DOB: October 6, 1986
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 73 kg
Turned Pro: 2003
Plays: right-handed; two-handed backhand
Coach: Irina Granaturova
Winner:
ITF/Innsbruck (2003)
Finalist:
Eastbourne (2005)
Semifinalist:
Helsinki (2003)
Stockholm (2005)
Stockholm (doubles, w/Strycova, 2005)
Seoul (doubles, w/Peer, 2005)
Moscow (doubles, w/Safina, 2005)
Seoul (doubles, w/Zvonareva, 2006)
Moscow (doubles, w/Kirilenko, 2006)
Quarterfinalist:
Strasbourg (2005)
Seoul (2005)
Career- high singles: 31 (July 4, 2005)
Career-high doubles: 36 (June 19, 2006)
Current Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles Rankings: 71 (April, 16, 2007)
Current Sony Ericsson WTA Tour doubles Rankings: 42 (April, 16, 2007)
Current Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles race Rankings: 41 (April, 16, 2007)
In juniors, was finalist at 2003 Roland Garros (l. to Groenefeld) and won 2002 Orange Bowl (d. Groenefeld) and Wimbledon (d. countrywoman Sharapova); finished 2002 as world No.2-ranked junior.
Vera started to play on the professional tour in 2001 and won an ITF tournament in doubles in Minsk.
In 2005, Vera finished the year in the top 40. She went in final in Eastbourna after she had beaten Mauresmo. She lost in final against Kim Clijsters. It was the first final for Vera on the WTA Tour. The same year, Vera went in 1/8 final at the Australian Open (her best results in grand slam at the time being). 2005, was also the year when Vera started to play in Fed Cup and Russia won the fed cup against France in Roland Garros.
In 2006 first Top 40 finish in season highlighted by first Tour singles final and Top 10 victory; as a qualifier at Eastbourne, upset world No.3 (top seed) Mauresmo 64 64 en route to career-first Tour singles final, falling to Clijsters; also reached SF at Stockholm (l. to eventual champion Srebotnik) and QF twice, at Strasbourg (l. to eventual champion Medina Garrigues in 3s; was first clay court QF) and Seoul (l. to top seed and eventual runner-up Jankovic in 3s); won consecutive main draw matches only one other time, at Australian Open, reaching career-first Grand Slam 4r (d. No.9 seed Zvonareva en route, falling to No.5 seed Kuznetsova); fell in 1r at Roland Garros (to No.21 seed and eventual runner-up Pierce) and Wimbledon (to No.19 seed Ivanovic; afterwards on July 4, reached career-high ranking of No.31), but reached 2r at US Open (l. to Peer in 3s); reached first three Tour doubles SF of career, at Stockholm (w/Strycova), Seoul (w/Peer) and Tier I Moscow (w/Safina); 2-0 overall in Fed Cup, winning doubles rubbers (w/Safina) in RussiaÆs 4-1 victory vs. Italy in World Group I 1r and in 4-1 victory vs. United States in SF (Russia went on to win second straight Fed Cup title with championship victory over France); withdrew from Budapest w/left leg injury.
