Elena Vesnina

Elena Vesnina is a Russian former professional tennis player renowned for her doubles mastery, versatility, and longevity on the WTA Tour. She is a four-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medalist.

Vesnina reached World No. 1 in doubles and World No. 13 in singles. Her career is marked by major titles, historic team victories, and a celebrated partnership with Ekaterina Makarova, as well as a reputation for sportsmanship and resilience.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Elena Sergeyevna Vesnina was born on August 1, 1986, in Lviv, Ukrainian SSR, and later resided in Sochi, Russia. Standing 176 cm tall, Elena Sergeyevna Vesnina played right-handed with a two-handed backhand.

She began playing tennis at age seven in Sochi, inspired by her family—her father Sergey, mother Irina (a teacher), and younger brother Dmitry, a former junior player. Vesnina is of Greek descent through her grandfather. In November 2015, she married businessman Pavel Tabuntsov, and the couple has two daughters, Elizaveta (born 2018) and Anna (born 2023).

Career

Vesnina turned professional in 2002 and steadily progressed through the ranks, breaking into the top 100 by 2006. Her singles breakthrough came with a fourth-round appearance at the Australian Open that year.

Vesnina won three WTA singles titles, highlighted by her triumph at the 2017 Indian Wells Open, and reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 13 in March 2017. Her best Grand Slam singles performance was a semifinal run at Wimbledon in 2016.

It was in doubles, however, that Vesnina achieved her greatest success. She formed a legendary partnership with Ekaterina Makarova, winning three Grand Slam women’s doubles titles (2013 French Open, 2014 US Open, 2017 Wimbledon).

She became world No. 1 in June 2018. The pair also won the 2016 WTA Finals, eight WTA 1000 events, and Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Games. Vesnina also captured the 2016 Australian Open mixed doubles title with Bruno Soares and earned a silver medal in mixed doubles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with Aslan Karatsev.

Vesnina represented Russia in the Billie Jean King Cup (Fed Cup), helping secure titles in 2007 and 2008.

After a brief hiatus for maternity leave, Vesnina made a successful return to the tour in 2021, reaching the Wimbledon doubles final and winning Olympic silver in mixed doubles. She announced her retirement from professional tennis in 2024.

Career Record

Singles

• Career Titles: 3
• Highest Singles Ranking: No. 13 (March 20, 2017)
• Career Record: 419–341

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – 4th Round (2006, 2013)
• French Open – 3rd Round (2015, 2017, 2021)
• Wimbledon – Semifinals (2016)
• US Open – 3rd Round (2009, 2014, 2016, 2017)

Doubles

• Career Titles: 19
• Highest Doubles Ranking: No. 1 (June 11, 2018)
• Career Record: 437–234

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – Finalist (2014, 2018)
• French Open – Winner (2013)
• Wimbledon – Winner (2017)
• US Open – Winner (2014)

Other Tournaments

• Tour Finals – Winner (2016)
• Olympic Games – Gold Medal (2016, Doubles); Silver Medal (2020, Mixed Doubles)
• Billie Jean King Cup (Fed Cup) – Winner (2007, 2008), record 14–8
• Universiade – Two Gold Medals (2013, Doubles and Mixed Doubles), Silver Medal (2013, Team)

Mixed Doubles

• Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Titles: 1 (Australian Open 2016)

Best Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Performances:

• French Open – Finalist (2021)
• Wimbledon – Finalist (2011, 2012)
• US Open – Semifinals (2011)