Country (sports) | Italy |
---|---|
Residence | Rome, Italy |
Born |
Latina, Lazio |
28 June 1981
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
Turned pro | 1998 |
Retired | 28 January 2011 |
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Prize money | US$1,691,549 |
Singles | |
Career record | 286–238 |
Career titles | 1 WTA, 8 ITF |
Highest ranking | No. 27 (9 July 2007) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | 4R (2004) |
French Open | 3R (2007) |
Wimbledon | 3R (2007) |
US Open | 3R (2006) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 219–143 |
Career titles | 9 WTA, 14 ITF |
Highest ranking | No. 5 (10 September 2007) |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Australian Open | SF (2009) |
French Open | W (2007) |
Wimbledon | SF (2007) |
US Open | 3R (2007) |
Mara Santangelo (born 28 June 1981) is a former professional tennis player from Italy. She retired from the sport on 28 January 2011.
Santangelo reached the fourth round at the 2004 Australian Open, defeating 16th-seeded Magüi Serna, Barbara Schett, and 19th-seeded Eleni Daniilidou—losing to eventual champion and World No. 1 Justine Henin after having been up 4–2 in the second set. She also won her first WTA title in 2006, defeating Jelena Kostanić in the final, her first victory on the WTA level.
She took a set from top-seeded Amélie Mauresmo in the third round of the 2006 US Open, and led 2–0 in the deciding set, only to lose the next six games. She also defeated Anastasia Myskina in 2006, her first win over a top 20 player. She and her Italian team mates Francesca Schiavone, Flavia Pennetta, and Roberta Vinci beat the Belgian team 3–2 in the 2006 Fed Cup final. Justine Henin had to retire in the fifth and final match because of an injury in her right knee, which let Italy win their first Fed Cup trophy.
Despite holding match points in both matches, Santangelo lost to Agnieszka Radwańska and Dinara Safina in successive first rounds at Luxembourg and Stuttgart respectively, in three set matches. In Moscow, Santangelo lost in the first round to Iveta Benešová in another three-setter. In Linz, Santangelo defeated Alona Bondarenko; she lost to eventual semifinalist Nicole Vaidišová. At her final tournament of the year in Hasselt, Santangelo retired while 5–2 down against Michaëlla Krajicek in the first round. She ended the year ranked World No. 31, a new career high.