Daniela Hantuchova
Strong Is Beautiful
Francesca Schiavone

Sesil Karatantcheva

Kaz
Residence: Sofia, Bulgaria & Sarasota, FL, USA
DOB: August 8, 1989
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Height: 5' 7 1/2" (1.71 m)
Weight: 140 lbs. (63.5 kg)
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Status: Pro
JANUARY - Fell in Brisbane qualifying.
2003 - Played first events of career on ITF Circuit, winning three singles titles.

2004 - Played first five WTA main draws, reaching two QFs (Vancouver, Québec City), one 3r (Indian Wells) and one 2r (Tokyo [Japan Open]); fell 1r once (US Open); won one singles title on ITF Circuit.

2005 - Breakthrough season, starting at No.133 but ending No.35; best result was first Grand Slam QF at Roland Garros (l. to Likhovtseva); QF twice, at Gold Coast and San Diego; reached 2r nine times (incl. Wimbledon, US Open); fell 1r twice (incl. Australian Open) and in qualifying once; made Top 100 debut on January 31 (after Australian Open; rose from No.110 to No.98) and Top 50 debut on July 4 (after Wimbledon; rose from No.52 to No.48) and set career-high No.35 on November 7 (after Philadelphia).

2006 - Did not play.

2007 - Did not play.

2008 - In first two events back, won two singles titles on ITF Circuit; in only WTA main draw of season, reached 2r at Fès (l. to Medina Garrigues 36 76(4) 61; led 63 53 w/mp at 63 54); fell in qualifying 10 times (incl. Wimbledon, US Open).

2009 - Reached 2r twice (incl. Australian Open); fell 1r four times (incl. Wimbledon) and in qualifying 10 times (incl. other two majors).

2010 - SF at Pattaya City (l. to Tanasugarn); QF at Birmingham; reached 2r once; fell 1r five times (incl. Australian Open) and in qualifying nine times (incl. other three majors).

2011 - Fell 1r once and in qualifying 11 times (incl. all four majors); won one singles title on ITF Circuit.
SINGLES
Winner: 2011 - ITF/Phoenix-USA; 2008 - ITF/Surprise-USA, ITF/La Quinta-USA; 2004 - ITF/Palm Beach Gardens-USA; 2003 - ITF/Volos-GRE, ITF/Carcavelos 2-POR, ITF/Shenzhen-CHN.

DOUBLES
Finalist (1): 2008 - Bad Gastein (w/Zoric).

ADDITIONAL
Bulgarian Fed Cup Team, 2005.
Didn't like tennis at first, when father introduced her to game at age 5 ... Trains half year at Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (he saw her play at 2003 Eddie Herr junior event and offered her a three-week scholarship) and other half in Bulgaria ... Father, who placed seventh in World Cup of Rowing, was a Bulgarian National Champion and mother, a volleyball player, was also a Bulgarian National Champion ... Sisters are Gabriele (a name picked by Sesil for her favorite player Gabriela Sabatini) and Elia ... Attributes beginning mastery of English to listening to Spice Girls "all the time" and is now doing the same with Spanish by listening to Shakira.
- Changed nationality from Bulgaria to Kazakhstan in January 2009.
- Junior highlights include winning 2004 Roland Garros title.