Sun Tiantian
![]() | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (December 2015) |
Country (sports) | ![]() |
---|---|
Residence | Beijing |
Born | Zhengzhou, Henan | 12 October 1981
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
Turned pro | 1999 |
Retired | 2010 |
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $1,019,657 |
Singles | |
Career record | 217–156 |
Career titles | 1 WTA, 6 ITF |
Highest ranking | No. 77 (19 March 2007) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | 1R (2006, 2007) |
French Open | 2R (2006) |
Wimbledon | 2R (2004, 2006) |
US Open | 2R (2005) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 268–154 |
Career titles | 11 WTA, 13 ITF |
Highest ranking | No. 16 (22 October 2007) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | QF (2007) |
French Open | QF (2005) |
Wimbledon | QF (2007) |
US Open | 3R (2005) |
Mixed doubles | |
Career titles | 1 |
Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
Australian Open | W (2008) |
French Open | SF (2007) |
Wimbledon | 3R (2007, 2004) |
US Open | 2R (2006) |
Team competitions | |
Fed Cup | 16–10 |
Medal record |
Sun Tiantian (Chinese: 孙甜甜; pinyin: Sūn Tiántián; Mandarin pronunciation: [swə́n tʰjɛ̌n tʰjɛ̌n]; born 12 October 1981) is a Chinese tennis player. She won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in women's doubles along with her partner Li Ting.[1]
Sun reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 77 in March 2007, winning her only WTA Tour singles title at the 2006 Tashkent Open, and a career-high in doubles of No. 16 in October 2007, winning eleven WTA Tour titles and reaching the quarterfinals of three Grand Slam tournaments, and winning the mixed doubles event at the 2008 Australian Open alongside Nenad Zimonjić.
Career
[edit]
In September 2000, Sun won two successive $10k singles titles, a feat she would repeat in June 2001 with another pair of back-to-back $10k singles titles [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)].
In 2002, Sun continued her success at the next level, winning two $25k tournaments: firstly in April at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where she defeated Zheng Jie in the semifinal and Jeon Mi-ra in the final [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)], and then in August at Beijing, overcoming Zheng Jie again in the semifinal and Rika Fujiwara in the final [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)].
In 2003, she reached the final of a $50k tournament in Modena, entering as a lucky loser and defeating several high-quality opponents such as Martina Suchá, Maret Ani, and Gala León García before losing to Melinda Czink in the final [source: [Tennis Abstract](https://www.tennisabstract.com/)].
That year, Sun also made notable appearances in several WTA tournaments. She qualified for Doha, defeating Yuliana Fedak, Ľubomíra Kurhajcová, and María Sánchez Lorenzo, but lost in three sets to Nicole Pratt in the opening round [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)]. At the US Open, after a victory over Selima Sfar, she was defeated by Saori Obata in the first round [source: [US Open Official Site](https://www.usopen.org/)]. By the end of 2003, she was ranked world No. 141 [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)].
In 2004, Sun qualified for several prominent tournaments, including the Australian Open, where she won against Roberta Vinci [source: [Australian Open Official Site](https://ausopen.com/)], and again at Doha. She secured significant victories in Miami and Amelia Island, and at Wimbledon, she won her first-round match against Tathiana Garbin before losing to Anne Kremer [source: [Wimbledon Official Site](https://www.wimbledon.com/)]. At the end of the year, she lost a tight three-set final in the first $50k Shenzhen tournament to Li Na and ended the year ranked No. 118 [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)].
Sun also competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics, where she won a gold medal in women's doubles with her partner Li Ting, defeating Conchita Martínez and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain in the final [source: [Olympics Official Website](https://olympics.com/)].
In 2005, Sun achieved her first WTA Tour singles quarterfinal at Hyderabad, where she defeated Tamarine Tanasugarn 6–2, 6–1 but lost to Anna-Lena Grönefeld [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)]. She also performed well at Los Angeles and the US Open, where she qualified with wins over Marlene Weingärtner and Ľudmila Cervanová, and defeated Samantha Stosur before losing to Anabel Medina Garrigues [source: [US Open Official Site](https://www.usopen.org/)]. Her career-best win came at Beijing, where she defeated Serena Williams in the second round before losing to Maria Kirilenko [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)]. This performance propelled her to a career-high ranking of No. 88 [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)], although she ended the year at No. 105 [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)].
In early 2006, Sun faced tough draws, including close losses to Amélie Mauresmo at the Australian Open and Nuria Llagostera Vives at Gold Coast [source: [Australian Open Official Site](https://ausopen.com/)]. At the Tashkent Open, she won her first WTA Tour title by defeating Iroda Tulyaganova in the final [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)] and reached a career-high ranking of No. 81 on 9 October 2006 [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)].
Sun is one of only two active players with a winning record against Serena Williams. She defeated Williams 6–2, 7–6 in the round of 16 at Beijing in 2005 [source: [WTA Official Website](https://www.wtatennis.com/)].
On 27 January 2008, Sun captured her first Grand Slam title in mixed doubles at the Australian Open, partnering with Nenad Zimonjić to defeat Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi in straight sets [source: [Australian Open Official Site](https://ausopen.com/)].
Grand Slam tournament finals
[edit]Mixed doubles: 1 (title)
[edit]Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 2008 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(4), 6–4 |
Other significant finals
[edit]Olympic Games
[edit]Doubles: 1 (gold medal)
[edit]Outcome | Year | Location | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold | 2004 | Athens | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–3 |
WTA Tour finals
[edit]Singles: 1 (title)
[edit]Legend |
---|
Tier I (0–0) |
Tier II (0–0) |
Tier III (0–0) |
Tier IV & V (1–0) |
Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 8 October 2006 | Tashkent Open | Hard | ![]() |
6–2, 6–4 |
Doubles: 21 (11 titles, 10 runner-ups)
[edit]Legend: Before 2009 | Legend: Starting in 2009 |
---|---|
Tier I (0–1) | Premier Mandatory |
Tier II (1–1) | Premier 5 |
Tier III (6–4) | Premier |
Tier IV & V (4–3) | International (0–1) |
Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1. | 14 June 2003 | Austrian Open | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 1. | 12 October 2003 | Tashkent Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–7(0) |
Win | 2. | 2 November 2003 | Tournoi de Québec | Hard(i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 3. | 9 November 2003 | Pattaya Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Loss | 2. | 22 February 2004 | Bangalore Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(1), 4–6 |
Win | 4. | 3 October 2004 | Guangzhou Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–1 |
Loss | 3. | 12 February 2005 | Bangalore Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 1–6 |
Win | 5. | 1 May 2005 | Estoril Open | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–1 |
Win | 6. | 12 February 2006 | Pattaya Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 6–1, 7–6(5) |
Loss | 4. | 4 March 2006 | Qatar Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 7. | 7 May 2006 | Estoril Open | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–2 |
Win | 8. | 1 October 2006 | Guangzhou Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 2–6, 7–5 |
Loss | 5. | 15 April 2007 | Charleston Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5–7, 0–6 |
Loss | 6. | 26 May 2007 | Internationaux de Strasbourg | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 7. | 17 June 2007 | Birmingham Classic | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(3), 3–6 |
Loss | 8. | 19 October 2007 | Guangzhou Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–4 |
Win | 9. | 7 October 2007 | Japan Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
1–6, 6–2, [10–6] |
Win | 10. | 14 October 2007 | Bangkok Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
w/o |
Win | 11. | 9 March 2008 | Bangalore Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 5–7, [10–8] |
Loss | 9. | 21 September 2008 | Guangzhou Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, [8–10] |
Loss | 10. | 20 September 2009 | Guangzhou Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 2–6, [8–10] |
ITF Circuit finals
[edit]Singles: 11 (6–5)
[edit]$50,000 tournaments |
$25,000 tournaments |
$10,000 tournaments |
Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 1. | 16 April 2000 | ITF Shenyang, China | Hard | ![]() |
0–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 2. | 4 June 2000 | ITF Shenzhen, China | Hard | ![]() |
4–6, 3–6 |
Win | 3. | 4 September 2000 | ITF Hangzhou, China | Hard | ![]() |
6–2, 6–2 |
Win | 4. | 17 September 2000 | ITF Hohhot, China | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 5. | 17 June 2001 | ITF Seoul, South Korea | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 6–3, 6–1 |
Win | 6. | 24 June 2001 | ITF Inchon, South Korea | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 7. | 14 April 2002 | ITF Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 6–4 |
Loss | 8. | 13 May 2002 | ITF Shanghai, China | Hard | ![]() |
2–6, 2–6 |
Win | 9. | 6 August 2002 | ITF Beijing, China | Hard | ![]() |
6–3, 6–0 |
Loss | 10. | 20 July 2003 | ITF Modena, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
3–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 11. | 31 October 2004 | ITF Shenzhen, China | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 6–4, 2–6 |
Doubles: 21 (13–8)
[edit]Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partnering | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1. | 13 June 1999 | ITF Shenyang, China | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–4 |
Win | 2. | 10 September 2000 | ITF Zhejiang, China | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 7–5 |
Win | 3. | 10 September 2000 | ITF Hohhot, China | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–0, 6–3 |
Loss | 4. | 4 June 2001 | ITF Hohhot, China | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 6–2, 3–6 |
Loss | 5. | 29 July 2001 | ITF Guangzhou, China | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5–7, 3–6 |
Win | 6. | 27 January 2002 | ITF Hull, United Kingdom | Hard (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(4), 7–5 |
Loss | 7. | 10 February 2002 | ITF Redbridge, United Kingdom | Hard (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 8. | 11 August 2002 | ITF Beijing, China | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 6–3 |
Win | 9. | 23 February 2003 | ITF Columbus, United States | Hard (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–1 |
Win | 10. | 2 March 2003 | ITF Saint Paul, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–1 |
Win | 11. | 30 March 2003 | ITF Atlanta, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 12. | 16 June 2003 | ITF Gorizia, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–7(5), 6–1, 4–6 |
Win | 13. | 23 June 2003 | ITF Fontanafredda, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Loss | 14. | 30 June 2003 | ITF Orbetello, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 5–7 |
Win | 15. | 13 July 2003 | ITF Modena, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3–6, 7–5, 7–5 |
Win | 16. | 30 November 2003 | ITF Changsha, China | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 17. | 7 December 2003 | ITF Shenzhen, China | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 3–6, 6–4 |
Loss | 18. | 6 June 2005 | ITF Beijing, China | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
1–6, 5–7 |
Win | 19. | 16 August 2005 | Bronx Classic, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
Loss | 20. | 17 May 2009 | Open de Saint-Gaudens, France | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5–7, 4–6 |
Loss | 21. | 10 August 2009 | ITF Quanzhou, China | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–1, 2–6, [6–10] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Sun Tiantian". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
- Chinese duo win Olympic tennis gold Archived 17 January 2006 at the Wayback Machine, China Daily 2004-08-23
External links
[edit]- Sun Tiantian at the Women's Tennis Association
- Sun Tiantian at the International Tennis Federation
- Sun Tiantian at the Billie Jean King Cup
- Sun Tiantian at Olympedia
- Sun Tiantian at Olympics.com
- Sun Tiantian at the Chinese Olympic Committee (archived, also available in Chinese)
- 1981 births
- Living people
- Chinese female tennis players
- Olympic gold medalists for China
- Olympic tennis players for China
- Sportspeople from Zhengzhou
- Tennis players at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Tennis players at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Olympic medalists for China in tennis
- Asian Games medalists in tennis
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in mixed doubles
- Tennis players from Henan
- Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Tennis players at the 2002 Asian Games
- Tennis players at the 2006 Asian Games
- Medalists at the 2006 Asian Games
- Asian Games bronze medalists for China
- Australian Open (tennis) champions