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The native form of this personal name is Szávay Ágnes. This article uses the Western name order.
Ágnes Szávay
Agnes Szávay at French Open 2007
Nickname(s) Ági
Country  Hungary
Residence Monte Carlo, Monaco
Date of birth December 29, 1988 (1988-12-29) (age 21)
Place of birth Kiskunhalas, Hungary
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7+12 in)
Weight 63 kg (140 lb; 9.9 st)
Turned pro 2004
Plays Right; Two-handed backhand
Career prize money US$1,497,650
Singles
Career record 179–88
Career titles 3 WTA, 3 ITF
Highest ranking No. 13 (April 14, 2008)
Current ranking No. 30 (March 8, 2010)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open 2R (2010)
French Open 4R (2009)
Wimbledon 4R (2008)
US Open QF (2007)
Doubles
Career record 84–58
Career titles 2 WTA, 3 ITF
Highest ranking No. 22 (September 24, 2007)
Australian Open 3R (2006, 2009)
French Open 3R (2007, 2008)
Wimbledon 3R (2008)
US Open SF (2007)
Last updated on: July 13, 2009.

Ágnes Szávay (Hungarian: Szávay Ágnes, pronounced [ˈaːɡnɛʃ ˈsaːvɒ.i]; born December 29, 1988) is a professional tennis player from Hungary. She is the country's highest ranked tennis player. She was the WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2007. She achieved her career high ranking of World No. 13 on April 14, 2008. As of March 8, 2010, she is ranked world number 30.

Contents

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. Her previous coaches were Zoltán Újhidy, Levente Barátosi, and Miklós Hornok. Currently, her coaches are József Bocskay and Zoltán Kuharszky. 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).[1]

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, Alyona 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.[2] At the conclusion of this tournament, she was ranked World No. 31, her highest-ever ranking.

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.[3] 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.

2008

Ágnes Szávay

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.[4] 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. At the Tier I Family Circle Cup in Charleston, South Carolina, Szávay lost to Alizé Cornet. 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 Jie Zheng of China 6–3, 6–4.

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.

Szavay 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.[5] 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.[6]

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. Szavay 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. Szavay 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 Radwanska, Szávay once again showed she is 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 Radwanska'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 Ivanovic 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, Szavay upset Flavia Pennetta in the first round. She defeated Aravane Rezai 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 Amelie Mauresmo, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, in the quarterfinals.

At the 2009 French Open, Szavay 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 Cibulkova from Slovakia in the 4th round.

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

2010

January:

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 Hantuchova. At the Sydney International, she qualified (beating Vania King, Anastasija Sevastova, and Ioana Raluca Olaru) to reach the main draw. She won her first round match again, beating Jelena Jankovic 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 Rezai in the second round. She finished the month at the 2010 Australian Open reaching the second round again, beating Stephanie Dubois before falling to sixteenth seed Li Na, who eventually reached the semifinals, losing to eventual champion Serena Williams, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 (Szávay led 4-2 and held two match points in the second set).

February:

Szávay then played the Open GDF SUEZ in Paris, France and reached her first quarterfinal of the year. Szávay beat Olga Govortsova (who retired with illness) in the first round, Petra Martic in the second round, before losing to Melanie Oudin 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 (Ágnes led 3-1 in the second set). Next was the Abierto Mexicano TELCEL in Acapulco, Mexico. Ágnes was the second seed (after Venus Williams and played well to reach the quarterfinals, beating Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 and Renata Voracova 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.

March:

Deciding her injury was better, Ágnes began March by playing the Monterrey Open in Monterrey, Mexico. She played singles in the tournament as the fifth seed, and did not play doubles, in order to give her adductor more rest. In the first round, she played German Julia Goerges and beat her 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 before beating another German Anna-Lena Groenefeld in the second round, whom she also beat: 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-1. However, in the quarterfinals against fourth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova, Ágnes was not able to win and lost 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Upcoming schedule: BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells, California (Premier mandatory event) Sony Ericsson Open Miami, Florida (Premier mandatory event) Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Stuttgart, Germany (Premier event) Estoril Open Estoril, Portugal (International event) Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open Madrid, Spain (Premier mandatory event) French Open Paris, France (Grand slam) The Championships Wimbledon, Great Britain (Grand slam)

Career finals (18)

Singles (8)

Wins (3)

Legend: Before 2009 Legend: Starting in 2009
Grand Slam (0)
WTA Championships (0)
Tier I (0) Premier Mandatory (0)
Tier II (1) Premier 5 (0)
Tier III (0) Premier (0)
Tier IV & V (1) International (1)
No. Date Tournament Location Surface Opponent in Final Score in Final
1. July 16, 2007 Internazionali Femminili di Palermo Italy Palermo, Italy Clay Germany Martina Müller 6–0, 6–1
2. September 23, 2007 China Open People's Republic of China Beijing, China Hard Serbia Jelena Janković 6–7(7), 7–5, 6–2
3. July 12, 2009 GDF SUEZ Grand Prix Hungary Budapest, Hungary Clay Switzerland Patty Schnyder 2–6, 6–4, 6–2

Runner-ups (2)

No. Date Tournament Location Surface Opponent in Final Score in Final
1. August 25, 2007 Pilot Pen Tennis United States New Haven, Connecticut, United States Hard Russia Svetlana Kuznetsova 4–6, 3–0 retired
2. February 10, 2008 Open Gaz de France France Paris, France Hard Russia Anna Chakvetadze 6–3, 2–6, 6–2

Doubles (10)

Wins (2)

Legend: Before 2009 Legend: Starting in 2009
Grand Slam (0)
WTA Championships (0)
Tier I (0) Premier Mandatory (0)
Tier II (0) Premier 5 (0)
Tier III (2) Premier (0)
Tier IV & V (0) International (0)
No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponent in the final Score in the final
1. April 23, 2007 Hungary Budapest, Hungary Clay Czech Republic Vladimíra Uhlířová Germany Martina Müller
Czech Republic Gabriela Navrátilová
7–5, 6–2
2. January 5, 2008 Australia Gold Coast, Australia Hard Russia Dinara Safina People's Republic of China Yan Zi
People's Republic of China Zheng Jie
6–1, 6–2

Runner-ups (5)

No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponent in the final Score in the final
1. 8 July 2002 Hungary Budapest, Hungary Clay Hungary Virág Németh Hungary Petra Mandula
Austria Barbara Schett
6–3, 6-2
2. 24 October 2005 Belgium Hasselt, Belgium Hard Netherlands Michaëlla Krajicek France Émilie Loit
Slovenia Katarina Srebotnik
6–3, 6–4
3. 20 February 2006 Colombia Bogota, Columbia Hard Germany Jasmin Woehr Argentina Gisela Dulko
Italy Flavia Pennetta
7-6, 6-1
4. 3 March 2007 Qatar Doha, Qatar Hard Czech Republic Vladimíra Uhlířová Switzerland Martina Hingis
Russia Maria Kirilenko
6–1, 6–1
3. 23 July 2007 Austria Bad Gastein, Austria Clay Czech Republic Vladimíra Uhlířová Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
Czech Republic Renata Voráčová
6-3, 7-5

ITF Circuit wins

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 Michaella 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

To prevent confusion and double counting, information in this table is updated only once a tournament or the player's participation in the tournament has concluded. This table is current through the 2010 Australian Open.

Tournament 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Career SR Career Win-Loss
Grand Slam Tournaments
Australian Open A A A LQ LQ 1R 1R 2R 1 / 5 0–4
French Open A A A LQ 2R 3R 4R 0 / 4 11–4
Wimbledon A A A A 2R 4R 1R 0 / 3 7–3
US Open A A LQ A QF 2R 1R 0 / 4 5–4
Win-Loss 0–0 0–0 0–1 2–2 13–4 6–4 3–3 1-1 N/A 24–14
Olympic Games
Summer Olympics Not
Held
A Not Held 1R Not
Held
0 / 1 0–1
Year-End Championship
WTA Tour Championships A A A A A A A 0 / 0 0–0
WTA Premier Mandatory Tournaments
Indian Wells A A A A A A 4R 3R 4-2
Key Biscayne A A A A A 2R 4R 3-2
Madrid Not Held QF 3–1
Beijing Not
Held
Not Tier I 1R 0–1
WTA Premier 5 Tournaments
Dubai Not Tier I 1R 1R 0–2
Rome A A A 1R 3R 1R 2-3
Cincinnati Not
Held
Not Tier I 2R 0–0
Montréal / Toronto A A A A A A 2R 1–1
Tokyo A A A A A 1R 1R 0–2
Former WTA Tier I Tournaments (currently neither Premier Mandatory nor Premier 5 events)
Charleston A A A A A QF NM5 3–1
Moscow A A A A A A 0-0
Doha Not Tier I 1R Not
Held
1-1
Berlin A A A A A QF 3-1
San Diego A A LQ A A Not
Held
0-0
Zurich A A A A A Not
Tier I
0–0
Tournaments Played 1 8 12 16 17 25 3 75
Finals Reached 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 10
Tournaments Won 0 1 0 1 3 0 1 4
Overall win/loss 1-1 26-7 24-12 25-15 56-14 26-25 160–72
Winning Percentage 50% 62% 74% 64% 65% 67% 69%
Year End Ranking None 378 166 189 19 28 N/A
  • LQ = lost in the qualifying tournament.
  • A = did not participate in the tournament.

References

External links

Awards
Preceded by
Tímea Nagy
Hungarian Sportswoman of The Year
2007
Succeeded by
Ildikó Mincza-Nébald
Preceded by
Agnieszka Radwańska
WTA Newcomer of the Year
2007
Succeeded by
Caroline Wozniacki







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