Nicole Vaidišová
Starting Out
Nicole Vaidišová is an emerging Czech star in women's tennis born April 23, 1990 in Nürnberg, West Germany. She is coached by Nick Bollettieri and is said to consider her serve her biggest asset. On August 9 2006, she moved up in the world rankings to number 9, becoming the 12th-youngest player in Tour history to make the Top 10, at 17 years, 3 months, and 2 weeks of age.
Debut
Vaidisova made a successful debut in the 2003 season reaching three consecutive finals and winning the ITF/Plzen Tournament, Czech Republic in straight sets defeating Andrea Hlavackova 7-6 6-4. In 2004 she won in Vancouver becoming the sixth youngest singles champion in Tour history aged 15 years, three months, 23 days of age. Vaidisova won her second title of 2004 at Tashkent, defeating Virginie Razzano 5-7 6-3 6-2 in the final. On October 18, she made her Top 100 debut at No. 74. At just 14-years-old, she finished the year with two WTA titles and a win-loss record of 31-8.
2005
Vaidisova picked up her first Grand Slam singles victory in her Australian Open debut by reaching the third round with victories against Maria Vento-Kabchi and Jelena Kostanic, losing to top seed Lindsay Davenport. Following the tournament, she jumped in the ranking from No. 70 to No. 57. In April, at the Family Circle Cup, her rise continued into the top 50 as she reached No.47 and reached her first career Tier I quarterfinals at Charleston, saving two match points in first round victory against qualifier Shahar Peer. She then posted her first top 10 victory over defending French Open champion Anastasia Myskina before also beating Shinobu Asagoe in three sets. Vaidisova then went out to Patty Schnyder in the quarterfinals, ranking her No. 34 on April 18.
In May, Nicole reached her first Tier III final in Istanbul, losing to top seed Venus Williams in the championship match. In August, she reached her first career Tier I quarterfinal at Toronto, defeating on her way lucky loser Shenai Perry, Nathalie Dechy and Hana Sromova before losing to Justine Henin-Hardenne. Her ranking continued to improve though, rising from No. 32 to No. 27 on August 22. In September, at the 2005 US Open, she reached the fourth round for the first time at a Grand Slam event, her ranking rising from No. 28 to a new career-high Number 23. She captured her first title of 2005 on October 2nd at Seoul, defeating top seed Jelena Jankovic in the final without dropping a set. A week later she captured her second straight Tour singles title as at the Japan Open. Winning when Tatiana Golovin retired hurt while trailing 7/6(4) 3-2 in the final. Six days later she extended her winning streak to 15 matches by winning her third consecutive Tour singles title in Bangkok, Thailand. She beat Conchita Martinez and Gisela Dulko en route to final, then overcame a 4-2 third-set deficit to defeat Nadia Petrova for the first time, 6-1 6-7(5) 7-5, in the final. With the Seoul, Tokyo Japan Open and Bangkok titles, Nicole Vaidisova became the first player since Lindsay Davenport in 2004 to win three titles in three weeks, and also became the sixth woman to win five Tour singles titles before her 17th birthday (after Tracy Austin, Andrea Jaeger, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati and Martina Hingis). On October 17, she improved her ranking from No. 18 to No. 17, another career-high.
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2006
2006 saw Vaidisova capture her 6th WTA title at the Tier III event in Strasbourg. In June, Vaidišová made a semifinal run at the French Open. She defeated world No. 1 and home favourite Amélie Mauresmo 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 in the fourth round and Venus Williams 6-7, 6-1, 6-3 in the quarterfinal losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in a very close 7-5, 6-7, 2-6 defeat. At the Wimbledon Championships, Vaidišová got to the fourth round before losing to Li Na. She has now reached at least the last 16 at all four Grand Slams. Vaidisova later defeated Wimbledon Champion Amélie Mauresmo for the second time at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow, after rallying from 1-6 2-5 down and three match points, in their quarterfinal match. Nicole lost to Petrova (for a third time in their four meetings) in the semifinal afterwards. Nicole finished 2006 ranked in the top 10 in the World.
2007
Medibank International - Sydney, Australia
Nicole got off the year off to a good start with victories over Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 6-1 6-4, Yuliana Fedak(Ukraine) 6-3 6-1, and Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 6-4 6-3 before bowing out in the Semi Final to Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 6-4 4-6 6-4
Australian Open
Nicole was narrowly beaten in the semi finals by the resurgent Serena Williams (who went on to beat Sharapova in the final). The American, ranked a lowly 81st in the world going into the tournament, won through 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in a close battle on the Rod Laver Arena
Open Gaz de France: Paris, France
Nicole stormed past France's Aravane Rezai 6-2 6-1 to reach the second round of the Paris Open only to lose to fellow Czech Lucie Safarova 6-4 6-2.
Pacific Life Open - Indian Wells, USA
Nicole overcame Americans Bethanie Mattek (6-4, 6-1) and Ahsha Rolle (6-3 4-1 ret) in the opening rounds before dispatching Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli (4-6 6-3 6-2) to reach the Quarter Final where she was defeated by Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova (4-6 6-3 6-4).Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, USA
Serena Williams again proved too tough to beat for Nicole as she was defeated by the The Australian Open champion 6-1 6-4.Family Circle Cup: Charlestown, South Carolina, USA
Nicole was beaten on clay in the second round by Michaella Krajicek going out 6-4, 4-6, 3-6.Watch Nicole
Roland Garros Open, Paris, France
Jelena Jankovic prevented Nicole from making her second consecutive appearance in the Paris semi-finals deafeating her (6-3) (7-5) (Nicole survived four match points before finally bowing out to the Serb).International Women's Open, Eastbourne, England
In the traditional Wimbledon warm-up tournament on grass at Eastbourne, Nicole beat Australian Samantha Stosur 3-6 6-4 6-4, Brit Elena Baltacha 6-3 6-2 before going to Belgian Justine Henin 6-2 6-2Wimbledon
Nicole first overcame Karin Knapp 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 and then Nicole Pratt 6-3, 6-2 to meet Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the 3rd round. Another straight sets victory followed as Nicole went through 6-4 6-2 to face reigning Ladies' Champion Amelie Mauresmo in the 4th round. The rain affected match got off to a close first set with Vaidisova winning a tie-break 8-6 to take the set 7-6. Mauresmo fought back taking the second set 4-6 only to make several errors in the final set as Nicole triumphed 6-1!. Ana Ivanovic remarkably overcame Nicole in the Quarter Final 6-4 2-6 5-7 in one of the closest games in the tournament.US Open
Following a mild case of glandular fever that had affected her since the latter stages of Wimbledon, Nicole returned to play in the US Open losing in the third round to 18th seeded Shahar Peer 4-6 6-3 6-7.Kremlin Cup, Moscow, Russia
Next up was the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. Nicole beat Russians Yaroslava Shvedova and Elena Vesnina in straight sets before coming up against 4th seed Serena Williams in the quarter finals where she lost a close match 6-4, 7-6.Zurich Open, Switzerland
Nicole got back to her best reaching the semis overcoming Katarina Srebotnik, Jelena Jankovic and Alyona Bondarenko in straight sets. In semi finals, she faced Justine Henin whom she has yet to defeat. Henin was overwhelming favourite to win and took the match 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 but Nicole showed the World number 1 that gap between the players is narrowing all the time.Search For Nicole
2008
Medibank International - Sydney, Australia
Nicole got off the year off to a good start with victories over Daniela Hantuchova and Jelena Jankovic before losing to world No.2 Svetlana Kuznetsova 5-7 6-7 in the semi-finals of the Medibank International in Sydney.Australian Open
Nicole was again beaten (this time in the fourth round) by reigning champion Serena Williams 3-6, 4-6.Wimbledon 2008
Yes, it's that time of the year folks when I optimistically put a few quid on Nicole (managed to get 75-1 this year) and hope she can do her magic at the All England Club Lawn Tennis Club. Last year Nicole narrowly lost out to Ana Ivanovic (this year's Number 1 seed compared to Nicole's 18th seeding). Nicole kicked off Wimbledon 2008 with a straight sets victory over fellow Czech Ondraskova winning 6-2 6-2. She'll face Australian Samantha Stosur in the second round. Come on Nicole!
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