Knowledge Base Wiki

Search for LIMS content across all our Wiki Knowledge Bases.

Type a search term to find related articles by LIMS subject matter experts gathered from the most trusted and dynamic collaboration tools in the laboratory informatics industry.

Alina Jidkova
Jidkova at Kremlin Cup (2009)
Country (sports) Russia
ResidenceThe Woodlands, Texas, U.S.
Born (1977-01-18) January 18, 1977 (age 47)
Moscow, Soviet Union
now Russia
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Turned pro1993
Retired2010
PlaysRight (two-handed backhand)
Prize money$1,128,467
Singles
Career record466–421
Career titles9 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 51 (7 March 2005)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open3R (2000)
French Open2R (2002)
Wimbledon1R (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
US Open2R (2006)
Doubles
Career record281–332
Career titles1 WTA, 9 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 50 (4 August 2003)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open2R (2003)
French Open2R (2000, 2003, 2004)
Wimbledon2R (2002, 2005, 2008)
US Open2R (2005)

Alina Vladimirovna Jidkova (Алина Владимировна Жидкова; born 18 January 1977) is a former professional tennis player from Russia, known for her resilience and competitive spirit on the WTA Tour. Throughout her career, she found success in both singles and doubles. Jidkova reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 51 in March 2005, achieving strong singles performances against top players. Notably, she defeated several high-ranked opponents, including Serena Williams at Linz in 2004, and also claimed wins over Mary Pierce, Jelena Janković, and Samantha Stosur, showcasing her skill in high-stakes matches.

In doubles, she won a WTA title at the 2005 Mexican Open and reached three other WTA finals, including the Memphis Open (2003), Québec Open (2006), and Cincinnati Open (2007). Her doubles ranking peaked at No. 50 in August 2003, reflecting her versatile strength across both singles and doubles play.

Career

In 2004, she reached the quarterfinals of Generali Ladies Linz after beating Serena Williams in straight sets.[1] Aside from Williams, she has career victories against Jelena Janković, Mary Pierce, Samantha Stosur, Alicia Molik, Chanda Rubin, Amanda Coetzer, Brenda Schultz-McCarthy, Amy Frazier, Petra Martić, Mirjana Lučić-Baroni, Vera Dushevina and other notable players. In 2005, she won her single WTA Tour event, the Mexican Open doubles title in Acapulco, partnering with Tatiana Perebiynis. She has also finished runner-up on three occasions.

Retirement and coaching career

She retired from professional tennis at the beginning of the 2011 season.[2] Her last official singles match played was against Monica Puig, 2016 Olympic champion at the end of 2010 season.[3] Being a PTA Certified Tennis Coach, she worked as a coach for Galina Voskoboeva, Ksenia Pervak and Kaia Kanepi.[4]

As a coach, Alina Jidkova was part of the 2012 Olympics, coaching Galina Voskoboeva, who represented Team Kazakhstan. In 2017, she also coached Kaia Kanepi to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open, demonstrating her effectiveness at the highest levels of international competition.

Alina Jidkova is currently coaching and consulting with professional players, enhancing their competitive edge. Alongside her work with established athletes, she is passionate about mentoring young, aspiring players, helping them reach the skill level needed for potential recruitment by top college tennis programs. Her coaching emphasizes confidence, technical refinement, and resilience, preparing athletes to excel at every stage.

ITF World Tennis Masters Tour (seniors' circuit)

As of 2024, Jidkova has been playing doubles on the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour, now representing the United States. Partnering Julie Thu, she won both tournaments she entered so far, an MT1000 in Houston and an MT700 in Austin, Texas, which are amongst the elite tournaments on the World Tour.[5]

Personal life

Also Nicknamed “Alinka,” Alina Jidkova was born in Moscow, then part of the Soviet Union, into an athletic family. Her father, Vladimir, was an engineer and former weightlifter, while her mother, Lina, was a sprinter. She grew up training at the Spartak Moscow Tennis Club and later the prestigious Spartak Tennis Academy, a renowned training ground for top Russian talent known for its rigorous training methods. Spartak produced many successful players who rose to international prominence, including Anna Kournikova, Elena Dementieva, Anastasia Myskina, and Marat Safin. This intense early training laid the foundation for Jidkova’s professional career.

Seeking further development, Jidkova moved to the United States to train at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, known for nurturing numerous tennis champions. She now resides in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband, entrepreneur Sascha Ghods. The couple married on 18 December 2010 in Vienna, Austria, and have two children. Their son, currently training under Jidkova’s guidance, is also pursuing a career in tennis, extending her legacy in the sport.

WTA Tour Finals

Doubles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups)

Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. Feb 2003 U.S. National Indoors Hard (i) Australia Bryanne Stewart Japan Saori Obata
Japan Akiko Morigami
1–6, 1–6
Win 2. Feb 2005 Mexican Open Clay Ukraine Tatiana Perebiynis Spain Rosa María Andrés Rodríguez
Spain Conchita Martínez Granados
7–5, 6–3
Loss 3. Oct 2006 Tournoi de Québec, Canada Hard United States Jill Craybas United States Carly Gullickson
United States Laura Granville
3–6, 4–6
Loss 4. Jul 2007 Cincinnati Open, U.S. Hard Belarus Tatiana Poutchek United States Bethanie Mattek
India Sania Mirza
6–7(4), 5–7

ITF finals

Legend
$100,000 tournaments
$75,000 tournaments
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments
$10,000 tournaments

Singles: 17 (9–8)

Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Winner 1. 27 October 1997 ITF Culiacán, Mexico Hard Canada Petya Marinova 6–3, 6–0
Runner-up 2. 11 May 1998 ITF Poza Rica, Mexico Hard Brazil Vanessa Menga 2–6, 7–6, 1–6
Winner 3. 18 May 1998 ITF Coatzacoalcos, Mexico Hard United States Adria Engel 6–3, 6–1
Runner-up 4. 4 January 1999 ITF San Antonio, United States Hard United States Holly Parkinson 6–3, 4–6, 3–6
Winner 5. 17 January 1999 ITF Miami, United States Hard United Kingdom Helen Crook 6–2, 7–5
Runner-up 6. 31 January 1999 ITF Clearwater, United States Hard Switzerland Miroslava Vavrinec 0–6, 6–7
Winner 7. 19 July 1999 ITF Peachtree, United States Hard United States Erika deLone 6–7, 7–6, 6–4
Runner-up 8. 16 July 2000 ITF Peachtree, United States Hard United States Sandra Cacic 0–6, 2–4 ret.
Winner 9. 11 September 2000 ITF Hopewell Junction, United States Hard United States Jennifer Hopkins 6–3, 6–0
Winner 10. 9 October 2000 ITF Miramar, United States Clay Paraguay Rossana de los Ríos 1–6, 7–6, 6–2
Runner-up 11. 27 November 2000 ITF Tucson, United States Hard Hungary Katalin Marosi 7–6, 4–6, 3–6
Runner-up 12. 29 January 2001 ITF Clearwater, United States Hard Hungary Anikó Kapros 3–6, 2–6
Runner-up 13. 29 January 2001 ITF Fresno, United States Hard United States Marissa Irvin 2–6, 1–6
Winner 14. 5 November 2001 ITF Pittsburgh, United States Hard (i) Canada Marie-Ève Pelletier 6–4, 6–1
Winner 15. 23 July 2002 ITF Louisville, United States Hard Japan Saori Obata 6–3, 6–4
Winner 16. 9 January 2007 ITF Tampa, United States Hard Czech Republic Olga Vymetálková 6–2, 6–2
Runner-up 17. 5 June 2007 ITF Madrid, Spain Clay Spain Carla Suárez Navarro 2–6, 1–6

Doubles: 30 (9–21)

Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up 1. 21 February 1994 ITF Amadora, Portugal Hard Russia Anna Linkova Bulgaria Teodora Nedeva
Bulgaria Antoaneta Pandjerova
3–6, 1–6
Runner-up 2. 29 January 1996 Open de Saint-Malo, France Hard (i) Czech Republic Pavlina Bartůňková Greece Ariadne Katsouli
France Bérangère Quillot
2–6, 2–6
Runner-up 3. 4 August 1996 ITF Catania, Italy Clay Bulgaria Teodora Nedeva Italy Katia Altilia
Italy Laura Fodorean
6–1, 4–6, 3–6
Winner 4. 6 October 1996 ITF Langenthal, Switzerland Carpet (i) Czech Republic Helena Vildová Switzerland Caecilia Charbonnier
Switzerland Andrea Schwarz
6–4, 6–4
Winner 5. 23 March 1997 ITF Victoria, Mexico Hard Mexico Paola Arrangoiz Mexico Karin Palme
Mexico Graciela Vélez
5–7, 6–0, 6–2
Runner-up 6. 27 October 1997 ITF Culiacán, Mexico Hard Mexico Paola Arrangoiz Mexico Lucila Becerra
Mexico Isabela Petrov
5–7, 0–6
Runner-up 7. 19 January 1998 ITF Miami, U.S. Hard Switzerland Aliénor Tricerri United States Lilia Osterloh
Slovakia Zuzana Valeková
4–6, 4–6
Winner 8. 4 May 1998 ITF Tampico, Mexico Hard United States Adria Engel Chile Paula Cabezas
Brazil Vanessa Menga
7–6, 7–5
Runner-up 9. 11 May 1998 ITF Poza Rica, Mexico Hard United States Adria Engel Chile Paula Cabezas
Brazil Vanessa Menga
6–3, 2–6, 2–6
Runner-up 10. 18 May 1998 ITF Coatzacoalcos, Mexico Hard United States Adria Engel Chile Paula Cabezas
Brazil Vanessa Menga
3–6, 2–6
Winner 11. 23 November 1998 ITF Culiacán, Mexico Clay Canada Renata Kolbovic Hungary Zsófia Gubacsi
Switzerland Aliénor Tricerri
6–3, 6–2
Runner-up 12. 4 January 1999 ITF San Antonio, U.S. Hard United States Holly Parkinson Australia Kylie Hunt
United States Julie Thu
6–7, 4–6
Runner-up 13. 8 February 1999 ITF Rockford, U.S. Hard (i) United States Holly Parkinson United States Lilia Osterloh
United States Katie Schlukebir
6–7, 2–6
Winner 14. 19 September 1999 ITF Hopewell, U.S. Hard China Li Fang United States Dawn Buth
South Africa Kim Grant
6–3, 6–3
Runner-up 15. 1 May 2001 ITF Dothan, U.S. Clay Slovakia Gabriela Voleková United States Marissa Irvin
Chinese Taipei Janet Lee
0–6, 2–6
Winner 16. 14 October 2001 ITF Hallandale Beach, U.S. Clay South Africa Jessica Steck Argentina Erica Krauth
Argentina Vanesa Krauth
4–6, 6–2, 6–3
Winner 17. 12 November 2001 ITF Hattiesburg, U.S. Hard United States Abigail Spears Japan Rika Hiraki
Japan Nana Miyagi
6–3, 6–1
Runner-up 18. 3 December 2001 ITF West Columbia, U.S. Hard United States Abigail Spears United States Amanda Augustus
United States Jennifer Embry
6–0, 3–6, 3–6
Runner-up 19. 3 December 2002 ITF Boynton Beach, U.S. Clay Russia Lina Krasnoroutskaya Hungary Katalin Marosi
United States Samantha Reeves
2–6, 6–7
Runner-up 20. 19 October 2003 ITF Sedona, U.S. Clay Paraguay Rossana de los Ríos China Yan Zi
China Zheng Jie
6–7(2), 6–7(3)
Runner-up 21. 10 November 2003 ITF Eugene, U.S. Hard Belarus Tatiana Poutchek United States Teryn Ashley
United States Shenay Perry
6–3, 2–6, 4–6
Runner-up 22. 1 December 2003 ITF Palm Beach Gardens, U.S. Clay Russia Tatiana Panova Hungary Melinda Czink
Argentina Erica Krauth
1–6, 2–6
Runner-up 23. 2 June 2008 Internazionale di Roma, Italy Clay Canada Marie-Ève Pelletier Poland Klaudia Jans
Poland Alicja Rosolska
3–6, 1–6
Winner 24. 18 January 2009 ITF Boca Raton, U.S. Clay Belarus Darya Kustova United States Kimberly Couts
Canada Sharon Fichman
6–4, 6–2
Runner-up 25. 8 February 2009 ITF Rancho Mirage, U.S. Hard Belarus Darya Kustova South Africa Natalie Grandin
United States Courtney Nagle
2–6, 6–7(6)
Runner-up 26. 27 April 2009 Charlottesville Open, U.S. Hard United States Angela Haynes United States Carly Gullickson
Australia Nicole Kriz
5–7, 6–3, [7–10]
Runner-up 27. 10 October 2009 ITF Mexico City Hard Colombia Karen Castiblanco Bolivia María Fernanda Álvarez Terán
Portugal Frederica Piedade
3–6, 4–6
Runner-up 28. 8 March 2010 Clearwater Open, U.S. Hard Germany Laura Siegemund China Xu Yifan
China Zhou Yimiao
4–6, 4–6
Winner 29. 19 April 2010 ITF Dothan Pro, U.S. Clay Belarus Anastasiya Yakimova Argentina María Irigoyen
Serbia Teodora Mirčić
6–4, 6–2
Runner-up 30. 11 October 2010 Classic of Troy, U.S. Hard Germany Laura Siegemund United States Madison Brengle
United States Asia Muhammad
2–6, 4–6

References

  1. ^ "Serena loses to qualifier in Linz". ABC News. 2004-10-27. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  2. ^ "Alina Jidkova Women's Doubles Activity". www.itftennis.com. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  3. ^ "Alina Jidkova Women's Singles Activity". www.itftennis.com. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  4. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alina-jidkova-b55a88224 [bare URL]
  5. ^ "Alina Jidkova Masters Tour Doubles Activity". www.itftennis.com. Retrieved 2024-08-09.