1. Overview
Eleni Daniilidou (Ελένη ΔανιηλίδουGreek, Modern) is a former Greek professional tennis player from the island of Crete. She is widely considered one of the most accomplished Greek tennis players of the Open Era, having secured five singles titles and three doubles titles on the WTA Tour. A significant milestone in her career was reaching the mixed doubles final of the 2003 Australian Open, making her the first Greek player to ever compete in a Grand Slam final. Daniilidou achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 14 on May 12, 2003, becoming the only Greek female tennis player to reach the top 20 until Maria Sakkari in February 2020. Her notable achievements also include defeating reigning French Open champion Justine Henin in the first round of the 2005 Wimbledon Championships, a historic upset as it marked the first time a French Open champion lost in the opening round at Wimbledon.
2. Early Life and Career Beginnings
Eleni Daniilidou's journey in professional tennis began with her birth and early entry into the sport.
2.1. Birth and Background
Eleni Daniilidou was born on September 19, 1982, in Chania, a city located on the island of Crete, Greece. This background set the stage for her future career in tennis.
2.2. Start of Professional Career
Daniilidou began her professional tennis career in 1996, demonstrating early promise by reaching the final of her very first ITF event, despite being barely 14 years old. By 1998, she achieved her first professional ranking, concluding that year as the world No. 294. Her breakthrough into the top 100 came in 2001, following a third-round appearance at the US Open. This period marked her full-scale entry into the WTA Tour.
3. Professional Career and Achievements
Eleni Daniilidou's professional career on the WTA Tour was marked by significant victories in both singles and doubles, reaching peak rankings and achieving historic firsts for Greek tennis.
3.1. WTA Tour Singles Career
Daniilidou's singles career saw her rise through the ranks, claim multiple titles, and achieve notable victories against top-ranked opponents.
3.1.1. Breakthrough and First Title
The year 2002 proved to be the most successful of Daniilidou's career, as she finished the year ranked No. 22 in the world. Her rapid ascent included reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time at Wimbledon. A significant highlight was winning her first WTA singles title at the Rosmalen Championships in June 2002, where she defeated formidable opponents such as Amélie Mauresmo, Elena Dementieva, and Justine Henin. Later that year, she reached her second WTA final at the Brasil Open, notably overcoming Monica Seles en route, though she ultimately lost to Anastasia Myskina.
3.1.2. Peak Ranking and Key Titles
Daniilidou's strong performance continued into 2003, beginning with her second WTA title victory at the Auckland Open. This result, coupled with reaching the fourth round of the 2003 Australian Open, propelled her into the top 20 for the first time. She achieved her career-high singles ranking of World No. 14 on May 12, 2003, after the German Open. During this period, she also reached the semifinals of the Paris Indoors and the DFS Classic. In 2004, she successfully defended her title at the Auckland Open, marking her third WTA singles championship. That same year, she advanced to the semifinals of the prestigious Miami Open, defeating Jennifer Capriati along the way. She also equaled her best Grand Slam performance by reaching the fourth round of the US Open.
3.1.3. Notable Wins and Later Career
The year 2005 was relatively challenging for Daniilidou, as she did not win any titles, a first since 2001. However, she delivered a major upset at Wimbledon by defeating the reigning French Open champion, Justine Henin. This match was historic, as it was the first time a French Open champion had ever lost in the first round of Wimbledon, also ending Henin's 24-match winning streak. Daniilidou eventually lost in the third round, which was her best Grand Slam performance that year. She also reached the semifinals of a lower-level WTA event in Portorož, Slovenia. She saw a recovery in 2006, re-entering the top 50 and winning her fourth WTA singles title at the Korea Open in October, defeating Ai Sugiyama in the final. She also reached the semifinals of the Rosmalen Open. In 2007, she maintained her top 50 ranking, with her best result being a semifinal appearance at the Connecticut Open, where she saved a match point to defeat Dinara Safina in the quarterfinals. The year 2008 was affected by a right knee injury, causing her to miss nearly half the season. Despite this, she won her fifth and final WTA singles title at the Hobart International in January via a walkover against Vera Zvonareva. She returned for the Summer Olympics in August but struggled for the remainder of the season, finishing outside the top 100 for the first time since 2000. Her last official match was in December 2018 at a lower-tier tournament in Italy.
3.2. WTA Tour Doubles and Mixed Doubles Career
Eleni Daniilidou also achieved considerable success in doubles and mixed doubles events on the WTA Tour, securing titles and reaching significant finals.
3.2.1. Doubles Performance
Daniilidou won three WTA doubles titles and was a runner-up nine times. Her doubles victories include the Stanford Classic with Nicole Pratt, the İstanbul Cup with Jasmin Wöhr, and the Tashkent Open with Vitalia Diatchenko. She reached the semifinals of the 2006 French Open in women's doubles, partnering with Anabel Medina Garrigues, and the quarterfinals of the 2005 Australian Open and 2006 Wimbledon Championships in doubles.
3.2.2. Mixed Doubles Achievements
Her most notable achievement in mixed doubles was reaching the final of the 2003 Australian Open. Partnering with Australian player Todd Woodbridge, they became the first Greek player to reach a Grand Slam final. They were defeated in the final by the pair of Leander Paes and Martina Navratilova with a score of 4-6, 5-7.
3.3. ITF Circuit Career
Daniilidou also had a successful career on the ITF Women's Circuit, where she accumulated numerous titles in both singles and doubles. She won 11 singles titles and 16 doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. Her singles titles ranged from $10,000 to $100,000 tournaments across various surfaces including hard, grass, and clay. Her doubles titles also spanned different tiers, from $10,000 to $100,000 events, and surfaces.
3.4. Grand Slam and Olympic Performances
Daniilidou consistently participated in Grand Slam tournaments and represented Greece in the Olympic Games.
3.4.1. Grand Slam Singles Results
Daniilidou's best singles performances at Grand Slam events saw her reach the fourth round three times: at the 2002 Wimbledon Championships, the 2003 Australian Open, and the 2004 US Open. She reached the third round of the 2003 French Open.
| Tournament | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | SR | W-L | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | A | A | 3R | 4R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | Q2 | Q2 | Q2 | 2R | 2R | Q1 | 0 / 9 | 9-9 | 50% |
| French Open | A | A | Q3 | 2R | 3R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | Q1 | 1R | 1R | Q2 | A | 0 / 8 | 3-8 | 27% |
| Wimbledon | A | A | 2R | 4R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 1R | 2R | A | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | Q2 | A | 0 / 10 | 10-10 | 50% |
| US Open | A | A | 3R | 1R | 1R | 4R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | Q1 | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | 0 / 11 | 7-11 | 39% |
| Win-loss | 0-0 | 0-0 | 3-2 | 6-4 | 7-4 | 5-4 | 2-4 | 1-4 | 2-4 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1-3 | 1-4 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 / 38 | 29-38 | 43% |
3.4.2. Olympic Participation
Eleni Daniilidou represented Greece in the Summer Olympics on three occasions. She competed in singles at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where she lost in the first round. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, her home country, she reached the third round in singles but was defeated by Anastasia Myskina. She also participated in women's doubles at the 2004 Olympics, losing in the first round. Her final Olympic appearance was at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where she again exited in the first round of both singles and doubles.
3.5. Career Records and Statistics
Daniilidou's career spanned over two decades, accumulating significant statistics in terms of matches played, prize money, and rankings.
3.5.1. Overall Statistics
Throughout her career, Eleni Daniilidou played a total of 209 singles tournaments and 216 doubles tournaments on the WTA Tour. Her overall singles win-loss record stands at 509 wins and 431 losses, while her doubles record is 298 wins and 277 losses. She earned a total of 2.93 M USD in career prize money. Her highest singles ranking was World No. 14, achieved on May 12, 2003, and her highest doubles ranking was World No. 21, achieved on January 29, 2007. She concluded her professional career with her last official match in December 2018.
| Tournament | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | SR | W-L | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tournaments | 0 | 1 | 8 | 23 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 29 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 21 | 10 | 2 | Career total: 209 | ||
| Titles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Career total: 5 | ||
| Finals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Career total: 6 | ||
| Hard win-loss | 0-0 | 0-1 | 3-3 | 14-11 | 17-13 | 21-12 | 7-12 | 20-15 | 19-18 | 6-8 | 4-1 | 2-2 | 5-11 | 7-13 | 3-9 | 0-1 | 4 / 130 | 128-130 | 50% |
| Clay win-loss | 1-3 | 0-0 | 3-4 | 8-9 | 6-5 | 4-5 | 2-5 | 3-6 | 4-7 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-1 | 1-3 | 1-5 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 / 46 | 35-54 | 39% |
| Grass win-loss | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 11-2 | 4-3 | 0-2 | 5-2 | 4-3 | 4-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1-1 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 / 24 | 31-23 | 57% |
| Carpet win-loss | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 5-3 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 / 9 | 6-9 | 40% |
| Overall win-loss | 1-3 | 0-1 | 8-9 | 33-24 | 32-24 | 25-20 | 14-20 | 27-24 | 27-29 | 7-9 | 4-1 | 4-4 | 7-15 | 8-21 | 3-10 | 0-2 | 5 / 209 | 200-216 | 48% |
| Year-end ranking | 318 | 320 | 84 | 22 | 26 | 34 | 70 | 36 | 43 | 149 | 160 | 167 | 90 | 100 | 189 | 386 | 2.93 M USD | ||
3.5.2. Top-10 Wins
Eleni Daniilidou recorded seven victories against players ranked within the top 10 at the time of their matches:
| # | Player | Rank | Event | Surface | Rd | Score | EDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | |||||||
| 1 | {{flagicon|BEL}} Justine Henin | No. 7 | Rosmalen Championships, Netherlands | Grass | SF | 4-6, 7-6(11-9), 6-3 | No. 51 |
| 2 | {{flagicon|USA}} Monica Seles | No. 5 | Brazil Cup, Brazil | Hard | SF | 6-1, 7-5 | No. 34 |
| 2003 | |||||||
| 3 | {{flagicon|SCG}} Jelena Dokić | No. 10 | Paris Indoor, France | Carpet (i) | QF | 6-1, 6-3 | No. 18 |
| 2004 | |||||||
| 4 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jennifer Capriati | No. 5 | Dubai Championships, UAE | Hard | 2R | 6-4, 7-6(7-2) | No. 35 |
| 5 | {{flagicon|USA}} Jennifer Capriati | No. 7 | Miami Open, United States | Hard | 3R | 6-2, 6-4 | No. 35 |
| 2005 | |||||||
| 6 | {{flagicon|BEL}} Justine Henin | No. 7 | Wimbledon, United Kingdom | Grass | 1R | 7-6(8-6), 2-6, 7-5 | No. 76 |
| 7 | {{flagicon|RUS}} Svetlana Kuznetsova | No. 4 | LA Championships, United States | Hard | R32 | 6-4, 6-4 | No. 63 |
3.5.3. Notable Winning Streaks
Eleni Daniilidou achieved an impressive 8-match singles winning streak in 2002. This streak began at the Ordina Open in the Netherlands, where she won the title, and continued into Wimbledon.
| # | Tournament | Category | Start date | Surface | Rd | Opponent | Rank | Score | EDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ordina Open, Netherlands | Tier III | June 17, 2002 | Grass | 1R | {{flagicon|BLR}} Tatiana Poutchek | No. 64 | 7-6(7-2), 6-0 | No. 51 |
| 2 | 2R | {{flagicon|ESP}} Cristina Torrens Valero | No. 39 | 6-2, 6-2 | |||||
| 3 | QF | {{flagicon|FRA}} Amélie Mauresmo | No. 11 | 6-4, 6-4 | |||||
| 4 | SF | {{flagicon|BEL}} Justine Henin | No. 7 | 4-6, 7-6(11-9), 6-3 | |||||
| 5 | F | {{flagicon|RUS}} Elena Dementieva | No. 14 | 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 | |||||
| 6 | Wimbledon, United Kingdom | Grand Slam | June 24, 2002 | Grass | 1R | {{flagicon|CRO}} Jelena Kostanić | No. 64 | 6-2, 6-3 | No. 38 |
| 7 | 2R | {{flagicon|JPN}} Saori Obata | No. 116 | 6-2, 6-2 | |||||
| 8 | 3R | {{flagicon|NED}} Miriam Oremans | No. 129 | 7-6(7-5), 6-4 |
3.5.4. Head-to-Head Records
Eleni Daniilidou's head-to-head records against some prominent players on the WTA Tour include:
- Serena Williams: 0-8
- Venus Williams: 0-2
- Kim Clijsters: 0-2
- Lindsay Davenport: 0-3
- Jelena Janković: 0-1
- Nadia Petrova: 1-3
- Dinara Safina: 2-2
- Justine Henin: 2-2
- Maria Sharapova: 0-5
4. Playing Style
Eleni Daniilidou's playing style was characterized by her physical attributes and strategic approach on the court.
4.1. Physical Attributes and Technique
Standing at 6.0 ft (1.82 m) (6 feet 0 inches) tall, Daniilidou leveraged her height effectively. She played right-handed and utilized a one-handed backhand, which is less common in modern women's tennis. Her game was notably aggressive, often employing serve-and-volley tactics, a strategy that involves rushing to the net after serving to quickly finish points, particularly effective on faster surfaces like grass.
5. Personal Life
Details regarding Eleni Daniilidou's personal life are limited, but her primary residence is known.
5.1. Residence
Eleni Daniilidou resides in Thessaloniki, Greece.
6. Legacy and Impact
Eleni Daniilidou's career left a significant mark on Greek tennis, establishing her as a pioneering figure.
6.1. Standing in Greek Tennis
Eleni Daniilidou is regarded as one of Greece's most successful female tennis players in the Open Era. Her achievement of reaching a career-high singles ranking of World No. 14 made her the only Greek female player to break into the top 20 until Maria Sakkari achieved this feat in February 2020. Her success on the WTA Tour, including five singles titles, set a high standard for future Greek tennis players and significantly raised the profile of the sport within her country.
6.2. Historical Significance
Daniilidou holds a unique place in Greek tennis history as the first Greek player to reach a Grand Slam final, which she accomplished in mixed doubles at the 2003 Australian Open. This achievement was a landmark moment for Greek tennis, demonstrating the potential for Greek athletes on the international stage. Her victory over reigning French Open champion Justine Henin at Wimbledon in 2005 further cemented her historical significance as a player capable of major upsets.