Vera Igorevna Zvonarёva (Russian: Вера Игоревна Звонарёва, pronounced [ˈvʲɛra zvɔnarˈjɔva]; born September 7, 1984, Moscow, Russia is a professional tennis player from Russia. She was introduced to tennis at the age of six and turned professional in 2000. As of June 8, 2009, she is ranked World No. 7.Zvonareva has won eight WTA Tour singles titles, four WTA Tour doubles titles and two ITF Women's Circuit singles titles. In her first few years on the professional tour, she became known for her fragile psyche, often breaking down in tears during matches.[1] Critics cited her unstable emotions as a reason why her results may have fallen short of her expectations.[citation needed] Her first Grand Slam singles quarterfinal came at the 2003 French Open after defeating Venus Williams in the fourth round. Of her nine singles titles, two have been at the Cellular South Cup in Memphis, Tennessee.
Zvonareva is a Grand Slam doubles champion, having won at the US Open in 2006 with Nathalie Dechy. She is also an Olympic medalist, having won a bronze in singles for Russia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2004, she and partner Anastasia Myskina won the decisive final rubber match in the team's Fed Cup victory. In 2008, she won the opening rubber of the Fed Cup final against Spain, helping Russia to its third win in four years.
Zvonareva was born September 7, 1984 in Moscow, Russia to Igor Zvonarev and Natalia Zvonareva. She was introduced to tennis at the age of six by her mother, although no other members of her family play the game.
