Before the start of 2021, Anett Kontaveit had a trophy in his case, acquired during his performance on the grass tour four years ago. But the situation took a movie turn this year. The Estonian native had the most surprising sprint of the season, winning two titles in a row to overtake Jabeur in the race and earn her ticket to the WTA Finals in Guadalajara. On her birthday, we review the highlights of her career.
Inaugural title
In 2017, Kontaveit, ranked No. 49 in the ranking, came to the Dutch turf for the Ricoh Open. After four close victories, she reached her second WTA final – the first had been in April but she couldn’t against Marketa Vondrousova in the definition-. In ‘s-Hertogenbosch the Russian representative was waiting Natalia Vikhlyantseva, whom she beat 6-2, 6-3, starting her stage as a new champion on the circuit.
Performances at Grand Slams
His participation in main draws of large tournaments dates back to the 2014 season. However, Kontaveit’s performance in the Grand Slams had its gradual maturation over the years. In 2020 he reached the quarterfinals -the best mark so far- in the Australian Open, leaving on the way to Sharma, You smile, Bencic Y Swiatek. He also bagged the round of 16 three times: in Roland Garros 2018 and in US Open (2015; 2020).
The beginning of the illusion
After a bumpy start to the season, the 26-year-old tennis player said goodbye early in her first tournament in 2021 but, the next, she agreed to a final that could not be played due to calendar complications on the ocean tour. The resurgence, after some difficult defeats, occurred at the WTA 250 in Cleveland, an event that he conquered after sealing his victory against Irina-Camelia Begu. A great achievement but the spectacular sprint was not yet in sight.
Qualification to the WTA Finals
A month later, he raised a trophy again, this time in the Ostrava Open. Along the way, he defeated category rivals such as Badosa, Bencic, Kvitova Y Sakkari. However, the greatest feat came weeks later: he started his way in the Kremlin Cup with the pressure on their backs since they had to win the contest if they wanted to continue dreaming of qualifying at WTA Finals. With Ons Jabeur – until that moment, the eighth player in the race – out of competition due to injury, all responsibility fell on the side of the original Tallinn. The defining instance has arrived, with its profit before Alexandrova, stretched his chances but with the last challenge ahead: winning the Transylvania Open. Unstoppable, with a streak of 10 victories behind her after lifting the title in Romania, she surpassed the Tunisian in the race and entered the lot of the eight best of the year, set to make history in Guadalajara as the first Estonian tennis player in enter the end of the year tournament.
