Hard (i) | Marie-Ève Pelletier
|
6–4, 6–1 |
| Winner | 15. | 23 July 2002 | ITF Louisville, United States | Hard | Saori Obata
|
6–3, 6–4 |
| Winner | 16. | 9 January 2007 | ITF Tampa, United States | Hard |  Olga Vymetálková
|
6–2, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 17. | 5 June 2007 | ITF Madrid, Spain | Clay | Carla Suárez Navarro
|
2–6, 1–6 |
Doubles: 30 (9–21)
edit| Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1. | 21 February 1994 | ITF Amadora, Portugal | Hard |  Anna Linkova
|
 Teodora Nedeva Antoaneta Pandjerova
|
3–6, 1–6 |
| Runner-up | 2. | 29 January 1996 | Open de Saint-Malo, France | Hard (i) | Pavlina Bartůňková
|
 Ariadne Katsouli  Bérangère Quillot
|
2–6, 2–6 |
| Runner-up | 3. | 4 August 1996 | ITF Catania, Italy | Clay | Teodora Nedeva
|
 Katia Altilia Laura Fodorean
|
6–1, 4–6, 3–6 |
| Winner | 4. | 6 October 1996 | ITF Langenthal, Switzerland | Carpet (i) | Helena Vildová
|
Caecilia Charbonnier Andrea Schwarz
|
6–4, 6–4 |
| Winner | 5. | 23 March 1997 | ITF Victoria, Mexico | Hard |  Paola Arrangoiz
|
Karin Palme Graciela Vélez
|
5–7, 6–0, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 6. | 27 October 1997 | ITF Culiacán, Mexico | Hard | Paola Arrangoiz
|
Lucila Becerra Isabela Petrov
|
5–7, 0–6 |
| Runner-up | 7. | 19 January 1998 | ITF Miami, U.S. | Hard | Aliénor Tricerri
|
Lilia Osterloh  Zuzana Valeková
|
4–6, 4–6 |
| Winner | 8. | 4 May 1998 | ITF Tampico, Mexico | Hard | Adria Engel
|
 Paula Cabezas Vanessa Menga
|
7–6, 7–5 |
| Runner-up | 9. | 11 May 1998 | ITF Poza Rica, Mexico | Hard | Adria Engel
|
Paula Cabezas Vanessa Menga
|
6–3, 2–6, 2–6 |
| Runner-up | 10. | 18 May 1998 | ITF Coatzacoalcos, Mexico | Hard | Adria Engel
|
Paula Cabezas Vanessa Menga
|
3–6, 2–6 |
| Winner | 11. | 23 November 1998 | ITF Culiacán, Mexico | Clay | Renata Kolbovic
|
Zsófia Gubacsi Aliénor Tricerri
|
6–3, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 12. | 4 January 1999 | ITF San Antonio, U.S. | Hard | Holly Parkinson
|
Kylie Hunt Julie Thu
|
6–7, 4–6 |
| Runner-up | 13. | 8 February 1999 | ITF Rockford, U.S. | Hard (i) | Holly Parkinson
|
Lilia Osterloh Katie Schlukebir
|
6–7, 2–6 |
| Winner | 14. | 19 September 1999 | ITF Hopewell, U.S. | Hard |  Li Fang
|
Dawn Buth  Kim Grant
|
6–3, 6–3 |
| Runner-up | 15. | 1 May 2001 | ITF Dothan, U.S. | Clay | Gabriela Voleková
|
Marissa Irvin  Janet Lee
|
0–6, 2–6 |
| Winner | 16. | 14 October 2001 | ITF Hallandale Beach, U.S. | Clay | Jessica Steck
|
 Erica Krauth Vanesa Krauth
|
4–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
| Winner | 17. | 12 November 2001 | ITF Hattiesburg, U.S. | Hard | Abigail Spears
|
Rika Hiraki Nana Miyagi
|
6–3, 6–1 |
| Runner-up | 18. | 3 December 2001 | ITF West Columbia, U.S. | Hard | Abigail Spears
|
Amanda Augustus Jennifer Embry
|
6–0, 3–6, 3–6 |
| Runner-up | 19. | 3 December 2002 | ITF Boynton Beach, U.S. | Clay | Lina Krasnoroutskaya
|
Katalin Marosi Samantha Reeves
|
2–6, 6–7 |
| Runner-up | 20. | 19 October 2003 | ITF Sedona, U.S. | Clay | Rossana de los Ríos
|
Yan Zi Zheng Jie
|
6–7(2), 6–7(3) |
| Runner-up | 21. | 10 November 2003 | ITF Eugene, U.S. | Hard | Tatiana Poutchek
|
Teryn Ashley Shenay Perry
|
6–3, 2–6, 4–6 |
| Runner-up | 22. | 1 December 2003 | ITF Palm Beach Gardens, U.S. | Clay | Tatiana Panova
|
Melinda Czink Erica Krauth
|
1–6, 2–6 |
| Runner-up | 23. | 2 June 2008 | Internazionale di Roma, Italy | Clay | Marie-Ève Pelletier
|
 Klaudia Jans Alicja Rosolska
|
3–6, 1–6 |
| Winner | 24. | 18 January 2009 | ITF Boca Raton, U.S. | Clay | Darya Kustova
|
Kimberly Couts Sharon Fichman
|
6–4, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 25. | 8 February 2009 | ITF Rancho Mirage, U.S. | Hard | Darya Kustova
|
Natalie Grandin Courtney Nagle
|
2–6, 6–7(6) |
| Runner-up | 26. | 27 April 2009 | Charlottesville Open, U.S. | Hard | Angela Haynes
|
Carly Gullickson Nicole Kriz
|
5–7, 6–3, [7–10] |
| Runner-up | 27. | 10 October 2009 | ITF Mexico City | Hard |  Karen Castiblanco
|
 María Fernanda Álvarez Terán  Frederica Piedade
|
3–6, 4–6 |
| Runner-up | 28. | 8 March 2010 | Clearwater Open, U.S. | Hard |  Laura Siegemund
|
Xu Yifan Zhou Yimiao
|
4–6, 4–6 |
| Winner | 29. | 19 April 2010 | ITF Dothan Pro, U.S. | Clay | Anastasiya Yakimova
|
María Irigoyen  Teodora Mirčić
|
6–4, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 30. | 11 October 2010 | Classic of Troy, U.S. | Hard | Laura Siegemund
|
Madison Brengle Asia Muhammad
|
2–6, 4–6 |
References
edit- ^ "Why Does Serena Williams Dominate Top Players but Struggle with Unknowns?". Bleacher Report.
- ^ "Alina Jidkova of Russia celebrates her victory to top seed Mary Pierce of France during quarter-final action at the Bell Challenge WTA tournament in Quebec City, Friday, Nov. 5, 2004. (AP Photo/Jacques Boissinot Stock Photo - Alamy".
- ^ "H2H Samantha Stosur Vs Alina Jidkova stats, prediction, head 2 head, and draw".
- ^ "H2H Alina Jidkova Vs Jelena Jankovic stats, prediction, head 2 head, and draw".
- ^ "Serena loses to qualifier in Linz". ABC News. 2004-10-27. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
- ^ "Alina Jidkova Women's Doubles Activity". www.itftennis.com. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Alina Jidkova Women's Singles Activity". www.itftennis.com. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alina-jidkova-b55a88224 [bare URL]
- ^ "Alina Jidkova Masters Tour Doubles Activity". www.itftennis.com. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
- ^ "Alina Jidkova | Player Stats & More – WTA Official".
