Yanina Wickmayer

Yanina Wickmayer is a former professional tennis player from Belgium, best known for reaching the semifinals of the US Open in 2009.

She was recognized as the "Most Improved Player" by the WTA in 2009 and earned a career-high WTA singles ranking of World No. 12 in April 2010. She won five WTA singles titles and four WTA doubles titles during her career.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Yanina Wickmayer was born on October 20, 1989, in Lier, Belgium, to Marc Wickmayer and Daniella Dannevoye. She currently resides in Hasselt, Belgium. She stands 182 cm tall and she plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand.

She was introduced to tennis at the age of nine by friends at local courts, and tragically, her mother passed away shortly thereafter.

She is fluent in Dutch, English, and French, and greatly admires former Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters, who also worked with her during the 2017 Wimbledon Championships.

On July 16, 2017, Wickmayer married long-time boyfriend and former professional football player Jérôme van der Zijl, and in April 2021, she gave birth to their daughter.

Career

Wickmayer turned professional in 2004. Her breakthrough came in 2009, when she reached the semifinals of the US Open, a performance that earned her the WTA "Most Improved Player" award for that year.

She also captured her first two WTA singles titles in 2009, winning the Estoril Open and the Generali Ladies Linz.

She continued her success by winning the Auckland Open in 2010, the Japan Open in Tokyo in 2015, and the Washington D.C. tournament in 2016, accumulating five singles titles overall.

In Grand Slam singles play, she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2010 and 2015, and the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2011. She made it to the third round of the French Open in 2010, 2011, and 2016. In doubles, Wickmayer reached the quarterfinals of the French Open in 2025 and also won four WTA doubles titles throughout her career.

Wickmayer represented Belgium at the Olympic Games in 2012, reaching the second round in singles.

She announced her retirement from professional tennis, with her final appearances concluding on July 2, 2025. Time magazine recognized her as one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future" in June 2011.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 532–364
• Career titles: 5
• Highest ranking: No. 12 (April 19, 2010)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – 4R (2010, 2015)
• French Open – 3R (2010, 2011, 2016)
• Wimbledon – 4R (2011)
• US Open – SF (2009)

Other tournaments (Singles)

• Olympic Games – 2R (2012)

Doubles

• Career record: 194–133
• Career titles: 4
• Highest ranking: No. 61 (September 11, 2023)

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – 2R (2010)
• French Open – QF (2025)
• Wimbledon – 2R (2009, 2013)
• US Open – 2R (2023)

Team competitions

• Fed Cup – 28–14 (W–L)