Personal

Coached by Ronald Schmidt
Mother is Diana Golovanova (English teacher). Born and raised in Liepaja, Latvia and started playing at age 6 (introduced to tennis by grandmother); played for fun until she was 15
Aggressive baseliner; favorite surfaces are hard and clay; favorite shot is backhand
Speaks Latvian, English, Russian and German
Other sports interests are soccer and jet skiing
Favorite movie is Lord of the Rings; favorite actor is Tom Hanks. Favorite artists are Beyoncé, Jay-Z and James Blunt; favorite book is Katherine by Anya Seton
Idols growing up were Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi
Favorite place to visit is New York; favorite tournaments are Roland Garros and US Open
Went into retirement in May 2013 but returned in 2015, studied leisure management in Austria while on break. Body started feeling better by end of 2014 so decided to give it another shot

Career Highlights

SINGLES
Winner (4): 2019 - Jurmala; 2018 - Bucharest; 2017 - Mallorca; 2010 - Oeiras.
Finalist (4): 2018 - Mallorca, Beijing; 2016 - Mallorca, Bucharest.
DOUBLES
Finalist (1): 2017 - Mallorca (w/Jankovic).

ADDITIONAL
Latvian Fed Cup Team, 2005-06, 2008-10, 2018-20.

Career in Review

Returned from maternity in November 2023, and reached two WTA 125 QFs at Andorra (l. Bassols Ribera) and Limoges (l. Jacquemot).

After playing Australian Open in 2022 (l. Linette in 1r), took maternity leave to give birth to daughter, Alexandra.

In 2021 achieved QF run at Miami (l. Svitolina) taking her ranking back into the Top 50 before dipping again before the season end with other strongest result another QF appearance at Eastbourne (l. Rybakina).

Suffered a difficult year in 2020, finishing at No.54 after four consecutive Top 50 seasons; however, the only two wins of the season were over S.Williams at Fed Cup qualifiers (handing the American her first-ever singles loss in the competition) and Gauff at US Open

The 2019 season was highlighted by lifting fourth WTA singles title at Jurmala (d. Kawa in F) and posting two R16 showings on the Grand Slam stage—at Australian Open (l. eventual champion Osaka) and for the first time at Roland Garros (l. Vondrousova)

Season highlights in 2018 include claiming her third title in Bucharest (d. Martic in F) and finishing R-Up at Mallorca (l. Maria). Also made first Premier Mandatory final at Beijing (l. Wozniacki in F), defeating No. 6 Osaka in SF for her fourth Top 10 win of the season

Had 6-9 record against Top 20 players in 2018. Two of those victories (No.18 Keys and No.6 Osaka) came on the way to R-Up finish at 2018 Beijing Open

Became the first Latvian woman to reach SF at 2018 US Open, upsetting No.7 Svitolina and No.3 Stephens en route. Defeat of No.3 Stephens was joint-best win rankings-wise (also d. No.3 Muguruza at 2016 US Open and No.3 Ka. Pliskova at 2017 Madrid). Across all majors, the only other Latvian woman to reach this stage is Ostapenko (2017 Roland Garros – WON; 2018 Wimbledon – SF)

Posted 43 tour-level wins in 2018, her highest previous number of wins in a single season was 37 in 2017

Was the second of two singles alternates for 2018 WTA Finals in Singapore

Captured second career singles title and first in seven years at 2017 Mallorca (d. Goerges in F)

In 2016, played first full season since 2012, reaching two singles finals at Mallorca (l. Garcia) and Bucharest (l. Halep), as well as first Grand Slam QF of career at US Open

Made Top 100 debut on July 13, 2009, Top 50 debut on October 11, 2010 and Top 20 debut on May 15, 2017

Retired from professional tennis in May 2013 due to various injuries – mostly muscular and back-related – but returned to competition at ITF level in January 2015 after body had fully healed

Prior to break from tennis, won first singles title at 2010 Oeiras – becoming first Latvian to win a WTA title in 17 years (since Savchenko at Schenectady in 1993)

On ITF Circuit, has won 13 singles and four doubles titles

Made WTA main draw debut at 2007 Istanbul, reaching 2r (as qualifier)

Played first events of career on ITF Circuit in 2006

Latvian Fed Cup Team, 2005-06, 2008-10, 2018-20