Born: June 8, 1983 in Bilzen, Belgium.
* Makes her senior tournament debut on the ITF circuit in 1997 in Koksijde in Belgium, losing in the quarter-finals. Wins her first WTA Tour title two years later at Luxembourg.
* Breaks into the world's top 20 for the first time in 2000 thanks to titles in Hobart and Leipzig.
*In 2001, becomes first Belgian to reach a grand slam final at the French Open, where she is beaten 12-10 in the deciding set by Jennifer Capriati. Helps Belgium to their first Fed Cup title.
* Becomes first Belgian woman to reach semi-finals at Australian Open in 2002, losing to eventual champion Capriati. Beats world number one Venus Williams to secure Hamburg title. Picks up end-of-season WTA Championship title.
* Reaches her second Roland Garros final in 2003 but loses to Henin. Claims the women's doubles in Paris with Ai Sugiyama and then adds the Wimbledon title with her Japanese partner. In August, becomes first Belgian world number one in tennis. Is runner-up to Justine Henin at the U.S. Open. Wins her ninth title of the season when she retains the WTA Championship but finishes the year ranked second. Announces her engagement to Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt.
* Suffering from an ankle injury, loses to Henin in the 2004 Australian Open final. Misses Roland Garros, Wimbledon and U.S. Open with career-threatening wrist problem which requires surgery. Splits from Hewitt.
* Returns from injury in 2005 and after falling as low as 134th in the rankings in March goes on to win nine titles including her first grand slam, the U.S. Open where she defeats France's Mary Pierce in the final.
* Regains the number one ranking in January 2006 for seven weeks, becoming the first player in Tour history to reach the top spot from outside the world's 100 in a 12-month span. Retires from the semi-finals of the Australian Open against eventual champion Amelie Mauresmo with a sprained ankle. Loses in the semis of Roland Garros and Wimbledon to Henin. Pulls out of U.S. Open and Fed Cup final with wrist injury. Announces engagement to American basketball player Brian Lynch and confirms she will retire at the end of 2007.
* Opens her final year with victory in Sydney and reaches the semi-finals of the Australian Open, losing to top seed Maria Sharapova. Goes out to Ukrainian qualifier Julia Vakulenko in the second round of her title defence at the Warsaw Cup and announces her retirement a few days later.
© 2024 Rediff.com -