<<

PREVIEW NOTES: ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY ST. PETERSBURG, | MARCH 15-21, 2021 | $565,530 WTA 500

Tournament Information: www.lt.formulatx.com | @Formula_TX | facebook.com/FormulaTX WTA Website: www.wtatennis.com | @WTA | facebook.com/wta WTA Communications: Chris Whitmore ([email protected])

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – QUICK FACTS

Main Draw Dates: March 15-21, 2021 Singles Final: Sunday, March 21, NB 4:30pm Doubles Final: Sunday, March 21, 1:30pm (TBC) Venue: Sibur Arena Status: WTA 500 Staging: Tournament’s sixth year Draw sizes: 28 singles / 16 doubles teams / 24 singles qualifying Surface: Rebound / Indoors Total Prize Money: $565,530 Ball: Babolat Team 2020 Singles Final: [2] (NED #8) d. [8] (KAZ #25) 6-1 6-3 2020 Doubles Final: [1] S. Aoyama/E. Shibahara (JPN/JPN) d. [3] K. Christian/A. Guarachi (USA/CHI) 4-6 6-0 10-3

RANK RANK SINGLES US$ DOUBLES US$ POINTS POINTS Winner 68,570 470 Winner 25,230 470 Runner-Up 51,000 305 Runner-Up 17,750 305 Semifinalist 32,400 185 Semifinalist 10,000 185 Quarterfinalist 15,500 100 Quarterfinalist 5,500 100 Round of 16 8,200 55 Round of 16 3,500 1 Round of 32 6,650 1

MAIN DRAW QUICK-HITS Seeds: , , , , , Jelena Ostapenko, , Wildcards: , , Qualifiers: , , , , , Wang Xinyu : Cagla Buyukakcay Most career WTA singles titles: Svetlana Kuznetsova (18) Prize money leader: Svetlana Kuznetsova ($25,241,185) Youngest singles player: Clara Tauson, 18 years old (December 1, 2002) Oldest singles player: Vera Zvonareva, 36 years old (September 7, 1984)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube: www.youtube.com/WTA 1

PREVIEW NOTES: ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 15-31, 2021 | $565,530 WTA 500

TOURNAMENT TALKING POINTS

• Ten Russian women line up for the sixth edition of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, including former Top 10 trio, Daria Kasatkina, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva. • However, it is Ekaterina Alexandrova seeded No.1 in Russia’s second city, and after an opening round bye she will take on either Tereza Martincova or Stefanie Voegele in the second round. • Joining Alexandrova in the top half are French pair Fiona Ferro and Kristina Mladenovic – the only former champion in the draw. No.3 seed Ferro will face Zvonareva or Arina Rodionova after her first-round bye, while 2017 winner Mladenovic meets wildcard Margarita Gasparyan. • Meanwhile, Kasatkina and Kuznetsova are both in a strong bottom half of the draw, along with No.2 seed Veronika Kudermetova and former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko. • In doubles, three-times major winner Elena Venina continues her comeback alongside fellow mother Zvonareva, taking on and Cornelia Lister in the first round. • One to Watch – Clara Tauson. Despite only turning 18 in December, Tauson’s steady ascent up the WTA rankings suggests that Danish tennis may well have a worthy successor to sooner rather than later. Like Wozniacki, Tauson was a decorated junior, lifting the girls’ singles in 2019. The following year she began to make her mark in the senior ranks, upsetting on her debut at Roland Garros and lifting a couple of titles on the ITF Circuit. She has elevated her game once more in 2021, lifting her maiden WTA title in Lyon and, following two wins in qualifying here, is currently on a 13-match winning streak.

COUNTRY BREAKDOWN

A total of 15 countries are represented in the main draw, led by home nation Russia with 10 players:

Australia (1) Arina Rodionova Belgium (1) (2) Vera Lapko, Bulgaria (1) China (1) Wang Xinyu (2) Tereza Martincova, Katerina Siniakova (1) Clara Tauson (2) Fiona Ferro, Kristina Mladenovic (1) Jelena Ostapenko (2) , Jaqueline Cristian Russia (10) Ekaterina Alexandrova, Anastasia Gasanova, Margarita Gasparyan, Daria Kasatkina, Veronika Kudermetova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Daria Mishina, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Kamilla Rakhimova, Vera Zvonareva (1) Switzerland (1) Stefanie Voegele Turkey (1) Cagla Buyukakcay (1)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube: www.youtube.com/WTA

2

PREVIEW NOTES: ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 15-31, 2021 | $565,530 WTA 500

THIS SEASON’S WTA TOUR FINALS

Week of Level Tournament Singles Final Doubles Final

January 6 WTA 500 Abu Dhabi, UAE [4] Sabalenka d. Kudermetova 62 62 Aoyama/Shibahara d. Carter/Stefani

January 31 WTA 500 Yarra Valley Classic, AUS [1] Barty d. [6] Muguruza 76(3) 64 Aoyama/Shibahara d. Kalinskaya/Kuzmova WTA 500 Gippsland Trophy, AUS [7] Mertens d. Kanepi 64 61 Krejcikova/Siniakova d. Chan/Chan WTA 500 Grampians Trophy, AUS [6] Kontaveit/Li (final not played due to scheduling) February 8 GS Australian Open, AUS [3] Osaka d. [22] Brady 64 63 Mertens/Sabalenka d. Krejcikova/Siniakova

February 13 WTA 250 Phillip Island Trophy, AUS Kasatkina d. [13] Bouzkova 46 62 62 Raina/Rakhimova d. Blinkova/Potapova

February 22 WTA 500 Adelaide, AUS [5] Swiatek d. [2] Bencic 62 62 Guarachi/Krawczyk d. Carter/Stefani

March 1 WTA 500 Doha, QAT [4] Kvitova d. Muguruza 62 61 Melichar/Schuurs d. Niculescu/Ostapenko WTA 250 Lyon, FRA [Q] Tauson d. [Q] Golubic 64 61 Kuzmova/Rus d. Bouchard/Danilovic

March 8 WTA 1000 Dubai, UAE [9] Muguruza d. Krejcikova 76(6) 63 Guarachi/Jurak d. Xu/Yang WTA 250 Guadalajara, MEX [4] Sorribes Tormo d. [WC] Bouchard 62 75 Perez/Sharma d. Krawczyk/Olmos

A SNAPSHOT OF 2021 SO FAR

• Top 20 Debut (1): Jennifer Brady (at No.13 on February 22) • Fewest games dropped en route to a title: Iga Swiatek (22, Adelaide) • Lowest-ranked player to triumph: Clara Tauson (No.139, Lyon) • Youngest title winner: Clara Tauson, Lyon (18y 76d) • Oldest title winner: Petra Kvitova, Doha (30y 363d) • Aces leaders: Veronika Kudermetova – 80, – 77, Ekaterina Alexandrova – 76 • Most aces in a match (17): Ekaterina Alexandrova (d. Watson 7-5 6-7(7) 6-3 – Abu Dhabi, 2r) • Match win leaders: Garbiñe Muguruza – 18, – 12, Iga Swiatek – 11 • Most doubles titles (2): / (Abu Dhabi, Yarra Valley Classic), Alexa Guarachi (Adelaide, Dubai) • Most Top 10 wins (3): Jessica Pegula (No.5 Svitolina at Australian Open, No.6 Ka.Pliskova at Doha and Dubai), Garbiñe Muguruza (No.4 Kenin at Yarra Valley Classic, No.8 Sabalenka at Doha and Dubai)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube: www.youtube.com/WTA

3 ST. PETERSBURG PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS

TOURNAMENT WINNER RND OPPONENT SCORE RANK SEED

2020 ST. PETERSBURG WTA HARD Draw Sngl 32 Prize USD $782,900 ($848,000) 16 FEB 2020 RUSSIA INDOOR Draw Dbl 16 Singles BERTENS, KIKI NED 82 F def RYBAKINA, ELENA KAZ 6-1 6-3 25 8 Doubles AOYAMA S. JPN / SHIBAHARA E. JPN 53 1 F def CHRISTIAN K. USA / GUARACHI A. CHI 4-6 6-0 10-3 108 3

2019 ST. PETERSBURG WTA HARD Draw Sngl 32 Prize USD $757,900 ($823,000) 03 FEB 2019 RUSSIA INDOOR Draw Dbl 16 Singles BERTENS, KIKI NED 82 F def VEKIC, DONNA CRO 7-6(2) 6-4 30 8 Doubles GASPARYAN M. RUS / MAKAROVA E. RUS 161 F def KALINSKAYA A. RUS / KUZMOVA V. SVK 7-5 7-5 244

2018 ST. PETERSBURG WTA HARD Draw Sngl 32 Prize USD $733,900 ($799,000) 04 FEB 2018 RUSSIA INDOOR Draw Dbl 16 Singles KVITOVA, PETRA CZE 29 F def MLADENOVIC, KRISTINA FRA 6-1 6-2 10 4 Doubles BACSINSZKY T. SUI / ZVONAREVA V. R F def KUDRYAVTSEVA A. RUS / SREBOTNIK K. 2-6 6-1 10-3 105

2017 ST. PETERSBURG WTA HARD Draw Sngl 32 Prize USD $710,900 ($776,000) 05 FEB 2017 RUSSIA INDOOR Draw Dbl 16 Singles MLADENOVIC, KRISTINA FRA 51 F def PUTINTSEVA, YULIA KAZ 6-2 6-7(3) 6-4 34 Doubles OSTAPENKO J. LAT / ROSOLSKA A. POL 165 F def JURAK D. CRO / KNOLL X. SUI 3-6 6-2 10-5 93 2

2016 ST. PETERSBURG WTA HARD Draw Sngl 32 Prize USD $687,900 ($753,000) 14 FEB 2016 RUSSIA INDOOR Draw Dbl 16 Singles VINCI, ROBERTA ITA 16 2 F def BENCIC, BELINDA SUI 6-4 6-3 11 1 Doubles HINGIS M. SUI / MIRZA S. IND 21 F def DUSHEVINA V. RUS / KREJCIKOVA B. C 6-3 6-1 146

Date: 14 March 2021 Page 1 of 1 Please credit WTA Media Information System ALPHABETIC PLAYER LIST MAIN DRAW SINGLES 2021 St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy - St. Petersburg, Russia

RANK SEED CAREER @ TRN YEAR-TO-DATE CAREER CAREER HGH TITLES PLAYER NAME 3/8/2021 NAT AGE PRIZE W / L PRIZE W / L PRIZE W / L RANK DATE YTD CAR

ALEXANDROVA, EKATERINA 33 1 RUS 26 67,830 474/ 2 187,920 / 1,857,315 306 / 180 25 2/17/2020 01 BADOSA, PAULA 69 ESP 23 053/ 0 100,557/ 570,201 236 / 136 67 1/25/2021 0 0 BOGDAN, ANA 101 ROU 28 023/ 0 84,985/ 1,394,165 330 / 204 59 6/11/2018 0 0 L BUYUKAKCAY, CAGLA 179 TUR 31 034/ 0 34,759/ 1,057,190 433 / 357 60 9/12/2016 0 1 Q CRISTIAN, JAQUELINE 160 ROU 22 043/ 0 23,294/ 152,622 204 / 135 157 2/1/2021 0 0 FERRO, FIONA 39 3 FRA 24 8,110 153/ 1 172,105 / 1,056,531 216 / 173 42 10/12/2020 02 FLIPKENS, KIRSTEN 92 BEL 35 33,271 012/ 3 88,727 / 5,249,581 523 / 385 13 8/5/2013 01 Q GASANOVA, ANASTASIA 241 RUS 21 065/ 0 8,308/ 79,186 167 / 94 228 1/25/2021 0 0 W GASPARYAN, MARGARITA 122 RUS 26 41,895 154/ 2 76,102 / 1,559,754 215 / 138 41 2/15/2016 02 KASATKINA, DARIA 58 8 RUS 23 118,923 7103/ 5 154,926 / 6,235,378 236 / 131 10 10/22/2018 13 KUDERMETOVA, VERONIKA 34 RUS 23 33,606 285/ 2 232,930 / 1,421,585 246 / 165 34 2/22/2021 00 KUZNETSOVA, SVETLANA 41 4 RUS 35 32,350 213/ 2 112,478 / 25,241,185 664 / 342 2 9/10/2007 018 LAPKO, VERA 280 BLR 22 10,656 012/ 0 22,750 / 715,070 152 / 88 60 10/1/2018 00 MARTINCOVA, TEREZA 125 CZE 26 24,110 174/ 2 29,275 / 584,760 310 / 256 114 7/31/2017 00 W MISHINA, DARIA 403 RUS 27 7,963 063/ 0 2,091 / 68,096 238 / 146 319 9/23/2013 00 MLADENOVIC, KRISTINA 53 7 FRA 27 235,345 845/ 4 165,337 / 11,148,040 343 / 300 10 10/23/2017 01 OSTAPENKO, JELENA 51 6 LAT 23 78,050 233/ 5 116,560 / 8,757,780 245 / 152 5 3/19/2018 03 PAVLYUCHENKOVA, ANASTA 43 5 RUS 29 48,540 445/ 3 99,485 / 9,882,354 434 / 298 13 7/4/2011 012 Q RAKHIMOVA, KAMILLA 152 RUS 19 1,850 044/ 0 46,340 / 90,350 94 / 45 152 10/12/2020 00 Q RODIONOVA, ARINA 172 AUS 31 003/ 0 100,854/ 1,390,008 410 / 374 116 10/23/2017 0 0 SASNOVICH, ALIAKSANDRA 97 BLR 26 920 045/ 0 97,825 / 2,967,266 308 / 201 30 9/10/2018 00 SINIAKOVA, KATERINA 68 CZE 24 42,705 213/ 4 205,886 / 5,848,459 257 / 183 31 10/22/2018 02 Q TAUSON, CLARA 96 DEN 18 0193/ 0 55,815/ 69,683 109 / 25 139 3/1/2021 0 0 TOMOVA, VIKTORIYA 140 BUL 26 1,870 055/ 0 27,794 / 532,467 352 / 232 128 7/16/2018 00 VOEGELE, STEFANIE 121 SUI 31 3,110 023/ 0 21,748 / 2,436,179 441 / 372 42 11/11/2013 00 Q WANG, XINYU 159 CHN 19 024/ 0 19,224/ 267,248 99 / 58 135 2/24/2020 0 0 ZAVATSKA, KATARINA 128 UKR 21 1,770 033/ 0 29,047 / 245,003 171 / 112 103 2/3/2020 00 W ZVONAREVA, VERA 146 RUS 36 80,405 433/ 2 110,875 / 14,342,595 554 / 284 2 10/25/2010 012

Page 1 of 1 Date: 3/14/2021 20:40:3 entry Please credit WTA Media Information System ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

Tournament Information: formulatx.com | @formula_tx | facebook.com/formula_tx WTA Information: www.wtatennis.com | @WTA | facebook.com/WTA WTA Communications: Chris Whitmore ([email protected])

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – DAY ONE

ANA BOGDAN (ROU #101) vs. ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH (BLR #97) Sasnovich leads 2-1 Both players are making their main draw debuts at the tournament… Also first meeting for the pair at WTA Tour main draw level…

[6] JELENA OSTAPENKO (LAT #51) vs. PAULA BADOSA (ESP #69) Badosa leads 1-0 Ostapenko won the doubles title here in 2017… The Latvian is making her sixth appearance, having played every edition since the event was held on the WTA Tour in 2016

[Q] ARINA RODIONOVA (AUS #172) vs. [WC] VERA ZVONAREVA (RUS #146)

ZvonarevaSvitolina leads leads 4 1--10 Rodionova bidding for first main draw win on Tour since … Zvonareva won the Svitolina is a two-time champion in Dubai, lifting the trophy in 2017 and 2018… Kuznetsova owns doubles title here in 2018 the most wins at Dubai amongst active players with 20, ahead of V.Williams (19) and Svitolina (16)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 1

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

ANA BOGDAN (ROU #101) VS. ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH (BLR #97)

Head-to-head: SASNOVICH leads 2-1

2014 ITF $25k WOKING HARD O SF BOGDAN, ANA 6-2 6-2 2015 HARD I Qual. SASNOVICH, ALIAKSANDR 6-3 7-6(4) 2020 DUBAI HARD O Qual. SASNOVICH, ALIAKSANDR 6-4 7-6(4)

BOGDAN SASNOVICH Career Prize Money $1,548,063 Career Prize Money $ 3,415,654 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Nov. 25, 1992 (28) Date of Birth (Age) Mar. 22, 1994 (26) Singles Titles 0 Singles Titles 0 Tournament W-L (MD) 0-0 Tournament W-L (MD) 0-0 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 2-3 / 38-58 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 4-5 / 89-94 3-Set (YTD / Career) 2-1 / 36-38 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 1-3 / 59-49 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 22-28 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 1-1/ 33-29 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 2-3 / 71-64 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 4-5 / 124-89 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 0-4 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 5-13 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 3-10 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 14-27 Coach Szekely Andras Coach Adamovich Andrei

BOGDAN:

• Making debut appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Faces for Sasnovich for the first time today at main draw Tour level – pair have played three times previously on the ITF Circuit and in WTA qualifying • Coming off 1r exit at Dubai last week (as qualifier, l. Vondrousova) • During Australian swing, made 2r at Yarra Valley Classic (l. No.1 Barty), fell 1r at Australian Open (l. Collins) and made 2r at Phillip Island Trophy (l. Diyas) • Match vs. No.1 Barty today was first career meeting with a reigning World No.1 • Now owns 0-4 record against Top 10 opponents, also falling to No.8 Ka.Pliskova (2018 US Open), No.3 Muguruza (2018 Monterrey) and No.6 Kenin (2020 Roland Garros) – best by-ranking win of career was over No.11 Mladenovic at • Best results in 2020 were QF run at Prague (l. Kr.Pliskova via ret.) and 2r showing at Roland Garros (l. Kenin in 3s) • Ended 2019 by lifting 13th career singles titles on the ITF Circuit at $100k ITF/Dubai-UAE • Finished 2018 ranked No.71 to record first Top 100 finish of career; season highlights included 3r run at Australian Open (l. Keys) and SF runs at Monterrey (l. Muguruza) and Bogota (l. Schmeidlova) • In 2017, reached SF at Bucharest and made 2r three times, including at Wimbledon, US Open • Made first WTA SF at 2016 Florianopolis (upset former No.1 Jankovic in 2r, l. Babos) • Also made Grand Slam debut in 2016 at US Open, reaching 2r (as qualifier, l. Niculescu)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 2

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Owns three Top 20 wins in career, defeating No.17 Sevastova (2017 Bucharest), No.18 Vesnina (2017 New Haven) and No.11 Mladenovic (2018 Australian Open) • Transition from juniors to pro circuit was initially hampered by a series of injuries, notably quadriceps muscle rupture and a ski accident; more recently, problems with left Achilles tendon began in December 2015 • Winner of 13 singles titles and one doubles title on ITF Circuit • Played first senior tournament at $25k/ITF Bucharest in 2007 and first WTA main draw at 2014 Bad Gasten (l. Ka.Pliskova in 2r)

Sasnovich

• Making main draw debut at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. Previously fell in qualifying in 2017, falling in the 1r to Alexandrova • Coming off 2r exit at Lyon last week (l. Burel) • During Australian swing, made 2r at Gippsland Trophy (l. Begu), fell 1r at Australian Open (l. Kontaveit) and made 2r at Phillip Island Trophy (l. Da Silva Flick) • Opened 2021 season with 2r showing at Abu Dhabi (l. Muguruza) • Reached first WTA QF in 18 months at 2020 Palermo (as qualifier, l. Martic); also advanced to this stage at Istanbul (l. Martincova) and Linz (l. Krejcikova) • Made 3r at 2020 US Open—defeating No.19 Vondrousova in 2r was her first Top 20 win since overcoming No.15 Kontaveit at 2019 Madrid • Represented Belarus in 2020 play-off victory vs. the Netherlands. Teamed up with Sabalenka in doubles to seal the victory (d. Bertens/Schuurs on a third-set tie-break) • Recorded 20th Grand Slam main draw win after defeating Friedsam in the 1r at 2020 Roland Garros • Made strong start to 2019 season by recording maiden Top 5 victory over No.4 Svitolina en route to a QF finish at Brisbane (l. Vekic) followed by an SF appearance at Sydney (as qualifier, l. eventual champion Kvitova) and 3r run at Australian Open (l. Pavlyuchenkova) • Also in 2019, finished R-Up at WTA 125K Series event at Limoges (l. Alexandrova) • Reached first Grand Slam SF in doubles at 2019 US Open (w/Kuzmova, l. Azarenka/Barty) • Has had five Top 10 wins in her career - No.6 Ka.Pliskova at 2016 Tokyo, No.7 Kvitova at 2018 Wimbledon, No.10 Bertens at 2018 Moscow, No.4 Svitolina at 2019 Brisbane and No.10 Kasatkina at 2019 Sydney • In 2018, reached second career WTA final and first at a Premier tournament at Brisbane, as a qualifier – defeated No.11 Mladenovic and No.16 Sevastova en route to final (l. No.6 Svitolina) • Also in 2018 made SF at Moscow [River Cup] and first Grand Slam R16 at Wimbledon • First broke into Top 50 on January 29 • Played all three ties during Belarus’ run to its first Fed Cup final in 2017 – posted 5-1 record, including win over No.13 Stephens in final

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 3

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Highlight of 2016 was QF run at Tokyo [PPO] – won three rounds of qualifying before defeating Wickmayer in 1r and No.6 Ka.Pliskova in 2r; lost to eventual finalist Osaka • Reached maiden WTA final at 2015 Seoul (as qualifier, l. Begu) • Made Top 100 debut on September 8, 2015 (after US Open; rose from No.120 to No.97) • In 2014 season won 11th and most recent singles title on ITF Circuit. Also owns seven ITF Circuit doubles titles • Made WTA qualifying debut at 2013 Brussels; made WTA main draw debut at 2014 US Open • Belarusian Fed Cup Team, 2012-20 • Played first event of career at 2009 ITF/Minsk 2-BLR

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 4

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[6] JELENA OSTAPEKO (LAT #51) VS. PAOLA BADOSA (ESP #59)

Head-to-head: BADOSA leads 1-0

2020 ROLAND GARROS CLAY O R32 BADOSA, PAULA 6-4 6-3

OSTAPENKO BADOSA Career Prize Money $9,190,660 Career Prize Money $971,860 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Jun 8, 1997 (23) Date of Birth (Age) Nov. 15, 1997 (23) Singles Titles 3 Singles Titles 0 Tournament W-L (MD) 2-5 Tournament W-L (MD) 0-0 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 3-3 / 130-108 YTD / Career W-L 5-3 / 20-24 3-Set (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 47-34 3-Set (YTD / Career) 3-2 / 22-13 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 33-21 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 2-1 / 15-6 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 3-5 / 79-75 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 5-3 / 45-54 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 13-16 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-3 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 20-30 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-5 Coach Jelena Jakovleva Coach Javier Marti

OSTAPENKO: • Making sixth appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, with best result coming with QF run in 2018 (l. Kvitova) • Has played every year since the tournament’s inception in 2016 • Made 2r in 2019 (l. Pavlyuchenkova) and fell 1r in 2016 (l. Wickmayer), 2017 (l. Vekic) and 2020 (l. Cornet) • Doubles champion here in 2017 (w/ Rosolska, d. Jurak/Knoll) – one of three WTA doubles titles she owns • Faces Badosa today for second time, losing previous meeting at 2020 Roland Garros • Coming off 2r exit at Dubai (l. eventual R-Up Krejcikova) • Also made 2r at Doha (l. Pegula). Defeated No.11 Bertens in 1r for first Top 20 win since upsetting No.18 Martic at 2020 Ostrava • Opened 2021 campaign with 3r showing at Gippsland Trophy (l. Svitolina) before 1r exit at Australian Open (l. Muchova) • Highlights of 2020 season included QF at Strasbourg and 3r showings at Roland Garros and Doha. Also finished R-Up in doubles w/Dabrowski at Doha (l. Hsieh/Strycova) • The 2019 season saw her capture third career title at Luxembourg (d. Goerges in F) right after finishing R-Up at Linz (l. Gauff) • Also R-Up in mixed doubles at 2019 Wimbledon w/ Lindstedt • Her 2018 campaign was highlighted by finishing R-Up at Miami (l. Stephens); saw off No.9 Kvitova and No.4 Svitolina en route to register multiple Top 10 wins in the same tournament for the first time in her career Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 5

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Reached 2018 Wimbledon SF (l. eventual champion Kerber) to become first Latvian woman to reach final four at All England Club • Achieved career-high ranking of No.5 on March 19, 2018 • Champion at 2017 Roland Garros (d. Halep in F) becoming first woman to win first tour-level title at a Grand Slam since Barbara Jordan at 1979 Australian Open (d. Walsh in F). Also became the first unseeded player to lift the trophy in the Open Era and the first Latvian player to reach the championship match at a Grand Slam • Followed up title run with QF appearance at 2017 Wimbledon to become only second player in last 10 year (also S.Williams in 2015) to follow up victory at Roland Garros with a run to the QF or better at Wimbledon • Qualified for debut WTA Finals in 2017 going 1-2 in group stage (d. Ka.Pliskova, l. V.Williams, l. Muguruza) • Enjoyed career-best season in 2017, finishing the year in the Top 10 for the first time in her career (at No.7); was No.44 at end of 2016 (first Top 50 finish) and No.79 at end of 2015 (first Top 100 finish) • Made Top 10 debut at No.10 on September 11, 2017 • In doubles, won first and second career titles in 2017, at St. Petersburg (w/Rosolska) and Stuttgart (w/Atawo) • Breakthrough result of 2016 season was reaching final at Premier 5 Doha (l. Suárez Navarro) • Ended 2015 at No.79 for first Top 100 finish (up from No.308 in 2014). Having leapt 229 spots, was second highest year-end rankings jump, after Kasatkina who went from No.370 to No.72 (298 spots) • Scored first Top 10 win over No.9 Suárez Navarro in 1r at 2015 Wimbledon; upset Muguruza in QF at 2017 Beijing to register first win over a reigning World No.1 • Reached first WTA final of career at 2015 Québec City (l. Beck) • Made WTA main draw debut at 2014 Taskent advancing to 2r (l. Pervak) • Began playing ITF Circuit events in 2012

BADOSA: • Making tournament debut at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Coming off strong SF run at Lyon last week (l. eventual champion Tauson) • Other events contested this season saw her make R16 at Abu Dhabi (l. eventual R-Up Kudermetova) and fall 1r at Australian Open (l. Samsonova) • Contesting this week ranked No.69, two spot shy of her career-high ranking of No.67 (posted January 25, 2021) • At 2020 Roland Garros, upset former finalist Stephens and 2017 champion Ostapenko en route to reaching R16 for the first time at a major; posted career-high singles ranking of No.69 (October 12, 2020) following run • Also in 2020, reached SF at Istanbul (l. Bouchard)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 6

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Campaign in 2019 highlighted by SF run at Palermo (l. Bertens) and QF run in Seoul (l. Y.Wang); also made Grand Slam main draw debut at Australian Open (l. 1r) • Finished 2018 inside Top 200 for the first time (at No.143); picked up three ITF titles at $25k ITF/Glasgow-UK, ITF/$25k Les Franqueses del Valles – FRA and ITF/$60k Valencia-ESP • Fell in qualifying at 2018 Wimbledon, Madrid and US Open • Claimed third title on ITF Circuit in 2017 at ITF/$25k El Espinar; Fell 1r at Miami and in qualifying at Madrid • In 2016, fell 1r at Miami, Madrid and Mallorca and in qualifying at Rio de Janeiro • As wildcard, made breakthrough on WTA Tour with 3r run at 2015 (l. Ka.Pliskova) • Came through qualifying at 2015 Madrid, fell 1r to Errani via ret. w/left leg injury • Continued at ITF Circuit level during 2013-2014 before playing second WTA qualifying draw at 2015 Antwerp, where she advanced to 2r (l. Bodarenko) • Made WTA qualifying debut at 2013 Palermo, winning one match via retirement before falling in 2r (l.Gatto-Monticone) • Won first title on ITF Circuit at $10k ITF/Sant Jordi-ESP in 2012; now owns seven singles titles at this level • Played first pro tournament of career at $10k ITF/Gexto-ESP in 2012 (l. in 1r) • Won girls’ Singles title at 2015 Roland Garros (d. Kaliskaya in F) and reached QF at 2014 Roland Garros

and Wimbledon; finished 2015 as No.8 in ITF World Junior rankings

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 7

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[Q] ARINA RODIONOVA (RUS #172) VS. [WC] VERA ZVONAREVA (RUS #146)

Head-to-head: Zvonareva leads 1-0

2020 ROLAND GARROS CLAY O Qual. ZVONAREVA, VERA 6-0 6-4

RODIONOVA ZVONAREVA Career Prize Money $1,611,244 Career Prize Money $14,732,540 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-Handed Date of Birth (Age) Dec. 15, 1989 (31) Date of Birth (Age) Sep. 7, 1984 (36) Singles Titles 0 Singles Titles 12 Tournament W-L (MD) 0-0 Tournament W-L (MD) 4-2 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 0-2 / 10-33 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 3-3 / 453-244 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 37-37 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 1-3 / 119-90 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 19-25 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 1-2 / 31-29 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 0-2 / 67-97 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career ) 3-3 / 322-169 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-2 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 33-80 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 2-4 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 76-119 Coach Natalia Rodionova Coach Evseechev Ruslan

RODIONOVA:

• Making tournament debut at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, and enters the main draw having won through two rounds of qualifying • Defeated von Deichmann and Savinykh over Saturday and Sunday without dropping a set. These were her first wins since 2020 Roland Garros qualifying (d. Murray Sharan, l. Zvonareva) • Today bidding for first WTA main draw win 2020 Australian Open (d. Ka.Bondarenko, l. Bertens) • Fell in Dubai qualifying last week (l. Trevisan) and also fell in Adelaide qualifying • Also in Australia, fell 1r in Australian Open (l. Brengle) and lost opener at Gippsland Trophy (l. Garcia) • Last season, opened campaign with qualifying exit at Auckland before 2r showings at Adelaide (as qualifier, d. No.25 Stephens, l. Vondrousova) and Australian Open (as WC, l. Bertens) – only Tour-level wins in 2020 • On the ITF Circuit last year, best result was SF at $25k Mildura-AUS • Highlight of 2020 came on the doubles court, where she lifted maiden WTA title, at 2020 Hua Hin (w/Sanders, d. Haas/Perez in F); now 1-5 in doubles finals • Fell 1r at 2019 Wimbledon (as qualifier, l. Townsend) – her first Grand Slam main draw since making 2r at 2017 US Open (l. Sakkari) • Also in 2019, fell 1r at Tianjin (as qualifier, l. Q.Wang) and Nanchang (as qualifier, l. Stosur) and made fifth career WTA doubles final at Nottingham (w/Perez) • Best result in 2018 was winning ninth - and most recent - ITF Circuit singles title at $25K Obidos • Achieved career high singles ranking of No.116 on October 23, 2017 and doubles ranking of No.41 on July 27, 2015

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 8

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Continues to play mostly on ITF Circuit, where she is the winner of nine singles titles and 37 doubles titles • Made Fed Cup debut for Australia in 2016 – l. Schmiedlova in World Group II QF vs. Slovak Republic; and w/An.Rodionova, l. Mattek-Sands/Vandeweghe in World Group Playoff vs. USA at Brisbane • In doubles, has one WTA title, has finished R-Up five times and made QF at (w/An.Rodionova); posted career-high doubles ranking of No.41 on July 27, 2015 • Made WTA main draw debut at 2008 Fès, as a qualifier • Played first event of career on ITF Circuit in Russia in 2004 • R-Up in girls' doubles at (w/Rodina, l. U.Radwanska/Cohen)

ZVONAREVA:

• Making fourth appearance here in St. Petersburg, where she reached the SF in 2019 (l. eventual R-Up Vekic) • Made 2r in 2018 (l. Ostapenko) and fell in 2020 qualifying • Doubles champion here in 2018 with Bacsinszky (d. Kudryavtseva/Srebotnik in F) – one of ten doubles titles she owns • Coming off falling in Dubai qualifying • Made R16 at Yarra Valley Classic (l. Vondrousova) and fell 1r at Australian Open (l. Rybakina) • Opened season with 2r appearance at Abu Dhabi (d. Hesse, l. Svitolina) • Highlight of 2020 was reaching the R16 at the Western & Southern Open, as a qualifier (l. Konta) • Returned to tour after eight-month break due to wrist injury in February 2020 with 2r showing at $25k ITF/Trnava-SVK. Went on to make SF showing at WTA 125K Series event at Indian Wells in early March and then R16 at Western & Southern Open in August (l. Konta) • Ended 2019 ranked No.141 after a promising start to season was ended prematurely by wrist injury – during time away from court commentated for Russian TV • Highlights in 2019 were SF runs at Shenzhen (l. Riske via ret. w/left hip injury) and St. Petersburg (d. No.16 Goerges and No.12 Kasatkina, l. Vekic). Also won ninth career WTA doubles title, at Budapest (w/Alexandrova) – now owns 9-6 career record in doubles finals • Broke back into Top 100 after Shenzhen (January 7, 2019), making it as high as No.76 following St. Petersburg run (February 4, 2019) • At 2018 Wimbledon, overcame three rounds of qualifying to enter her first Grand Slam main draw in over three years, falling to eventual champion Kerber in 1r. Previous main draw appearance at a major was (l. eventual champion S.Williams in 2r) • Enjoyed doubles success in 2018, winning seventh and eighth career titles, at St. Petersburg (w/Bacsinszky) and Moscow [River Cup] (w/Potapova) • Returned to the tour in 2017 following a two-year hiatus, finishing with a year-end ranking of No.204

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 9

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Comeback season was highlighted by title at $15k ITF/Sharm El Sheikh-EGY, runner-up finish at WTA 125K Series event at Dalian (l. Kozlova) and a SF run at Tashkent (l. eventual champion K.Bondarenko) • Prior to her return to tour, last played in 2015 – highlighted by QF appearances at Shenzhen and Pattaya City • A 2013 shoulder injury sidelined her for a year and a half prior to returning for another injury-stricken season in 2014 - best result was 3r finish at 2014 Wimbledon (l. Diyas) • Has won 12 career WTA singles titles (most recent 2011 Baku); biggest title to date is 2009 Indian Wells • Reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals in 2010 as runner-up at both Wimbledon (l. S.Williams) and US Open (l. Clijsters) • Finished ranked in Top 10 four consecutive years (2008-2011), including a year-end No.2 ranking in 2010 – became fifth Russian to rank in Top 2 in October 2010 and held No.2 for 14 weeks (Oct. 25, 2010 to Jan. 30, 2011) • Has four wins vs. World No.1s: (2007 Indian Wells), Jelena Jankovic (2008 WTA Championships) and Caroline Wozniacki, twice (2011 Doha and WTA Championships) • Participated at WTA Championships six times in career (2004, 2008-11; includes 2009 as alternate); reached final in 2009 (l. V.Williams) • Has won ten doubles titles, including three Grand Slams (2020 US Open, , and 2006 US Open) and 2009 Indian Wells (w/Azarenka), completing singles-doubles sweep • Missed second half of 2005 season with left ankle injury; missed four months of 2007 with left wrist injury; also missed two months in 2009 due to a right ankle injury; had surgery to remove scar tissue in November 2009 • Represented Russia in Olympics twice: 2008 Beijing (replaced Sharapova, won singles bronze) and 2012 London

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 10

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

Tournament Information: formulatx.com | @formula_tx | facebook.com/formula_tx WTA Information: www.wtatennis.com | @WTA | facebook.com/WTA WTA Communications: Chris Whitmore ([email protected])

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – DAY TWO

[WC] DARIA MISHINA (RUS #150) vs. [Q] KAMILLA RAKHIMOVA (RUS #403) Series tied 1-1 First meeting at WTA Tour level… Faced each other twice on ITF Circuit… Two of ten Russians to contest the 1r…

[8] DARIA KASATKINA (RUS #61) vs. [Q] CLARA TAUSON (DEN #96) First Meeting Kasatkina is a two-time semifinalist here… Tauson coming off lifting debut WTA title at Lyon… Tauson has won her last 13 matches in a row across Tour and ITF events…

KATERINA SINIAKOVA (CZE #69) vs. KIRSTEN FLIPKENS (BEL #92) Flipkens leads 1-0 Flipkens aiming for first main draw win in St. Petersburg on fourth attempt… Siniakova looking to snap six-match main draw losing streak…

[WC] MARGARITA GASPARYAN (RUS #126) vs. [7] KRISTINA MLADENOVIC (FRA #55)

Series tied 1-1 Mladenovic is a two-time finalist here, lifting the title in 2017 and coming within a whisker of defending her title in 2018… The two faced off two weeks ago in Lyon, Mladenovic the victor…

[LL] CAGLA BUYUKAKCAY (TUR #181) vs. [5] ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA (RUS #45)

Pavlyuchenkova leads 1-0 Pavlyuchenkova has reached the quarterfinal stage twice here… Buyukakcay is making her debut…

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 1

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[WC] DARIA MISHINA (RUS #150) VS. [Q] KAMILLA RAKHIMOVA (RUS #403)

Head-to-head: Series tied 1-1

2018 ITF $15k MOSCOW HARD I R16 RAKHIMOVA 6-3 6-1 2018 ITF $15k MOSCOW2 HARD I QF MISHINA, DARIA 1-6 6-4 6-4

MISHINA RAKHIMOVA Career Prize Money $81,087 Career Prize Money $217,524 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) April 9, 1993 (27) Date of Birth (Age) Aug. 28, 2001 (19) Singles Titles 0 Singles Titles 0 Tournament W-L (MD) 0-0 Tournament W-L (MD) 0-0 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 0-0 / 0-0 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 0-2 / 1-4 3-Set (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-1 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 0-2 / 0-2 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Coach Kapersky Alexey Coach Pilchikova Yulia

MISHINA:

• Making singles main draw debut at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, which marks WTA main draw debut also • Contested qualifying twice here previously, falling to Vikhlyantseva in 2019 and Diatchenko in 2020 • Enters the main draw this year on a WC, along with Gasparyan and Zvonareva • Has played doubles here twice before, making the QF in 2019 and falling 1r in 2020 (both times with Shalimova) • St. Petersburg marks her fourth event of the season, following three ITF tournaments earlier in 2021 • Owns a career-high ranking of No.319, achieved on September 23, 2013 • Made ITF debut in 2008 in Finland • Owns six titles on ITC Circuit from 11 finals; also has nine ITF doubles titles from 15 finals

RAKHIMOVA:

• Making main draw debut at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. Previously fell in qualifying in 2020, falling in the 1r to Babos • Won through two rounds of qualifying to make main draw, defeating Krunic and Frech, both in three sets • This is her fourth Tour level main draw appearance • Coming off falling in qualifying in Dubai and Lyon • During Australian swing, fell 1r at the Yarra Valley Classic (l. Bogdan) and Phillip Island Trophy (l. Bogdan), falling in qualifying in between these two events at the Australian Open

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 2

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Won the doubles title at Phillip Island Trophy (w/Raina, d. Blinkova/Potapova in F) • Made Grand Slam main draw debut at 2020 Roland Garros, reaching 2r (as qualifier, d. Rogers, l. Sakkari) • Made WTA main draw debut at 2019 Jurmala, as a WC (fell 1r) • Made ITF debut in 2016

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 3

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[8] DARIA KASATKINA (RUS #61) VS. [Q] CLARA TAUSON (DEN #96)

Head-to-head: First meeting

KASATKINA TAUSON Career Prize Money $6,088,267 Career Prize Money $238,153 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) May 7, 1997 (23) Date of Birth (Age) Dec. 121, 2002 (18) Singles Titles 3 Singles Titles 1 Tournament W-L (MD) 7-5 Tournament W-L (MD) 0-0 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 10-4 / 144-110 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 5-0 / 6-2 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 4-1 / 54-37 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 1-1 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 24-23 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 1-0 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 10-4 / 96-76 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 5-0 / 5-0 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 12-23 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-2 / 26-45 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Coach Carlos Martínez Coach Olivier Jeunehomme

KASATKINA:

• Making sixth appearance at St Petersburg Ladies Trophy – has appeared in all five previous editions of the event • Is a two-time semifinalist, reaching the last four in 2016 (l. Bencic) and 2018 (l. Mladenovic). Also made the QF stage in 2019 (l. Zvonareva) • Overall owns a 7-5 record here • Coming off 1r exit to Cornet in Dubai • Won first title for over two years at Phillip Island Trophy during Australian swing, defeating Bouzkova in the final • Was first final since winning the 2018 Moscow title (d. Jabeur in F), which helped propel her into the WTA Top 10 for the first time in her career on October 22, 2018 • Is now 3-3 in Tour-level finals, also lifting the trophies at 2017 Charleston (d. Ostapenko in F) and 2018 Moscow (d. Jabeur in F). R-Up at 2017 Moscow (l. Goerges in F), 2018 Dubai (l. Svitolina in F) and 2018 Indian Wells (l. Osaka in F) • Posted 3r at Gippsland Trophy (l. eventual R-Up Kanepi) and 2r exit at Australian Open (l. Sabalenka) • Began 2021 season with 3r showing at Abu Dhabi (l. Rybakina) • Highlight of truncated 2020 season was SF showing at Lyon (l. Friedsam) – her first run to the last four at a WTA event since lifting title at 2018 Moscow [] • Won consecutive matches only twice in difficult 2019 campaign, with best result a QF run at Premier Mandatory (l. Wozniacki) • Ended 2018 season by lifting her second WTA singles title at Moscow [Kremlin Cup]. Recovered from a set and 6-2 4-1 down to defeat Jabeur in final; broke into Top 10 following the tournament, on October 22, 2018 • Knocked out No.2 seed Wozniacki en route to her first Grand Slam QF, at 2018 Roland Garros Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 4

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Reached biggest final of career at 2018 Indian Wells (l. Osaka), having upset No.2 Wozniacki, No.10 Kerber and No.8 V.Williams along the way • Made Top 20 debut on February 26, 2018, following R-Up finish at Dubai (d. No.3 Muguruza, l. Svitolina) • Upset No.1 Wozniacki during SF run at 2018 St. Petersburg; having also beaten Kerber at 2017 Sydney, is one of six players in WTA history to have multiple wins over World No.1s before their 21st birthday, also V.Williams (9), S. Williams (8), Sharapova (4) Kenin (2) and Kuznetsova (2) • Captured maiden WTA singles title in debut final at 2017 Charleston, defeating fellow teenager Ostapenko in F – the first all-teenage final on tour since 2009 Linz (Wickmayer d. Kvitova) • Ended 2016 as the highest-ranked teenager on tour, at No.27, after reaching a second career WTA SF, at St. Petersburg and made QF stage at Indian Wells, Charleston, Montréal, Rio Olympics and Moscow • Made Top 50 debut on February 15, 2016, following St. Petersburg run • Upset No.7 V.Williams in opening match of 2016 season at Auckland to register the first Top 10 win of her career • Made Billie Jean King Cup debut in World Group quarter-final defeat to Netherlands in 2016. Has also represented Russia in the competition in 2017 and 2019 and at 2016 Olympics • Reached first WTA SF at 2015 Moscow (as qualifier, l. Pavlyuchenkova, having recorded first Top 20 win over No.14 Suárez Navarro in QF); following the tournament made Top 100 debut at No.73 (October 26, 2015) • Reached 3r at 2015 US Open (as LL, l. Mladenovic) on Grand Slam debut (main draw and qualifying). Earlier in summer of 2015, won back-to-back matches for first time at a WTA tournament during QF run at Bad Gastein (as qualifier, l. Errani) • Also in 2015, won maiden WTA doubles title at 2015 Moscow (w/Vesnina), lifted five singles titles on ITF Circuit and was nominated for WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2015 • Fell 1r on WTA main draw debut at 2014 Moscow (as WC, l. Riske) • Made WTA qualifying debut at 2013 Moscow

TAUSON:

• Making debut appearance at the St Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Enters the main draw having come through qualifying, defeating Shalimova and Kerkhove without dropping a set • Having won an ITF $25k event in and the Lyon event back-to-back, her wins in qualifying were her 12th and 13th in a row. Bidding for her 14th today vs. Kasatkina • Currently sitting at career-high No.96 in the rankings • Coming off spectacular debut title run in Lyon • At 6ème Sens Métropole De Lyon came through two rounds of qualifying before beating top seed Alexandrova in 1r of main draw

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 5

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Reeled off seven games in a row to recover from slow start and beat Babos in 2r, then won all eight service games to beat Giorgi in her maiden career QF. Beat Badosa in SF before securing title with win over Golubic • Golubic was a fellow qualifier - last time two qualifiers met in a WTA final was at 2017 Tokyo [Japan Open], when Diyas beat Kato to lift her maiden title • Prior to Lyon, only Tour-level main draw appearances were 1r exit at 2019 Lugano (as qualifier, l. Rodina) and 2r showing at 2020 Roland Garros (as qualifier, l. Collins) • Lifted ninth ITF Circuit title of her career on indoor hard at Altenkirchen-GER (d. Walert in F) • Fell at first hurdle at Australian Open qualifying event in Dubai • Opened 2021 season by lifting title at $25k ITF/Fujairah-UAE (d. Golubic in F) • Ended 2020 season ranked No.152 (up from No.267 at the end of 2019) after posting 30-7 win-loss record. Best results were 2r at Roland Garros (as qualifier, d. No.25 Brady, l. Collins) and lifting two titles on ITF Circuit • Made Tour-level debut (main draw and qualifying) with 1r exit at 2019 Lugano (as wildcard qualifier, l. Rodina) • Lifted four ITF Circuit singles titles in 2019 • Won maiden ITF Circuit title in just her second tournament, at $15k ITF/Stockholm-SWE in 2017 • Reached SF on professional debut at $15k ITF/Antalya-TUR in 2017 • On ITF Junior Circuit has lifted nine singles titles, including at (d. Fernandez in F). In 2019 she became the first Dane to top the junior world rankings

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 6

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

KATERINA SINIAKOVA (CZE #69) VS. KIRSTEN FLIPKENS (BEL #92)

Head-to-head: Flipkens leads 1-0

2020 W&S OPEN HARD O R64 FLIPKENS, KIRSTEN 6-3 6-3

SINIAKOVA FLIPKENS Career Prize Money $6, 449, 868 Career Prize Money $5,577,520 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-Handed Date of Birth (Age) May 10, 1996 (24) Date of Birth (Age) Jan. 10, 1986 (34) Singles Titles 2 Singles Titles 1 Tournament W-L (MD) 2-4 Tournament W-L (MD) 0-3 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 0-3 / 112-137 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 1-2 / 523-385 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 0-2 / 47-53 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 73-63 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / 1-0 / 31-25 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / 0-0 / 59-48 Career) Career) Hard Court W-L (YTD / 0-3 / 61-88 Hard Court W-L (YTD / 1-2 / 132-141 Career) Career ) Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 5-20 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 5-29 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 13-37 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 12-64 Coach Dmitri Siniakov Coach -

SINIAKOVA:

• Making fifth appearance at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, where her best result is a QF appearance in 2018 (l. Mladenovic) • Has fallen 1r on all other appearances, in 2016 (as qualifier, l. Babos), 2019 (l. Bonaventure) and 2020 (l Rybakina) • Has lost her last six main draw matches – 2020 Roland Garros (l. Bertens), 2020 Ostrava (l. Gauff), 2020 Linz (l. Alexandrova), 2021 Grampians Trophy (l. Kerber), (l. Ferro) and 2021 Dubai (l. Jabeur) • Bounced back to reach doubles final at Park w/Krejcikova (l. Mertens/Sabalenka) • Only singles win this year came in Doha qualifying (d. Niculescu, l. Tsurenko) • Ended last season by finishing R-Up at $100k ITF/Dubai (l. Cirstea) • Reached two doubles finals in 2020, winning her first event of the season (Shenzhen w/Krejcikova) and finishing R-Up in the last (Linz w/Hradecka); also reached SF at Australian Open and Roland Garros (both w/Krejcikova) • In singles last year, best results were QF at Strasbourg (l Sabalenka) and 3r run at Roland Garros (l. Bertens) • Produced career-best Slam singles result with R16 run at 2019 Roland Garros (d. No.1 Osaka in 3r, l. Keys) • Finished 2018 ranked No.1 in doubles after winning first two Grand Slam trophies at Roland Garros (d. Hozumi/ Ninomiya in F) and Wimbledon (d. Melichar/Peschke in F) both w/Krejcikova, the first pairing to complete the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double since and Ai Sugiyama in 2003; also became the first team ever to win the girls’ (2013) and ladies’ doubles title at SW19 Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 7

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Also R-Up w/Krejcikova at 2018 WTA Finals Singapore (l. Babos/ Mladenovic) • Has three Top 5 career wins in singles – against No.4 Halep at 2017 Shenzhen, No.4 Garcia at Wuhan, and No.1 Osaka at 2019 Roland Garros • Won both singles rubbers during Czech Republic’s 3-0 victory over USA in final of 2018 Billie Jean King Cup • Won two career singles titles in 2017, first at Shenzhen (d. No.4 Halep in 2r, No.10 Konta in SF – the first Top 10 wins of her career – and Riske in F) and then Bastad (d. No.17 Sevastova in QF, No.20 Garcia in SF and No.6 Wozniacki in F) • Reached doubles final at 2017 US Open (w/Hradecka, l. Chan/Hingis) • Made Top 50 debut on October 24, 2016 • In 2016, advanced to first two WTA finals of career, at Bastad (as qualifier, l. Siegemund) and Tokyo [Japan Open] (l. McHale) • Won back-to-back Grand Slam matches for the first time during 3r showing at 2016 Wimbledon (l. A.Radwanska) • Notched the first Top 20 win of her career by upsetting No.14 Petkovic during QF run at 2015 Birmingham • Broke into Top 100 for the first time on October 20, 2014 following breakthrough SF run at Moscow (as qualifier, l. eventual champion Pavlyuchenkova) • Fell 1r on Grand Slam main draw debut at (as qualifier, l. Diyas) • Made WTA main draw debut at 2013 Miami (l. Muguruza) • Played first events of career on ITF Circuit in 2012 • Ranked world No.2 in ITF junior rankings in December 2012; won the girls' doubles titles at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open in 2013

FLIPKENS:

• Making fifth overall appearance at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, and bidding today to reach the 2r for the first time • Lost openers in 2016 (l. Kasatkina), 2017 (as qualifier, l. Cornet) and 2019 (l. van Uytvanck). Fell in 2018 qualifying • St. Petersburg marks third event of the season – suffered ankle injury at season opener in Abu Dhabi (ret. vs. Kenin in 2r). Also contested Australian Open, falling 1r to V.Williams • Sole win of season came in Abu Dhabi with 3-set victory over No.51 and 2020 Roland Garros quarterfinalist Siegemund • Posted 2-8 record at Tour-level events in 2020, with wins coming at Western & Southern Open (d. Siniakova, l. Konta) and US Open (d. Peterson, l. Pegula) • Reached SF three times in doubles in 2020, including in back-to-back weeks at Auckland and Hobart (both w/Van Uytvanck), as well as at Ostrava (w/Schuurs)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 8

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Best result of 2019 was winning first WTA 125K Series title at Houston and reached five QFs. Won one WTA doubles title in 2019 at Mallorca (w/Larsson) and earned her career high doubles ranking of No.23 on July 1, 2019 • Highlights from 2018 season include an R-Up performance at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. Krunic) and SF run at Nurnberg (l. Riske). Also lifted third, fourth and fifth career doubles titles at Lugano w/ Mertens and Nurnberg and Linz w/ Larsson • Highlights of 2017 season in singles included QF runs at Acapulco (l. Mladenovic) and New Haven (l. Gavrilova) • Posted 24 main draw match wins in 2016, the most since 2013 when she won 32 matches; reached QF at 2016 New Haven (as LL, l. eventual champion A.Radwanska) – marked first QF at Premier level in two years, since her run to same stage at 2014 New Haven • Represented Belgium at Rio Olympics in 2016, advancing to R16 in singles (l. Siegemund) – upset No.6 V.Williams in 1r – and reaching 2r in doubles (w/Wickmayer, l. Muguruza/Suárez Navarro) • Won first WTA doubles title of career at 2016 Seoul (w/Larsson); currently owns five WTA doubles titles • Enjoyed best Grand Slam year in 2013, when she reached R16 at Australian Open (l. No.2 Sharapova) and SF at Wimbledon (l. eventual champion Bartoli) • Made her Top 50 debut on January 14, 2013 (No.43) and Top 20 debut on June 10, 2013 (No.20), climbing as high as No.13 on August 5, 2013 • Sole career singles title came at 2012 Québec City (d. Hradecka in F) • Underwent surgery on right wrist on October 25, 2010. Battled injuries in first half of 2012, including blood clots in calf discovered in April; off tour for two months causing ranking to drop as low as No.262 in June that year • Broke into the Top 100 on September 11, 2006 (No.98) • Owns two Top 5 career wins, against No.2 Muguruza at 2016 Mallorca and No.5 Stosur at 2012 ‘s- Hertogenbosch • Member of the Belgian Fed Cup team that reached the competition’s final in 2006. Also played 2003-13, 2015-20 • In 2003, played first two WTA main draws (both as WC), falling 1r at Antwerp and Luxembourg • Played first WTA qualifying events at Antwerp and Brussels in 2002 • On ITF Circuit won 13 singles and two doubles titles; played first events of career on ITF Circuit in 2001 • Named 2003 ITF Junior World Champion, having won girls' singles titles at Wimbledon (d. Chakvetadze in F) and US Open (d. Krajicek in F)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 9

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[WC] MARGARITA GASPARYAN (RUS #126) VS. [7] KRISTINA MLADENOVIC (FRA #55)

Head-to-head: Series tied 1-1

2015 MOSCOW HARD I R16 GASPARYAN 6-2 6-3 2021 LYON HARD I R16 MLADENOVIC 6-4 6-2

GASPARYAN MLADENOVIC Career Prize Money $1,814,201 Career Prize Money $5,577,520 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Sept 1,1994 (26) Date of Birth (Age) May 14, 1993 (27) Singles Titles 2 Singles Titles 1 Tournament W-L (MD) 1-2 Tournament W-L (MD) 8-4 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 1-4 / 46-55 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 5-5 / 206-212 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 0-2 / 17-14 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 2-1 / 66-62 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / 0-0 / 11-8 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / 1-1 / 49-54 Career) Career) Hard Court W-L (YTD / 1-4 / 38-35 Hard Court W-L (YTD / 5-5 / 120-139 Career) Career ) Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 2-9 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 17-28 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 4-19 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 34-58 Coach Betau Siarhei Coach Mladenovic Dzenita

GASPARYAN:

• Making fourth overall appearance at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Best result here is making 2r in 2016 (l. Ivanovic) • Fell 1r in 2019 (as qualifier, l. Azarenka) and fell in 2020 qualifying • Faced today’s opponent Mladenovic just under two weeks ago in Lyon • Doubles champion here in 2019 w/Makarova (d. Kalinskaya/Kuzmova in F) • Coming off 2r appearance at Lyon (l. today’s opponent Mladenovic) • Contested Australian Open as a Lucky Loser – lost to Muguruza in main draw 1r • At qualifying event in Dubai, defeated Di Giuseppe and Bolvadze before falling to Pironkova in final round. Overall it was her 14th Grand Slam main draw appearance • Owns four Top 20 wins, defeating No.7 Svitolina (2019 Eastbourne), No.10 Bertens (2018 Linz), No.19 Ka.Pliskova (2016 Doha) and No.19 Errani (2016 Australian Open) • Contested Gippsland Trophy, falling 1r (l. Hercog)

• Best result during disrupted 2020 was making 2r at US Open (d. Puig, l. S.Williams) • In 2019 enjoyed SF run at Istanbul (ret. vs. eventual champion Martic w/dizziness), QF at Luxembourg (ret. vs. Blinkova) and advancing to 2r at Wimbledon for the first time (l. Svitolina) • Defeated No.7 Svitolina in 1r at Birmingham for second career Top 10 win (also defeated No.10 Bertens at 2018 Linz)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 10

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• At St Petersburg in 2019 captured doubles title w/Makarova. Also R-Up in doubles w/Niculescu at the Bronx (l. Jurak/Martínez Sánchez) • Started the 2018 season unranked and re-entered the Top 100 at No.92 on November 12, 2018 • Scored first Top 10 win of her career over No.10 Bertens at 2018 Linz • Owns a perfect 2-0 record in WTA singles finals. At No.299, became the lowest-ranked player to win a WTA title in 2018 at Tashkent – and second-lowest ranked WTA champion of all time after Angelique Widjaja at 2001 Bali (ranked No.579) • Sidelined for half of 2016 and most of 2017 due to knee surgeries, made comeback at (fell in qualifying) • Achieved best major result by reaching R16 at 2016 Australian Open (l. eventual R-Up S.Williams); was her debut appearance at the tournament – run included career first Top 20 win, over No.19 Errani in 1r • Reached career-high rankings during the 2016 season – No.41 in singles (week of February 15, 2016) and No.25 in doubles (week of May 6, 2016) • Doubles semifinalist at 2016 Roland Garros (w/Kuznetsova, l. eventual champions Garcia/Mladenovic) • Ended 2015 season ranked No.62, her best year-end finish. Season highlighted by winning first WTA singles title at Baku (unseeded, d. Tig in F) and first two doubles titles (Baku and Tashkent, both w/Panova) • Nominated for WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2015 (awarded to Gavrilova) • Owns four WTA doubles titles: 2015 Baku (w/Panova), 2015 Tashkent (w/Panova), 2016 Prague (w/Sestini Hlavackova) and 2019 St Petersburg (w/Makarova) • Made Fed Cup debut for Russia in 2013, playing doubles – won the tie, 4-0. Also a member of squad in 2016 and 2019 • On ITF Circuit, owns nine singles titles and eight doubles titles • First played WTA qualifying at 2010 Moscow and made main draw debut at same event (Kremlin Cup) in 2012 • Member of victorious Junior Fed Cup in 2010 for Russia, alongside Gavrilova

MLADENOVIC:

• Making sixth main draw appearance at St. Peterburg Ladies Trophy – has appeared in all previous stagings • Champion here in 2017, defeating Putintseva in the final. Defeated No.11 V.Williams en route. Is her sole WTA singles title • Reached the final again in 2018, however fell at final hurdle in title defense, losing to Kvitova. One of seven finals she’s lost • Has fallen 1r in all other appearances, in 2016 (l. Siegemund), 2019 (l. Ostapenko) and 2020 (l. van Uytvanck) • Coming off 2r loss in Dubai (l. Pegula) and QF run at Lyon (l. Badosa) Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 11

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• During Australian swing, had 1r exit at Yarra Valley Classic (l. Pegula), made 3r at Australian Open (l. Pegula) and lost opener at Adelaide (l. Teichmann) • 3r run at Australian Open was joint-best result at Melbourne Park • Defeated No.23 Sakkari in 1r at Australian Open - first time defeating an opponent within the Top 25 since ousting No.1 Barty during the Fed Cup World Group Finals in 2019 • Also fell 1r at the first tournament of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi (l. No.15 Muguruza) • Won fourth and fifth Grand Slam doubles titles in 2020, w/Babos at Australian Open (d. Hsieh/Strycova in F) and Roland Garros (d. Guarachi/Krawczyk in F) • Ended 2019 season strongly with SF appearances in Moscow (l. eventual champion Bencic) and Zhengzhou (l. Martic) and QF in Linz (l. Alexandrova) • Notched five Top 10 wins in 2019 with two wins vs. reigning World No.1 (d. Osaka in Dubai; Barty in Fed Cup Final); win over World No.1 Barty helped France take home their first Fed Cup title since 2003 • Enjoyed another strong doubles year in 2019, with titles at Istanbul and Roland Garros (both w/Babos) boosting her to World No.1 for the first time in career • Also w/Babos, defended title at year-end WTA Finals and finished R-Up at Australian Open to end the year at No.2 • Won second Grand Slam doubles title at 2018 Australian Open (w/Babos, d. Makarova/Vesnina in F), third at 2019 Roland Garros (w/Babos, d. Duan/S.Zheng in F) and fourth at 2020 Australian Open (w/ Babos, d. Hsieh/Strycova in F) • Won only career singles title to date at 2017 St. Petersburg (d. Putintseva) in eight final appearances – made final in 2018 as defending champion (l. Kvitova) • Reached biggest final of career at Premier Mandatory level Madrid in 2017 (l. Halep) • Finished 2017 season at No.11 for highest year-end ranking and first inside Top 20. Broke into Top 10 on October 23, 2017 • In doubles, won first Grand Slam title at 2016 Roland Garros (w/compatriot Garcia, d. Makarova/Vesnina in F) were first French pair to win the doubles title at Roland Garros since Gail Chanfreau and Francoise Durr in 1971 • Career best singles result at Grand Slam is QF at 2015 US Open (l. Vinci) and 2017 Roland Garros (l. Bacsinszky) • Won mixed doubles at 2013 Wimbledon and 2014 Australian Open, and finished R-Up at 2013 Roland Garros and 2015 Australian Open (all w/Nestor) • Broke into Top 100 on September 17, 2012 and Top 50 on March 18, 2013 • Played first WTA main draw matches in 2009 and first WTA qualifying event as wildcard at 2008 Paris [Indoors]

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 12

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[LL] CAGLA BUYUKAKCAY (TUR #181) VS. [5] ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA (RUS #45)

Head-to-head: Pavlyuchenkova leads 1-0

2016 CLAY O R64 PAVLYUCHENKOVA 6-3 4-6 6-1

BUYUKAKCAY PAVLYUCHENKOVA Career Prize Money $ 1,152,653 Career Prize Money $ 10,464,018 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Sept 28,1989 (31) Date of Birth (Age) May 14, 1993 (27) Singles Titles 1 Singles Titles 12 Tournament W-L (MD) 0-0 Tournament W-L (MD) 4-3 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 2-4 / 67-114 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 4-5 / 353-268 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 20-34 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 117-93 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / 0-0 /14-27 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / 1-1 / 87-75 Career) Career) Hard Court W-L (YTD / 2-4/ 35-69 Hard Court W-L (YTD / 4-5 / 263-180 Career) Career ) Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 /0-4 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-3 / 34-68 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 /1-7 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-4 / 65-118 Coach - Coach Marina Pavlyuchenkova

BUYUKAKCAY:

• Making debut appearance at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, entering the draw as a Lucky Loser • Had fallen in final round of qualifying vs. Wang • Coming off falling in Dubai qualifying • Fell 1r at Doha (l. Kerber) • Opened 2021 by falling in Australian Open qualifying • Highlights of 2020 were main draw appearances at Doha and Istanbul • Finished 2019 ranked No.176, up from No.268 in 2018. Best year-end finish was No.67 in 2016 (sole Top 100 season of career) • Won 10th ITF singles title in 2019 at $25k ITF/Braunschweig-GER (d. Gerlach in F) • Reached two additional finals in 2019 at $60k ITF/Barcelona-ESP (l. Kiick in F) and $25k ITF/Las Palmas de Gran Canaria-ESP (l. Parrizas Diaz in F) • Competed at two Tour-level events in 2019 at Istanbul (as qualifier, l. Kuznetsova in 1r) and Nürnberg (as qualifier, l. Petkovic in 1r) • In 2018, lifted one ITF title at $25k ITF/Grado-ITA (d. Di Giuseppe in F) • 2017 season highlight came by reaching QF on home soil at Istanbul (as defending champion, l. Mertens) • 2016 season highlight was winning career-first singles title at 2016 Istanbul (d. Kovinic in F) - became first Turkish player to win a WTA title • Became first tennis player to represent Turkey at an Olympics Games in Rio (l. Makarova in 1r) • Reached career-high ranking of No.60 on September 12, 2016 Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 13

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Owns career 1-4 record vs. Top 10 players with sole victory coming over No.6 Ostapenko in ; losses came against No.10 Vinci (2016 Doha), No.6 Muguruza (2016 Linz) and No.10 Konta (2017 Shenzhen, 2017 Fed Cup) • 2016 Roland Garros was Grand Slam main draw debut • Became first player from Turkey to win a main draw match at a Grand Slam with 1r defeat of Sasnovich at 2016 Roland Garros (as qualifier, l. Pavlyuchenkova in 2r) • Reached 2r at 2016 US Open (l. Kvitova) and 2017 Roland Garros (l. Rogers) • By appearing at 2016 US Open, became first Turkish woman to appear in the US Open main draw • Mostly played on ITF Circuit in 2015, but reach 2r twice at tour level – Shenzhen (as qualifier, l. Zvonareva) and Dubai (as WC, l. Cornet) • Two-time runner-up at WTA doubles events: 2014 Bucharest (w/Knapp) and 2015 Istanbul (w/Jankovic) • Winner of 10 singles titles and 15 doubles titles on ITF Circuit • Made WTA main draw debut as unranked wildcard at 2005 Istanbul (1r) • Played first events of career on ITF Circuit in Turkey in 2004 • Member of Turkish Fed Cup Team in 2015 and 2017-18

PAVLYUCHENKOVA:

• Making fourth appearance at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, where she is a two-time quarterfinalist, in 2016 (l. Bencic) and 2019 (l. Bertens) • Fell 1r in 2018 (l. Makarova) • Coming off 1r exit at Dubai (l. compatriot Kudermetova) • Made 2r at Doha – defeated Kr.Pliskova in 1r before falling to Kvitova • Down under, posted 3r showings at the Yarra Valley Classic (l. Muguruza) and Phillip Island Trophy (l. eventual champion Kasatkina) and suffered 1r exit at Australian Open (l. eventual champion Osaka) • Began 2021 season falling to Jabeur in 1r of Abu Dhabi • Finished 2020 ranked No.38 for 13th straight year inside the Top 50 • At 2020 Roland Garros, made 50th main draw appearance at a major – one of 10 active players to reach this milestone • Upset No.2 Ka.Pliskova and former champion Kerber en route to QF at 2020 Australian Open • Advanced to two finals in 2019 – both at Premier-level – at Osaka (l. Osaka in F) and Moscow (l. Bencic in F). Also made QF in Melbourne in 2019 to match best Grand Slam result (l. Collins), upsetting No.9 Bertens and No.5 Stephens en route • Notched only win over a reigning World No.1 against Kerber during run to fourth Monterrey title in 2017 • Represented Russia at 2016 Rio Olympics, losing to eventual gold medalist Puig in 2r • In doubles, owns 12 titles and has reached QF of all four majors – most recently at 2018 US Open w/Sevastova. Career-high doubles ranking is No.21 (September 16, 2013) • In 2011, won 39 main draw matches, one title and reached first two Grand Slam QFs to end the year inside Top 20 for the first time

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 14

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Made Top 20 debut at No.20 on September 13, 2010, after R16 showing at US Open • Won the first title of her career at Monterrey in 2010 (d. Hantuchova in F); has gone on to lift this title three more times (2011, 2013 and 2017) • Advanced to maiden WTA SF at 2009 Indian Wells, scoring first Top 10 wins of her career en route, over No.3 Jankovic and No.10 A.Radwanska • Broke into Top 100 in singles on July 7, 2008 – following run through qualifying to 3r at Wimbledon – and entered Top 50 on November 3 of the same year • Reached first two WTA QFs in 2008, first on clay at Palermo and then on hard at Tokyo [Japan Open] • Made Grand Slam debut at 2007 Wimbledon as a WC, losing 6-0 6-1 to No.10 seed Hantuchova • Played first WTA main draw as a wildcard at 2006 Moscow • Named 2006 ITF Junior World Champion, having won girls’ singles titles at Australian Open (2006-07) and US Open (2006)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 15

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

Tournament Information: formulatx.com | @formula_tx | facebook.com/formula_tx WTA Information: www.wtatennis.com | @WTA | facebook.com/WTA WTA Communications: Chris Whitmore ([email protected])

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – DAY THREE

KATARINA ZAVATSKA (UKR #125) vs. [Q] ANASTASIA GASANOVA (RUS #241)

First meeting Zavatska bidding for first Tour-level main draw win since 2019… Gasanova making second WTA main draw appearance, after debut at Abu Dhabi earlier this month

[3] FIONA FERRO (FRA #43) vs. [WC] VERA ZVONAREVA (RUS #146) BadosaFirst meeting leads 1 -0 OstapenkoFerro seeded won No.3 the doublesthis fortnight title here – her in highest 2017… seedingThe Latvian at a isWTA making 500 event her sixth… Zvonareva appearance, won having the played every edition sincedoubles the event title here was inheld 2018 on the WTA Tour in 2016

[Q] WANG XINYU (CHN #159) vs. [4] SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUS #41)

First meeting Wang bidding to secure her first victory over a Top 100 player … Kuznetsova advanced to the quarterfinals during her debut here in 2017

[1] EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA (RUS #33) vs. TEREZA MARTINCOVA (CZE #107)

Series tied 1-1 Alexandrova owns the most indoor match wins across the WTA Tour with 31… Martincova enters this week’s tournament on a career-high ranking of No.107

[6] JELENA OSTAPENKO (LAT #51) vs. [Q] JAQUELINE CRISTIAN (ROU #160)

First meeting Ostapenko has played every year since the tournament’s inception in 2016, lifting the doubles title in 2017… Cristian hoping to reach 3r for her first time on the WTA Tour

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 1

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

KATERINA ZAVATSKA (ROU #125) VS. [Q] ANASTASIA GASANOVA (RUS #146)

Head-to-head: First meeting

ZAVATSKA GASANOVA Career Prize Money $439,805 Career Prize Money $97,691 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Feb 5, 2000 (21) Date of Birth (Age) May 15, 1999 (21) Singles Titles 0 Singles Titles 0 Tournament W-L (MD) Making debut Tournament W-L (MD) Making debut YTD / Career W-L (MD) 0-2 / 6-14 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 2-1 / 2-1 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 2-4 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 1-2 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 0-2/ 4-10 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 2-1/ 2-1 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-1 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 1-0 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-3 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 1-0 Coach Mislav Hizak Coach Alexey Filenkov

ZAVATSKA:

• Making main draw debut at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Contested qualifying last year in 2020, but fell in final round to Boulter • Sole Ukrainian in the main draw • Faces fellow main draw debutant Gasanova today – winner will face Pavlyuchenkova in 2r • Biding for first Tour-level main draw win today since 2019, reaching the SF at Tashkent that year in September (l. Cirstea) • Since then, at main draw level, has posted 0-7 record, falling 1r at 2020 Acapulco (l. Zhu), 2020 US Open (l. Rybakina), 2020 Istanbul (l. Badosa), 2020 Roland Garros (l. Bertens), 2020 Linz (l. Gracheva), 2021 Lyon (l. Gasparyan) and 2021 Dubai (l. Teichmann) • Highlight of 2020 was making Grand Slam main draw debut at 2020 US Open (l. Rybakina in 1r). Also contested 2020 Roland Garros (l. Bertens in 1r) • Posted career-high ranking of No.103 on Feb 3, 2020 • Ended 2019 ranked No.110 breaking into the Top 150 for first time earlier in the year • Made first WTA SF at 2019 Tashkent beating Grand Slam champion Ostapenko in 1r (l. Cirstea) • Other 2019 highlights include 2r at Guangzhou (l. Kenin), 1r at Lugano (l. Swiatek) and Nanchang (l. Fett) and contesting qualifying at all four slams • Defeat of No.61 Ferro in 1r at 2019 Guangzhou marked first Top 100 win of career and best by-ranking win to date • Also won two back-to-back titles on ITF circuit at ITF $25k Biella-ITA and ITF $100k Contrexville-FRA; now owns six ITF singles titles • Finished 2018 at No.193 for first year-end Top 200 ranking • Earned first WTA match wins of career at 2018 Rabat by reaching QF (d. El Jardi, Dulgheru; l.Hsieh) • Also in 2018 played US Open qualifying (l. Ahn) and won title at ITF $15k Ameiens-FRA • Made WTA main draw debut at 2016 Kuala Lumpur (l. Linette in 1r), also fell 1r at Seoul (l. Haddad Maia)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 2

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Also in 2016 won another ITF title at ITF $25k Santa Margherita di Pula-ITA • Won first ITF title at second professional tournament of career at 2015 ITF $10k Telavi-GEO, later that year won another title at ITF $10k Sharm El Sheikh 30-EGY • Played first professional event of career on ITF Circuit in France in 2015 • Ukrainian Billie Jean King Cup Team 2020

GASANOVA:

• Making debut appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Enters the main draw having won two rounds of qualifying, defeating Paar and Konjuh without dropping a set • One of 10 Russian women to contest the 1r • This is just her second WTA main draw appearance, after making debut at Abu Dhabi earlier this month • Currently ranked No.241 – career-high is No.223, posted on January 25, 2021 • Faces fellow 21-year-old Zavatska today, and bidding for third main draw victory • Made WTA main draw debut in Abu Dhabi at beginning of 2021 • Came through qualifying, defeated Barthel in 1r before stunning World No.6 Pliskova in straight sets. Fell to Sorribes Tormo • Has competed in three previous WTA level events in Russia, falling in qualifying in Russia in each • Other tour level competition includes appearances at 125K events in Dalian (2016) and Prague (2020) • Her 2020 campaign was highlighted by a semifinal visit at ITF $15K Sharm El Sheikh 3 and a quarterfinal performance at ITF $100K Cairo 4 • Produced a successful ITF resume in 2019, having reached three ITF finals at $25K Kazan, $25K Incheon and $25K Nanning • Has yet to compete in a Grand Slam event • Captured ITF $25K Guiyang title, and was a runner-up at $25K Karshi and $15K Moscow in 2018 • Hoisted two ITF titles in 2016 at $10K Nanjing and $10K Khimki • Won back-to-back ITF crowns in 2015 at $10K Telavi 4 and Telavi 5 (Georgia) • First career ITF title came at $10K Telavi in 2014 • Owns six career ITF singles titles so far • Played first ITF event in 2013 at $10K Astanan 5, Kazakhstan

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 3

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[3] FIONA FERRO (FRA #43) VS. [WC] VERA ZVONAREVA (RUS #146)

Head-to-head: First meeting

FERRO ZVONAREVA Career Prize Money $1,424,532 Career Prize Money $14,732,540 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-Handed Date of Birth (Age) March 12, 1997 (23) Date of Birth (Age) Sep. 7, 1984 (36) Singles Titles 2 Singles Titles 12 Tournament W-L (MD) 0-0 Tournament W-L (MD) 5-2 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 5-3 / 37-38 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 4-3 / 454-244 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 3-1 / 14-11 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 1-3 / 119-90 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 0-2 / 8-8 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 1-2 / 31-29 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 5-3 / 26-17 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 4-3 / 323-169 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-3 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 33-80 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 3-7 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 76-119 Coach Emmanuel Planque Coach Evseechev Ruslan

FERRO:

• Making second appearance at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. In 2020, came through qualifying to make 2r (d. Garcia, l. Rybakina) • Seeded No.3 this fortnight – her highest seeding at a WTA 500 event. Was seeded No.2 last week at Lyon (WTA 250) • Currently ranked No.43 – four spots off career-high of No.39, achieved earlier this month (March 8, 2021) • Following 1r bye, faces Zvonareva today – last time she player (and beat) a Russian, she went on to win the title at that event, defeating Alexandrova in 2r at 2020 Palermo • Coming off strong SF run at Lyon (l. eventual R-Up Golubic) • During Australian swing, posted best result at Australian Open by reaching 3r (l. Swiatek). Upset No.21 Rybakina 6-4 6-4 in 2r – her best by-ranking win since upsetting the same opponent (then-ranked No.18) at 2020 Roland Garros • Owns three Top 20 wins, over No.16 Q.Wang (2019 Strasbourg), No.20 Kontaveit (2020 Palermo) and No.18 Rybakina (2020 Roland Garros) • Played first event of season at Yarra Valley Classic falling in 1r as the No.12 seed (l. Rogers) • Grand Slam breakthrough came with R16 showing at 2020 Roland Garros (l. Kenin) • Finished 2020 season at No.42 for highest year-end ranking and first inside Top 50. Broke into Top 50 at No.44 after winning second career title at 2020 Palermo (d. Kontaveit in F) • Enjoyed impressive season in 2019, lifting maiden WTA title in her career first tour-level final at Lausanne (d. Cornet in F); posted first Top 100 year-end finish (No.63) • Reached one more SF in 2019 at Lugano and the QF on two other occasions at Strasbourg and Palermo • Contested the main draw at all four Grand Slams for the first time in 2019, achieving her best result at the majors by reaching the 3r at the US Open (l. No.18 seed Q.Wang) Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 4

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Member of the French Fed Cup squad that were crowned champions, beating Australia away from home in November • Finished 2018 ranked No.102; made maiden WTA QF at Guangzhou (l. eventual champion Q.Wang). Also made 2r at Roland Garros, Tashkent and Luxembourg and won first four titles on ITF Circuit • Prior to 2018 Roland Garros had lost 1r on eight previous tour-level main draw appearances • Made WTA qualifying debut at 2014 Strasbourg • Played first events of career on ITF Circuit in 2012

ZVONAREVA:

• Making fourth appearance here at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, with her best result with SF run in 2019 (l. eventual R-Up Vekic) • Made 2r in 2018 (l. Ostapenko) and fell in 2020 qualifying • Doubles champion here in 2018 with Bacsinszky (d. Kudryavtseva/Srebotnik in F) – one of ten doubles titles she owns • Opened 2021 St. Petersburg campaign with straight sets victory over Rodionova • Faces No.43 Ferro today – win would be best-by-ranking since defeating No.33 Linette at the 2020 Western & Southern Open, her sole Top 50 win last year • Defeated French opposition earlier this year at Abu Dhabi (l. Hesse). Also fell to French opposition on her last outing here in St. Petersburg, losing to Cornet in the final round of 2020 qualifying • Coming off falling in Dubai qualifying, falling to fellow veteran Kanepi in final round • Made R16 at Yarra Valley Classic (l. Vondrousova) and fell 1r at Australian Open (l. Rybakina) • Opened season with 2r appearance at Abu Dhabi (d. Hesse, l. Svitolina) • Highlight of 2020 was reaching the R16 at the Western & Southern Open, as a qualifier (l. Konta) • Returned to tour after eight-month break due to wrist injury in February 2020 with 2r showing at $25k ITF/Trnava-SVK. Went on to make SF showing at WTA 125K Series event at Indian Wells in early March and then R16 at Western & Southern Open in August (l. Konta) • Ended 2019 ranked No.141 after a promising start to season was ended prematurely by wrist injury – during time away from court commentated for Russian TV • Highlights in 2019 were SF runs at Shenzhen (l. Riske via ret. w/left hip injury) and St. Petersburg (d. No.16 Goerges and No.12 Kasatkina, l. Vekic). Also won ninth career WTA doubles title, at Budapest (w/Alexandrova) – now owns 9-6 career record in doubles finals • Broke back into Top 100 after Shenzhen (January 7, 2019), making it as high as No.76 following St. Petersburg run (February 4, 2019) • At 2018 Wimbledon, overcame three rounds of qualifying to enter her first Grand Slam main draw in over three years, falling to eventual champion Kerber in 1r. Previous main draw appearance at a major was 2015 Australian Open (l. eventual champion S.Williams in 2r) • Enjoyed doubles success in 2018, winning seventh and eighth career titles, at St. Petersburg (w/Bacsinszky) and Moscow [River Cup] (w/Potapova) • Returned to the tour in 2017 following a two-year hiatus, finishing with a year-end ranking of No.204 Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 5

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Comeback season was highlighted by title at $15k ITF/Sharm El Sheikh-EGY, runner-up finish at WTA 125K Series event at Dalian (l. Kozlova) and a SF run at Tashkent (l. eventual champion K.Bondarenko) • Prior to her return to tour, last played in 2015 – highlighted by QF appearances at Shenzhen and Pattaya City • A 2013 shoulder injury sidelined her for a year and a half prior to returning for another injury-stricken season in 2014 - best result was 3r finish at 2014 Wimbledon (l. Diyas) • Has won 12 career WTA singles titles (most recent 2011 Baku); biggest title to date is 2009 Indian Wells • Reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals in 2010 as runner-up at both Wimbledon (l. S.Williams) and US Open (l. Clijsters) • Finished ranked in Top 10 four consecutive years (2008-2011), including a year-end No.2 ranking in 2010 – became fifth Russian to rank in Top 2 in October 2010 and held No.2 for 14 weeks (Oct. 25, 2010 to Jan. 30, 2011) • Has four wins vs. World No.1s: Maria Sharapova (2007 Indian Wells), Jelena Jankovic (2008 WTA Championships) and Caroline Wozniacki, twice (2011 Doha and WTA Championships) • Participated at WTA Championships six times in career (2004, 2008-11; includes 2009 as alternate); reached final in 2009 (l. V.Williams) • Has won ten doubles titles, including three Grand Slams (2020 US Open, 2012 Australian Open, and 2006 US Open) and 2009 Indian Wells (w/Azarenka), completing singles-doubles sweep • Missed second half of 2005 season with left ankle injury; missed four months of 2007 with left wrist injury; also missed two months in 2009 due to a right ankle injury; had surgery to remove scar tissue in November 2009 • Represented Russia in Olympics twice: 2008 Beijing (replaced Sharapova, won singles bronze) and 2012 London

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 6

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[Q] WANG XINYU (CHN #159) VS. [4] SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUS #51)

Head-to-head: First meeting

WANG KUZNETSOVA Career Prize Money $347,203 Career Prize Money $25,596,078 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Sept. 26, 2001 (19) Date of Birth (Age) Jun. 27, 1985 (35) Singles Titles 0 Singles Titles 18 Tournament W-L (MD) 1-0 Tournament W-L (MD) YTD / Career W-L (MD) 1-0 / 4-10 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 3-4 / 605-322 3-Set (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 2-4 3-Set (YTD / Career) 2-1 / 193-124 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 0-0 / Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 129-104 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 4-10 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 3-4 / 379-205 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 63-102 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-2 / 136-176 Coach Cebo Sandi Coach Piles Ciscar Javier Francisco, Krendelev Vyacheslav

WANG: • Making tournament debut at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Enters the main draw having won two rounds of qualifying, defeating Melnikova and Buyukakcay without dropping a set • In 1r, defeated Tomova to post first main draw win since 2019 Tianjin • Faces No.51 Kuznetsova in today’s 2r – a win would secure her first victory over a Top 100 player • Also bidding to register first set of back-to-back main draw wins • Coming off qualifying exits at Australian Open and Lyon • Opened 2021 season with 2r run at $25K ITF/Fujairah-UAE • In 2020, fell 1r at Shenzhen (l. Muguruza) and Hua Hin (l. Liang) • Posted career-high ranking of 135 on Feb. 24, 2020 • Opened 2019 season with maiden Tour-level main draw win at Shenzhen Open (d. F.Xun, l. Sharapova), went on to post two more 2r runs at Nanchang (l. Rybakina) and Tianjin (as qualifier, l. Peterson) • Lifted maiden WTA doubles title at 2019 Nanchang w/L.Zhu (d. Peng/Zhang in F) • Won three consecutive ITF titles in 2019, at $25K ITF/Shenzhen 2-CHN (d. F.Xun in F), $25K ITF/Hengyang- CHN (d. Z.Sun in F) and $25K ITF/Tianhin-CHN (d. Jovic in F) • In 2018, won maiden title of career at $25K ITF/Nonthaburi 4-THA (d. in F) • Made Grand Slam main draw debut at 2018 Australian Open (l. Cornet in 1r) • Also in 2018, contested qualifying on WTA Tour for the first time at Shenzhen Open and competed in maiden WTA main draw at Guangzhou (l. Khazaniuk) • Advanced to 2r on professional debut at $10K ITF/Prokuplje 2-SRB in 2016 (as qualifier, l. Zakarlyuk)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 7

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

KUZNETSOVA: • Making third appearance at St. Petersburg, where she advanced to QF during debut in 2017 (l. Putintseva) before falling 2r in 2020 (l. Bencic) • Following a 1r bye, faces qualifier Wang Xinyu – lost most recent match against a qualifier at 2020 Istanbul (l. eventual R-Up Bouchard) • One of 10 Russian players contesting the main draw, also Alexandrova, Gasparyan, Zvonareva, Gasanova, Pavlyuchenkova, Kasatkina, Mishina, Rakhimova and Kudermetova • Has lifted 14 hard court titles throughout her career – the sixth most among active players • Coming off 3r run at Dubai (l. eventual R-Up Krejcikova) after 1r exit at Doha (l. Azarenka) • Opened 2021 season with 1r exit at Grampians Trophy (l. Brady) before 2r showing at Australian Open (d. Strycova, l. Bencic) • Best result in 2020 was SF showing at Doha (d. No.9 Bencic, l. Sabalenka) • Season highlight in 2019 was reaching final at Cincinnati (l. Keys) as a WC ranked No.153 –defeated four Top 20 seeds en route to the final (No.11 Sevastova, No.10 Stephens, No.3 Ka.Pliskova and No.1 Barty). Returned to Top 100 after tournament • Missed first few months of 2019 season due to knee injury – returned at Lugano, where she reached QF • At 2018 Washington, DC won first title since October 2016 (d. Vekic in F after saving 4mp) • After falling 2r at 2018 Wimbledon (l. Strycova), dropped out of the Top 100 for the first time since August 12, 2002 (ending a run of 831 consecutive weeks) • Missed opening two months of 2018 (w/wrist injury) • Secured 600th match win (all levels) at 2017 Brisbane – is one of five active players to reach the milestone, along with V.Williams, S.Williams, Kerber and Stosur • In 2016, won 45 matches, two titles (Sydney and Moscow) and qualified for WTA Finals for sixth time in career (reached SF) • Is a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, winning 2004 US Open (d. Dementieva in F) and 2009 Roland Garros (d. Safina in F). Also a two-time finalist, reaching the championship match at Roland Garros in 2006 (l. Henin) and 2007 US Open (l. Henin) • One of three Russian women to lift a Grand Slam singles title (also Myskina, Sharapova), and one of five Russians to rank in Top 2; had a chance to become No.1 by winning 2008 Roland Garros (fell two matches short with SF loss to Safina) • At , played her part in setting the record for the longest women’s match at a Slam, eventually succumbing to Schiavone in 4h 44min • Ranked continuously in Top 20 from March 1, 2004 to July 11, 2010 (including over four years ranked continuously in Top 10 – April 2006 to June 2010) • Owns seven wins over reigning world No.1s, most recently defeating S.Williams at 2016 Miami. Also Mauresmo, Safina and Henin twice each when they were No.1; one of only two players (also S.Williams) to beat Henin twice when she was No.1

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 8

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Haul of 16 tour level doubles titles includes two Australian Open crowns, won in 2005 (w/Molik) and 2012 (w/Zvonareva). Rose as high as No.3 in doubles (week of June 7, 2004) • Member of victorious Russia Billie Jean King Cup sides in 2004 and 2007-08 and Russian Olympic Team in 2004, 2008, 2016 • Won a career-best 60 main draw matches in 2006 campaign, which saw her lift two titles and finish R-Up a further three times (including Roland Garros) • Breakthrough 2004 season, saw her make debut in Top 20 (March 1) and Top 10 (June 1) before lifting maiden Slam title at US Open (d. Dementieva in F) • Made Top 50 debut at No.45 on September 30, 2002, after winning title at Bali (d. Martínez in F) • In 2002, reached first WTA QF at Warsaw, SF at Casablanca and then lifted maiden title at Helsinki (as qualifier, d Chladkova in F) • Started 2002 season by reaching 2r on Grand Slam main draw debut at Australian Open (d. Cho, l. Tulyaganova) • Reached 2r on WTA debut (main draw and qualifying) at Madrid in 2001 (d. Ruano Pascual, l. Raymond) • Advanced to QF on professional debut at $10K ITF/Mallorca-ESP in 2000

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 9

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[1] EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA (RUS #34) VS. TEREZA MARTINCOVA (CZE #107)

Head-to-head: Series tied 1-1

2019 ST.PETERSBURG HARD I R16 EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA 7-6 6-2 2016 QUEBEC CITY CARPET R16 TEREZA MARTINCOVA 6-4 1-6 6-4

ALEXANDROVA MARTINCOVA Career Prize Money $1,681,035 Career Prize Money $784,742 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Nov. 15, 1994 Date of Birth (Age) Oct. 24, 1994 (26) Singles Titles 1 Singles Titles 0 Tournament W-L (MD) 5-2 Tournament W-L (MD) 2-2 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 7-5 / 75-69 YTD / Career W-L 4-2 / 24-41 3-Set (YTD / Career) 2-2 / 22-26 3-Set (YTD / Career) 3-0 / 14-17 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 2-5 / 13-24 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 7-13 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 7-5 / 58-41 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 4-2 / 13-25 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 3-13 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-1 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 2-1 / 7-18 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 3-4 Coach Alexandrov Evgeny Coach

ALEXANDROVA:

• Making third main draw appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy (fifth overall) • Last season, reached SF to post career-best result at the home event (l. eventual champion Bertens in 3s) • Advanced through qualifying to reach QF during her main draw debut in 2019 (l. Sabalenka) after making qualifying exits in 2017-18 • One of ten Russian woman to contest the main draw – a Russian has yet to win the title in the tournament’s first five editions • Owns the most indoor match wins across the Tour with 31 – trailed by Van Uytvanck with 20 • Coming off 1r losses at Lyon (l. eventual champion Tauson) and Dubai (l. Gauff) • Advanced to 3r at Australian Open (l. World No.1 Barty) • Made 3r in season opener, at Abu Dhabi (l. Svitolina – led 5-3 in the final set and held 2mp) before advancing to SF at Gippsland Trophy (d. No.2 Halep in QFs, l. Kanepi) • Opened 2020 season by lifting her maiden WTA singles title, at Shenzhen (d. Rybakina in F). Other highlights of last year included SFs at St. Petersburg and Linz • Won both singles rubbers on Billie Jean King Cup debut in 3-2 win over Romania in February 2020 • Made Top 50 debut on June 17, 2019 after QF run at ‘s-Hertogenbosch • Registered 30 Tour-level match wins during 2019, in which she reached SF at Budapest, Seoul and Linz and made QF at St. Petersburg, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Eastbourne and Moscow. Also advanced to 3r at a major for the first time, at Roland Garros • Won sole WTA doubles title at 2019 Budapest (w/Zvonareva) • Came through qualifying to make maiden WTA final appearance at 2018 Linz (l. Giorgi)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 10

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Advanced to first WTA QF at 2018 Seoul, scoring maiden Top 10 win of her career en route, over No.10 Ostapenko • Made Top 100 debut at No.93 on March 20, 2017 after winning title at $60K ITF/Shenzhen-CHN • At 2016 Wimbledon, ranked No.223, won her way through qualifying on her maiden Slam appearance, going on to reach 2r (upset No.23 seed Ivanovic in 1r) • Won WTA 125K Series title at Limoges in 2016, 2018-19 • Reached 2r on WTA main draw debut at 2016 Katowice (as qualifier, l. eventual R-Up Giorgi) • Contested qualifying for the first time at a WTA-level tournament at 2014 Bad Gastein • Played first professional events of career on ITF Circuit in Europe in 2011

MARTINCOVA: • Making third main draw appearance at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy (sixth overall) • Tied best result by reaching 2r this week, previously made 2r in 2019 where she fell to today’s opponent Alexandrova • Fell 1r on debut in 2018 (as qualifier, l. Vinci) and during qualifying in 2016, 2017 and 2020 • Enters this week’s tournament on a career-high ranking of No.107 – posted March 15, 2021 • In 1r, defeated Voegele to reach 2r at a third consecutive tournament, having advanced to 3r at Dubai and 2r at Lyon • In today’s 2r, booked rematch against No.34 Alexandrova, who she fell to during the same round of this tournament in 2019 • Coming off 3r run at Dubai where she ousted No.11 Bertens in 2r (as qualifier, l. Gauff) and a 2r appearance at Lyon (as qualifier, l. Ferro via ret.) • Highlight of last season was SF run at 2020 Istanbul (l. eventual champion Tig) • In 2019, season highlight was fourth ITF Circuit title of career at $25K Essen-GER • Ended 2018 ranked No.212, down from career best year-end finish of No.140 in 2018 • In 2018, won third ITF singles title at $25k ITF/Obidos and made QF run at WTA 125K Series event at Taipei • Advanced to first tour-level SF at 2017 Gstaad, earning career first Top 20 win over then-No.20 Garcia • Earned a career-high singles ranking of No.114 following 2r run at 2017 Nanchang (l. eventual champion Peng) • Win-loss record at tour-level in 2017 was 5-7, including three wins at Gstaad and 2r runs at Monterrey (d. McHale, l. Boserup) and Nanchang (d. Kudryavtseva, l. Peng) • In 2015, reached first WTA QF at Florianopolis (l. Mattek-Sands) • Made WTA qualifying and main draw debut at 2013 Nurnberg (l. Cabeza Candela in 1r) • Owns four singles titles on the ITF Circuit at 2014 $10k ITF/Heraklion-GRE, 2015 $25k ITF/Lenzerheide- SUI, 2018 $25k ITF/Obidos and 2019 $25k Essen-GER • Professional debut came on ITF Circuit in Germany in 2010 (as qualifier, l. 1r)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 11

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[6] JELENA OSTAPEKO (LAT #51) VS. [Q] JAQUELINE CRISTIAN (ROU #160)

Head-to-head: First meeting

OSTAPENKO CRISTIAN Career Prize Money $9,190,660 Career Prize Money $246,195 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Jun 8, 1997 (23) Date of Birth (Age) June 5, 1998 (22) Singles Titles 3 Singles Titles 0 Tournament W-L (MD) 3-5 Tournament W-L (MD) 1-0 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 4-3 / 131-108 YTD / Career W-L 1-0 / 5-4 3-Set (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 47-34 3-Set (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 3-1 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 33-21 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 1-1 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 4-5 / 80-75 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 3-2 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 13-16 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-1 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 20-30 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-1 Coach Jelena Jakovleva Coach Cosiac Andrei

OSTAPENKO: • Making sixth appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, with best result coming with QF run in 2018 (l. Kvitova) • Has played every year since the tournament’s inception in 2016 • Made 2r in 2019 (l. Pavlyuchenkova) and fell 1r in 2016 (l. Wickmayer), 2017 (l. Vekic) and 2020 (l. Cornet) • Doubles champion here in 2017 (w/ Rosolska, d. Jurak/Knoll) – one of three WTA doubles titles she owns • Defeated Badosa in 1r to avenge loss to the Spaniard during 3r at 2020 Roland Garros • In today’s 2r action, faces qualifier Cristian in their first career meeting – bidding to reach 3r for a second time this season after 3r run at Gippsland Trophy • Coming off 2r exit at Dubai (l. eventual R-Up Krejcikova) • Also made 2r at Doha (l. Pegula). Defeated No.11 Bertens in 1r for first Top 20 win since upsetting No.18 Martic at 2020 Ostrava • Opened 2021 campaign with 3r showing at Gippsland Trophy (l. Svitolina) before 1r exit at Australian Open (l. Muchova) • Highlights of 2020 season included QF at Strasbourg and 3r showings at Roland Garros and Doha. Also finished R-Up in doubles w/Dabrowski at Doha (l. Hsieh/Strycova) • The 2019 season saw her capture third career title at Luxembourg (d. Goerges in F) right after finishing R-Up at Linz (l. Gauff) • Also R-Up in mixed doubles at 2019 Wimbledon w/ Lindstedt • Her 2018 campaign was highlighted by finishing R-Up at Miami (l. Stephens); saw off No.9 Kvitova and No.4 Svitolina en route to register multiple Top 10 wins in the same tournament for the first time in her career

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 12

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Reached 2018 Wimbledon SF (l. eventual champion Kerber) to become first Latvian woman to reach final four at All England Club • Achieved career-high ranking of No.5 on March 19, 2018 • Champion at 2017 Roland Garros (d. Halep in F) becoming first woman to win first tour-level title at a Grand Slam since Barbara Jordan at 1979 Australian Open (d. Walsh in F). Also became the first unseeded player to lift the trophy in the Open Era and the first Latvian player to reach the championship match at a Grand Slam • Followed up title run with QF appearance at 2017 Wimbledon to become only second player in last 10 year (also S.Williams in 2015) to follow up victory at Roland Garros with a run to the QF or better at Wimbledon • Qualified for debut WTA Finals in 2017 going 1-2 in group stage (d. Ka.Pliskova, l. V.Williams, l. Muguruza) • Enjoyed career-best season in 2017, finishing the year in the Top 10 for the first time in her career (at No.7); was No.44 at end of 2016 (first Top 50 finish) and No.79 at end of 2015 (first Top 100 finish) • Made Top 10 debut at No.10 on September 11, 2017 • In doubles, won first and second career titles in 2017, at St. Petersburg (w/Rosolska) and Stuttgart (w/Atawo) • Breakthrough result of 2016 season was reaching final at Premier 5 Doha (l. Suárez Navarro) • Ended 2015 at No.79 for first Top 100 finish (up from No.308 in 2014). Having leapt 229 spots, was second highest year-end rankings jump, after Kasatkina who went from No.370 to No.72 (298 spots) • Scored first Top 10 win over No.9 Suárez Navarro in 1r at 2015 Wimbledon; upset Muguruza in QF at 2017 Beijing to register first win over a reigning World No.1 • Reached first WTA final of career at 2015 Québec City (l. Beck) • Made WTA main draw debut at 2014 Taskent advancing to 2r (l. Pervak) • Began playing ITF Circuit events in 2012

CRISTIAN: • Making tournament debut at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Enters this week’s tournament at No.160, just three spots shy of career-high ranking of No.157 (posted Feb. 1, 2021) • Defeated Lapko in 1r via ret. to post first Tour-level main draw win since advancing to 2r at 2020 Lyon • Faces Ostapenko in today’s 2r hoping to post first pair of back-to-back wins and reach 3r for a first time on the WTA Tour • Coming off qualifying exits at Dubai, Lyon and Australian Open • Opened season with an R-Up appearance at $60K ITF/Andrezieux-Boutheon-FRA (l. Tan in F) • Owns 10 singles and doubles titles on the ITF Circuit • Season highlight of 2020 was 2r run at Lyon (as qualifier, l. Kenin) • Member of Romanian Billie Jean King Cup team in 2020 – winning rubber against Russia’s Kudermetova

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 13

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• In 2019, enjoyed a second 2r run at Bucharest (l. Rybakina), also advanced through qualifying to reach 1r at Nanchang (l. Golubic) • Made WTA main draw debut at 2017 Bucharest, winning first Tour-level match of her career against Kozlova before falling in 2r against Begu • Contested maiden WTA qualifying at 2015 Bucharest • Began playing ITF Circuit events in 2012

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 14

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

Tournament Information: formulatx.com | @formula_tx | facebook.com/formula_tx WTA Information: www.wtatennis.com | @WTA | facebook.com/WTA WTA Communications: Chris Whitmore ([email protected])

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – DAY FOUR

KATARINA SINIAKOVA (CZE #69) vs. [WC] MARGARITA GASPARYAN (RUS #126)

Series tied 1-1 Siniakova defeated Flipkens in the opening round to post first main draw win of the season… Gasparyan struck 37 winners to upset No.7 seed and 2017 champion Mladenovic

[8] DARIA KASATKINA (RUS #58) vs. ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH (BLR #97)

KasatkinaBadosa leads leads 1 3-0-2 KasatkinaOstapenko is won a two the-time doubles semifinalist title here here in 2017…in St. Petersburg The Latvian… Sasnovichis making her bidding sixth toappearance, post back- tohaving-back played every editionwins since for the the event first tiwasme thisheld season on the WTA Tour in 2016

[Q] ANASTASIA GASANOVA (RUS #241) vs. [5] ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA (RUS #43)

First meeting Gasanova needed 3h4m to see off Zavatska in 1r, the longest match ever played at this tournament… Pavlyuchenkova is a two-time quarterfinalist, reaching final eight in 2016 and 2019

[Q] KAMILLA RAKHIMOVA (RUS #127) vs. [2] VERONIKA KUDERMETOVA (RUS #34)

First meeting Rakhimova registered second main draw win of her career over Mishina in 1r… Kudermetova is seeded No.2 this week, her highest seeding at a WTA event to date

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 1

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

KATERINA SINIAKOVA (CZE #69) VS. [WC] MARGARITA GASPARYAN (RUS #126)

Head-to-head: GASPARYAN leads 1-0

2019 EASTBOURNE GRASS O R64 MARGARITA GASPARYAN 6-3 6-3

SINIAKOVA GASPARYAN Career Prize Money $6,449,868 Career Prize Money $1,814,201 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) May 10, 1996 (24) Date of Birth (Age) Sept. 1, 1994 (26) Singles Titles 2 Singles Titles 2 Tournament W-L (MD) 1-0 Tournament W-L (MD) 2-3 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 1-3 / 7-15 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 2-3 / 47-54 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 2-5 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 17-13 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 2-2 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 11-8 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 1-3/ 5-11 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 2-3 / 39-34 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-1 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 2-9 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-3 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 4-19 Coach Mislav Hizak Coach Carlos Martinez

SINIAKOVA:

• Making fifth appearance here in St. Petersburg with her best result being a QF showing in 2018 (l. Mladenovic) • Advanced through qualifying on debut in 2016 to reach main draw, though fell 1r to Babos. Also fell 1r in 2019 (l. Bonaventure) and 2020 (l. eventual R-Up Rybakina) • Defeated Flipkens in 1r to record first main draw win of the season, having fallen 1r at Grampians Trophy (l. Kerber), Australian Open (l. Ferro) and Dubai (l. Jabeur), and during qualifying in Doha • Today, squares up against Gasparyan for their second career main draw meeting – though the Czech fell to Gasparyan at 2019 Eastbourne, she triumphed against her during qualifying rounds at 2014 Moscow en route to the SF • Earlier this year, reached the Australian Open doubles championship match with Krejcikova (l. Mertens/Sabalenka in F) • Lifted fifth WTA doubles title with Krejcikova at 2020 Shenzhen, to register her eighth doubles title • 2019 highlights include SF run at Nürnberg (l. Larsson), Bronx (l. Linette), and QF run at Prague (l. Strycova). Also made R16 at Roland Garros (career-best result at a Slam, l. Keys), Guangzhou (l. Golubic) and Beijing (l. Wozniacki) • Secured two Top 20 victories in 2019 after defeating No.17 Q. Wang at Rome and No. 1 Osaka at Roland Garros • Won two doubles titles in 2019 at Sydney (w/Krunic) and Toronto (w/Krejcikova). Also R-Up at Indian Wells (l. Mertens/ Sabalenka) and SF run at Wimbledon (l. Dabrowski/Xu) both w/ Krejcikova • Finished 2018 ranked No.1 in doubles after winning first two Grand Slam trophies at Roland Garros (d. Hozumi/ Ninomiya in F) and Wimbledon (d. Melichar/Peschke in F) both w/ Krejcikova, the first pairing to complete the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double since Kim Clijsters and Ai Sugiyama in 2003. Also R-Up at WTA Finals Singapore (l. Babos/ Mladenovic)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 2

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Has three Top 5 career wins in singles - against No.4 Halep at 2017 Shenzhen, No.4 Garcia at Wuhan, and No.1 Osaka at 2019 Roland Garros • In 2016, Reached first two WTA finals of career, at Bastad (as qualifier, l. Siegemund) and Tokyo [Japan Open] (l. McHale) • On ITF Circuit has won seven singles titles and five doubles titles • Made WTA main draw debut at 2013 Miami (l. Muguruza) • Played first events of career on ITF Circuit in 2012

GASPARYAN:

• Making third main draw appearance at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy (fourth overall) • Made 2r during debut in 2016 (l. Ivanovic) before falling 1r in 2019 (as qualifier, l. Azarenka) • Fell during qualifying in 2020 • Struck 37 winners to upset No.7 seed and 2017 St. Petersburg champion Mladenovic in 1r • Faces Siniakova in today’s 2r in hopes of registering back-to-back main draw wins for the first time since 2019 Luxemburg • Coming off 2r run at Lyon (as qualifier, l. Mladenovic) • During Australian swing, made 1r exits at Gippsland Trophy (l. Hercog) and Australian Open (as qualifier, l. Muguruza) • Best result during disrupted 2020 was making 2r at US Open (d. Puig, l. S.Williams) • In 2019 enjoyed SF run at Istanbul (ret. vs. eventual champion Martic w/dizziness), QF at Luxembourg (ret. vs. Blinkova) and advancing to 2r at Wimbledon for the first time (l. Svitolina) • Defeated No.7 Svitolina in 1r at Birmingham for second career Top 10 win (also defeated No.10 Bertens at 2018 Linz) • At St Petersburg in 2019 captured doubles title w/Makarova. Also R-Up in doubles w/Niculescu at the Bronx (l. Jurak/Martínez Sánchez) • Started the 2018 season unranked and re-entered the Top 100 at No.92 on November 12, 2018 • Scored first Top 10 win of her career over No.10 Bertens at 2018 Linz • Owns a perfect 2-0 record in WTA singles finals. At No.299, became the lowest-ranked player to win a WTA title in 2018 at Tashkent – and second-lowest ranked WTA champion of all time after Angel-ique Widjaja at 2001 Bali (ranked No.579) • Sidelined for half of 2016 and most of 2017 due to knee surgeries, made comeback at 2017 Kremlin Cup (fell in qualifying) • Achieved best major result by reaching R16 at 2016 Australian Open (l. eventual R-Up S.Williams); was her debut appearance at the tournament – run included career first Top 20 win, over No.19 Errani in 1r • Reached career-high rankings during the 2016 season – No.41 in singles (week of February 15, 2016) and No.25 in doubles (week of May 6, 2016) • Doubles semifinalist at 2016 Roland Garros (w/Kuznetsova, l. eventual champions Garcia/Mladenovic)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 3

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Ended 2015 season ranked No.62, her best year-end finish. Season highlighted by winning first WTA singles title at Baku (unseeded, d. Tig in F) and first two doubles titles (Baku and Tashkent, both w/Panova) • Nominated for WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2015 (awarded to Gavrilova) • Owns four WTA doubles titles: 2015 Baku (w/Panova), 2015 Tashkent (w/Panova), 2016 Prague (w/Sestini Hlavackova) and 2019 St Petersburg (w/Makarova) • Made Fed Cup debut for Russia in 2013, playing doubles – Italy won the tie, 4-0. Also a member of squad in 2016 and 2019 • On ITF Circuit, owns nine singles titles and eight doubles titles • First played WTA qualifying at 2010 Moscow and made main draw debut at same event (Kremlin Cup) in 2012 • Member of victorious Junior Fed Cup in 2010 for Russia, alongside Gavrilova

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 4

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[8] DARIA KASATKINA (RUS #61) VS. ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH (BLR #97)

Head-to-head: KASATKINA leads 3-2

2020 DOHA HARD O R16 DARIA KASATKINA 5-7 7-6(4) 10-5 2019 SYDNEY HARD O R32 ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH 6-1 6-4 2018 US OPEN HARD O R64 ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH 6-2 7-6(3) 2017 MOSCOW HARD O QF DARIA KASATKINA 6-4 6-2 HARD I R2 DARIA KASATKINA 6-3 3-6 6-1

KASATKINA SASNOVICH Career Prize Money $6,088,267 Career Prize Money $ 3,415,654 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) May 7, 1997 (23) Date of Birth (Age) Mar. 22, 1994 (26) Singles Titles 3 Singles Titles 0 Tournament W-L (MD) 8-5 Tournament W-L (MD) 1-0 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 11-4 / 145-110 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 5-5 / 90-94 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 4-1 / 54-37 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 2-3 / 60-49 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 25-23 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 1-1/ 33-29 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 11-4 / 97-76 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 5-5 / 125-89 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 12-23 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 5-13 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-2 / 26-45 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 14-27 Coach Carlos Martínez Coach Adamovich Andrei

KASATKINA:

• Making sixth appearance at St Petersburg Ladies Trophy – has appeared in all five previous editions of the event • Is a two-time semifinalist, reaching the last four in 2016 (l. Bencic) and 2018 (l. Mladenovic). Also made the QF stage in 2019 (l. Zvonareva) • Overall owns 8-5 record here • In 1r, defeated Tauson to end the Dane’s 13-match win streak (including qualifying matches) • Today, faces Sasnovich for the six time on Tour – claimed the pair’s most recent match after a 3s battle at 2020 Doha • Coming off 1r exit to Cornet in Dubai • Won first title for over two years at Phillip Island Trophy during Australian swing, defeating Bouzkova in the final • Was first final since winning the 2018 Moscow title (d. Jabeur in F), which helped propel her into the WTA Top 10 for the first time in her career on October 22, 2018 • Is now 3-3 in Tour-level finals, also lifting the trophies at 2017 Charleston (d. Ostapenko in F) and 2018 Moscow (d. Jabeur in F). R-Up at 2017 Moscow (l. Goerges in F), 2018 Dubai (l. Svitolina in F) and 2018 Indian Wells (l. Osaka in F) • Posted 3r at Gippsland Trophy (l. eventual R-Up Kanepi) and 2r exit at Australian Open (l. Sabalenka) • Began 2021 season with 3r showing at Abu Dhabi (l. Rybakina) • Highlight of truncated 2020 season was SF showing at Lyon (l. Friedsam) – her first run to the last four at a WTA event since lifting title at 2018 Moscow [Kremlin Cup] Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 5

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Won consecutive matches only twice in difficult 2019 campaign, with best result a QF run at Premier Mandatory China Open (l. Wozniacki) • Ended 2018 season by lifting her second WTA singles title at Moscow [Kremlin Cup]. Recovered from a set and 6-2 4-1 down to defeat Jabeur in final; broke into Top 10 following the tournament, on October 22, 2018 • Knocked out No.2 seed Wozniacki en route to her first Grand Slam QF, at 2018 Roland Garros • Reached biggest final of career at 2018 Indian Wells (l. Osaka), having upset No.2 Wozniacki, No.10 Kerber and No.8 V.Williams along the way • Made Top 20 debut on February 26, 2018, following R-Up finish at Dubai (d. No.3 Muguruza, l. Svitolina) • Upset No.1 Wozniacki during SF run at 2018 St. Petersburg; having also beaten Kerber at 2017 Sydney, is one of six players in WTA history to have multiple wins over World No.1s before their 21st birthday, also V.Williams (9), S. Williams (8), Sharapova (4) Kenin (2) and Kuznetsova (2) • Captured maiden WTA singles title in debut final at 2017 Charleston, defeating fellow teenager Ostapenko in F – the first all-teenage final on tour since 2009 Linz (Wickmayer d. Kvitova) • Ended 2016 as the highest-ranked teenager on tour, at No.27, after reaching a second career WTA SF, at St. Petersburg and made QF stage at Indian Wells, Charleston, Montréal, Rio Olympics and Moscow • Made Top 50 debut on February 15, 2016, following St. Petersburg run • Upset No.7 V.Williams in opening match of 2016 season at Auckland to register the first Top 10 win of her career • Made Billie Jean King Cup debut in World Group quarter-final defeat to Netherlands in 2016. Has also represented Russia in the competition in 2017 and 2019 and at 2016 Olympics • Reached first WTA SF at 2015 Moscow (as qualifier, l. Pavlyuchenkova, having recorded first Top 20 win over No.14 Suárez Navarro in QF); following the tournament made Top 100 debut at No.73 (October 26, 2015) • Reached 3r at 2015 US Open (as LL, l. Mladenovic) on Grand Slam debut (main draw and qualifying). Earlier in summer of 2015, won back-to-back matches for first time at a WTA tournament during QF run at Bad Gastein (as qualifier, l. Errani) • Also in 2015, won maiden WTA doubles title at 2015 Moscow (w/Vesnina), lifted five singles titles on ITF Circuit and was nominated for WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2015 • Fell 1r on WTA main draw debut at 2014 Moscow (as WC, l. Riske) • Made WTA qualifying debut at 2013 Moscow

SASNOVICH:

• Making main draw debut at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. Previously fell in qualifying in 2017, falling in the 1r to Alexandrova • In today’s 2r action, bidding to defeat No.61 Kasatkina to reach 3r for a first time this season • Also contesting doubles this week w/Marozava (d. Shalimova/Mishina in 1r) • Coming off 2r exit at Lyon last week (l. Burel)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 6

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• During Australian swing, made 2r at Gippsland Trophy (l. Begu), fell 1r at Australian Open (l. Kontaveit) and made 2r at Phillip Island Trophy (l. Da Silva Flick) • Opened 2021 season with 2r showing at Abu Dhabi (l. Muguruza) • Reached first WTA QF in 18 months at 2020 Palermo (as qualifier, l. Martic); also advanced to this stage at Istanbul (l. Martincova) and Linz (l. Krejcikova) • Made 3r at 2020 US Open—defeating No.19 Vondrousova in 2r was her first Top 20 win since overcoming No.15 Kontaveit at 2019 Madrid • Represented Belarus in 2020 Billie Jean King Cup play-off victory vs. the Netherlands. Teamed up with Sabalenka in doubles to seal the victory (d. Bertens/Schuurs on a third-set tie-break) • Recorded 20th Grand Slam main draw win after defeating Friedsam in the 1r at 2020 Roland Garros • Made strong start to 2019 season by recording maiden Top 5 victory over No.4 Svitolina en route to a QF finish at Brisbane (l. Vekic) followed by an SF appearance at Sydney (as qualifier, l. eventual champion Kvitova) and 3r run at Australian Open (l. Pavlyuchenkova) • Also in 2019, finished R-Up at WTA 125K Series event at Limoges (l. Alexandrova) • Reached first Grand Slam SF in doubles at 2019 US Open (w/Kuzmova, l. Azarenka/Barty) • Has had five Top 10 wins in her career - No.6 Ka.Pliskova at 2016 Tokyo, No.7 Kvitova at 2018 Wimbledon, No.10 Bertens at 2018 Moscow, No.4 Svitolina at 2019 Brisbane and No.10 Kasatkina at 2019 Sydney • In 2018, reached second career WTA final and first at a Premier tournament at Brisbane, as a qualifier – defeated No.11 Mladenovic and No.16 Sevastova en route to final (l. No.6 Svitolina) • Also in 2018 made SF at Moscow [River Cup] and first Grand Slam R16 at Wimbledon • First broke into Top 50 on January 29 • Played all three ties during Belarus’ run to its first Fed Cup final in 2017 – posted 5-1 record, including win over No.13 Stephens in final • Highlight of 2016 was QF run at Tokyo [PPO] – won three rounds of qualifying before defeating Wickmayer in 1r and No.6 Ka.Pliskova in 2r; lost to eventual finalist Osaka • Reached maiden WTA final at 2015 Seoul (as qualifier, l. Begu) • Made Top 100 debut on September 8, 2015 (after US Open; rose from No.120 to No.97) • In 2014 season won 11th and most recent singles title on ITF Circuit. Also owns seven ITF Circuit doubles titles • Made WTA qualifying debut at 2013 Brussels; made WTA main draw debut at 2014 US Open • Belarusian Fed Cup Team, 2012-20 • Played first event of career at 2009 ITF/Minsk 2-BLR

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 7

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[Q] ANASTASIA GASANOVA (RUS #241) VS. [5] ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA (RUS #43)

Head-to-head: First meeting

GASANOVA PAVLYUCHENKOVA Career Prize Money $97,691 Career Prize Money $ 10,464,018 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) May 15, 1999 (21) Date of Birth (Age) May 14, 1993 (27) Singles Titles 0 Singles Titles 12 Tournament W-L (MD) 1-0 Tournament W-L (MD) 5-3 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 3-1 / 3-1 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 5-5 / 354-268 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 1-0 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 117-93 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 0-1 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 87-75 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 3-1/ 3-1 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 5-5 / 264-180 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 1-0 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-3 / 34-68 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 1-0 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-4 / 65-118 Coach Alexey Filenkov Coach Marina Pavlyuchenkova

GASANOVA:

• Making debut appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Enters the main draw having won two rounds of qualifying, defeating Paar and Konjuh without dropping a set • One of ten Russian women to contest the 1r, with nine now playing the 2r • This is just her second WTA main draw appearance, after making debut at Abu Dhabi earlier this month • Currently ranked No.241 – career-high is No.223, posted on January 25, 2021 • Defeated fellow 21-year-old Zavatska in opening match, which was third main draw win (after two on WTA main draw debut in Abu Dhabi at beginning of 2021) • At 3 hours and 4 minutes, her three-set win vs. Zavatska was the longest match ever played here at the St Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Faces fellow Russian Pavlyuchenkova today – at No.45, is the second-highest ranked player she has faced, after defeat of No.6 Ka.Pliskova (2021 Abu Dhabi) • Is third time facing Top 100 opposition – lost to No.66 Sorribes Tormo at 2021 Abu Dhabi • Has faced a Russian woman only once at Tour level, defeating Morgina in qualifying at 2018 Moscow • Winner of today’s match will face Zvonareva in the QF • Has competed in three previous WTA level events in Russia, falling in qualifying in Moscow at each (at the Kremlin Cup and River Cup) • Made main draw debut earlier this year at Abu Dhabi • Came through qualifying, defeated Barthel in 1r before stunning World No.6 Pliskova in straight sets. Fell to Sorribes Tormo • Other tour level competition includes appearances at 125K events in Dalian (2016) and Prague (2020) • Her 2020 campaign was highlighted by a semifinal visit at ITF $15K Sharm El Sheikh 3 and a quarterfinal performance at ITF $100K Cairo 4 • Produced a successful ITF resume in 2019, having reached three ITF finals at $25K Kazan, $25K Incheon and $25K Nanning Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 8

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Has yet to compete in a Grand Slam event • Captured ITF $25K Guiyang title, and was a runner-up at $25K Karshi and $15K Moscow in 2018 • Hoisted two ITF titles in 2016 at $10K Nanjing and $10K Khimki • Won back-to-back ITF crowns in 2015 at $10K Telavi 4 and Telavi 5 (Georgia) • First career ITF title came at $10K Telavi in 2014 • Owns six career ITF singles titles so far • Played first ITF event in 2013 at $10K Astanan 5, Kazakhstan

PAVLYUCHENKOVA:

• Making fourth appearance at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, where she is a two-time quarterfinalist, in 2016 (l. Bencic) and 2019 (l. Bertens) • Fell 1r in 2018 (l. Makarova) • Opened 2021 St. Petersburg campaign with tight straight sets win over Buyukakcay, prevailing 6-4 6-4 • Faces compatriot Gasanova in 2r today – bidding to win back-to-back matches for first time since Yarra Valley Classic in early February • A loss to No.241 Gasanova would be her joint-worst loss since 2014, losing to No.241 Wozniak at Indian Wells) • Would be worst loss outright since 2006, losing to No.271 Rodina at a $25k ITF event in Minsk. Pavlyuchenkova was ranked No.637 at the time • Bidding to reach first QF since 2020 Australian Open • Coming off 1r exit at Dubai (l. compatriot Kudermetova) • Made 2r at Doha – defeated Kr.Pliskova in 1r before falling to Kvitova • Down under, posted 3r showings at the Yarra Valley Classic (l. Muguruza) and Phillip Island Trophy (l. eventual champion Kasatkina) and suffered 1r exit at Australian Open (l. eventual champion Osaka) • Began 2021 season falling to Jabeur in 1r of Abu Dhabi • Finished 2020 ranked No.38 for 13th straight year inside the Top 50 • At 2020 Roland Garros, made 50th main draw appearance at a major – one of 10 active players to reach this milestone • Upset No.2 Ka.Pliskova and former champion Kerber en route to QF at 2020 Australian Open • Advanced to two finals in 2019 – both at Premier-level – at Osaka (l. Osaka in F) and Moscow (l. Bencic in F). Also made QF in Melbourne in 2019 to match best Grand Slam result (l. Collins), upsetting No.9 Bertens and No.5 Stephens en route • Notched only win over a reigning World No.1 against Kerber during run to fourth Monterrey title in 2017 • Represented Russia at 2016 Rio Olympics, losing to eventual gold medalist Puig in 2r • In doubles, owns 12 titles and has reached QF of all four majors – most recently at 2018 US Open w/Sevastova. Career-high doubles ranking is No.21 (September 16, 2013) • In 2011, won 39 main draw matches, one title and reached first two Grand Slam QFs to end the year inside Top 20 for the first time Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 9

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Made Top 20 debut at No.20 on September 13, 2010, after R16 showing at US Open • Won the first title of her career at Monterrey in 2010 (d. Hantuchova in F); has gone on to lift this title three more times (2011, 2013 and 2017) • Advanced to maiden WTA SF at 2009 Indian Wells, scoring first Top 10 wins of her career en route, over No.3 Jankovic and No.10 A.Radwanska • Broke into Top 100 in singles on July 7, 2008 – following run through qualifying to 3r at Wimbledon – and entered Top 50 on November 3 of the same year • Reached first two WTA QFs in 2008, first on clay at Palermo and then on hard at Tokyo [Japan Open] • Made Grand Slam debut at 2007 Wimbledon as a WC, losing 6-0 6-1 to No.10 seed Hantuchova • Played first WTA main draw as a wildcard at 2006 Moscow • Named 2006 ITF Junior World Champion, having won girls’ singles titles at Australian Open (2006-07) and US Open (2006)

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 10

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[Q] KAMILLA REKHIMOVA (RUS #) VS. VERONIKA KUDERMETOVA (RUS #34)

Head-to-head: First meeting

RAKHIMOVA KUDERMETOVA Career Prize Money $217,524 Career Prize Money $1,936,517 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Aug. 28, 2001 (19) Date of Birth (Age) Apr. 24, 1997 (23) Singles Titles 0 Singles Titles 0 Tournament W-L (MD) 1-0 Tournament W-L (MD) 2-2 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 1-2 / 2-4 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 9-6 / 54-46 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 1-0 3-Set (YTD / Career) 3-1 / 23-14 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 0-2 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 4-2 / 22-11 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 1-2 / 1-2 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 9-6 / 35-31 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-2 / 5-5 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-0 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-3 / 6-11 Coach Pilchikova Yulia Coach Sergey Demkhine

RAKHIMOVA:

• Making main draw debut at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. Previously fell in qualifying in 2020, falling in the 1r to Babos • Successfully navigated through two rounds of qualifying to make main draw, defeating Krunic and Frech, both in three sets • Opened main draw campaign on Tuesday with another three set win over Mishina – this was the second main draw win of her career, after defeating Rogers at 2020 Roland Garros • Having defeated compatriot Mishina in 1r, faces another Russian today in Kudermetova. Could face Kasatkina in QF also • One of eight Russians to reach the R16, one nine that began the main draw (Mihina the only one not to progress) • Faces No.36 Kudermetova today, who is second-highest ranked opponent she has faced, after No.24 Sakkari at 2020 Roland Garros. Best win of career so far came over No.55 Rogers at 2020 Roland Garros • bidding to win back-to-back main draw matches for the first time her career • Last won back-to-back Tour level matches during 2021 Australian Open qualifying in Dubai, winning the first two rounds before falling to Hibi at final hurdle • Overall this is her fifth Tour level main draw appearance • Coming off falling in qualifying in Dubai and Lyon • During Australian swing, fell 1r at the Yarra Valley Classic (l. Bogdan) and Phillip Island Trophy (l. Bogdan) • Fell in Australian Open qualifying • Won the doubles title at Phillip Island Trophy (w/Raina, d. Blinkova/Potapova in F) • Made Grand Slam main draw debut at 2020 Roland Garros, reaching 2r (as qualifier, d. Rogers, l. Sakkari) • Made WTA main draw debut at 2019 Jurmala, as a WC (fell 1r) • Made ITF debut in 2016

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 11

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

KUDERMETOVA:

• Making fifth overall appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Has reached the 2r twice, in 2019 (as qualifier, l. eventual runner-up Vekic) and 2020 (l. eventual champion Bertens) • Fell in qualifying in 2017 and 2018 • Seeded No.2 this week – her highest seeding at a WTA event, bettering her No.5 seeding at 2020 Linz • Contesting this week at No.36 in the rankings – two spots off career high of No.34 (February 15, 2021) • After 1r bye, faces compatriot Rakhimova today – they are two of eight Russians to make the R16 • Has one her last three matches vs. Russian woman – Vikhlyantseva (2020 Brisbane), Gracheva (2021 Australian Open) and Pavlyuchenkova (2021 Dubai) • Bidding to reach first QF since reaching the final at Abu Dhabi at start of season • Coming off 2r exit at Dubai (l. Bencic) and 1r exit at Doha (l. Muguruza) • Suffered 1r exit at Adelaide (l. Rogers) after a career-best 3r run at Australian Open (l. Halep) • Also this season, made 2r at Grampians Trophy (l. Li) after opening her campaign by reaching her maiden WTA final, at Abu Dhabi (l. Sabalenka) • Began last season with qualifying exit at Brisbane and then SF run at Hobart • Scored first win over a Top-3 ranked opponent by upsetting No.3 Ka.Pliskova at 2020 Western & Southern Open. • Closed out 2020 season with back-to-back QFs at Ostrava (as qualifier, l. Brady) and Linz (l. Mertens) • Won 27 main-draw matches during 2019 – had previously won six across entire career – to rise over sixty places in the WTA rankings, making Top 100 debut on February 4 and Top 50 debut on September 9 • Singles highlights in 2019 included reaching maiden WTA SF at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. eventual champion Riske), 3r at Roland Garros (d. No.13 Wozniacki in 1r – her maiden Grand Slam main draw win and also first over a Top 20 opponent – l. Kanepi) and winning WTA 125K Series title at Guadalajara (d. Bouzkova in F) • Posted first two Top 10 wins of career in final weeks of 2019, over No.10 Bencic at Wuhan and No.4 Svitolina at Moscow • Fell 1r on Grand Slam main draw debut at 2019 Australian Open (as qualifier, l. Kenin) • Won career first WTA doubles title at 2019 Wuhan with Duan (d. Mertens/Sabalenka in F); also in 2019 was R-Up at Charleston (w/Khromacheva) and Lugano (w/Voskoboeva) • Posted maiden career WTA QF runs in 2018, first at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. eventual champion Krunic) and then Gstaad (l. Bouchard) • Reached 2r on WTA main draw debut at 2018 Stuttgart (d. No.25 Suárez Navarro, l. eventual champion Ka.Pliskova) • WTA qualifying debut came at 2014 Moscow • Made Billie Jean King Cup debut in 2014 vs. Australia (l. Stosur – her first Tour-level match) • On ITF Circuit, owns four singles – most recently at 2018 $25K Keito-JPN – and 16 doubles titles • Made professional debut at $50K ITF/Kazan-RUS in 2014

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 12

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

Tournament Information: formulatx.com | @formula_tx | facebook.com/formula_tx WTA Information: www.wtatennis.com | @WTA | facebook.com/WTA WTA Communications: Chris Whitmore ([email protected])

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – QUARTERFINALS

[1] EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA (RUS #34) vs. [WC] MARGARITA GASPARYAN (RUS #126)

First meeting Alexandrova hoping to reach semifinals in St. Petersburg for second year in a row... Gasparyan has now notched back-to-back wins for the first time since 2019... Both players looking to become first Russian to win this event in tournament history

[WC] VERA ZVONAREVA (RUS #145) vs. [Q] ANASTASIA GASANOVA (RUS #241)

First meeting Zvonareva won the longest match in tournament history in her three-hour, ten-minute second-round win over No.3 seed Ferro... Gasanova saved match points in her second round upset over No.5 seed Pavlyuchenkova... Both of Gasanova’s matches this week have lasted over three hours

[Q] JAQUELINE CRISTIAN (ROU #160) vs. [4] SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUS #39)

First meeting Cristian is the only remaining non-Russian player in the draw... Kuznetsova hoping to reach 74th career WTA semifinal... Cristian looking for first Tour-level Top 50 win

[8] DARIA KASATKINA (RUS #61) vs. [2] VERONIKA KUDERMETOVA (RUS #36)

First meeting Kasatkina into her first quarterfinal at a WTA500 level event or higher since 2019 Beijing... Kudermetova looking to reach first semifinal in her home country... Both players booked a spot in the final eight by winning a third set tie break in their second-round matches

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 1

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[1] EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA (RUS #34) VS. [WC] MARGARITA GASPARYAN (RUS #126)

Head-to-head: First meeting

ALEXANDROVA GASPARYAN Career Prize Money $1,681,035 Career Prize Money $1,814,201 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Nov. 15, 1994 Date of Birth (Age) Sept. 1, 1994 (26) Singles Titles 1 Singles Titles 2 Tournament W-L (MD) 6-2 Tournament W-L (MD) 3-3 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 8-5 / 76-69 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 3-3 / 48-54 3-Set (YTD / Career) 2-2 / 22-26 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 18-13 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 2-5 / 13-24 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 11-9 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 8-5 / 59-41 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 3-3 / 40-34 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 3-13 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 2-9 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 2-1 / 7-18 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 4-19 Coach Alexandrov Evgeny Coach Betau Siarhei

ALEXANDROVA:

• Making third main draw appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy (fifth overall) • Last season, reached SF to post career-best result at the home event (l. eventual champion Bertens in 3s) • Advanced through qualifying to reach QF during her main draw debut in 2019 (l. Sabalenka) after making qualifying exits in 2017-18 • One of ten Russian woman to contest the main draw – a Russian has yet to win the title in the tournament’s first five editions • Following a 1r bye, recovered from four straight service breaks in the second set against Martincova before securing the 2r victory 6-3 6-4 • Today, faces fellow Russian Gasparyan in QF – has not been halted by Russian opposition since falling to Kasatkina at 2019 Beijing, has gone 3-0 vs. Russian players since • Coming off 1r losses at Lyon (l. eventual champion Tauson) and Dubai (l. Gauff) • Advanced to 3r at Australian Open (l. World No.1 Barty) • Made 3r in season opener, at Abu Dhabi (l. Svitolina – led 5-3 in the final set and held 2mp) before advancing to SF at Gippsland Trophy (d. No.2 Halep in QFs, l. Kanepi) • Opened 2020 season by lifting her maiden WTA singles title, at Shenzhen (d. Rybakina in F). Other highlights of last year included SFs at St. Petersburg and Linz • Won both singles rubbers on Billie Jean King Cup debut in 3-2 win over Romania in February 2020 • Made Top 50 debut on June 17, 2019 after QF run at ‘s-Hertogenbosch • Registered 30 Tour-level match wins during 2019, in which she reached SF at Budapest, Seoul and Linz and made QF at St. Petersburg, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Eastbourne and Moscow. Also advanced to 3r at a major for the first time, at Roland Garros • Won sole WTA doubles title at 2019 Budapest (w/Zvonareva) • Came through qualifying to make maiden WTA final appearance at 2018 Linz (l. Giorgi) ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Advanced to first WTA QF at 2018 Seoul, scoring maiden Top 10 win of her career en route, over No.10 Ostapenko • Made Top 100 debut at No.93 on March 20, 2017 after winning title at $60K ITF/Shenzhen-CHN • At 2016 Wimbledon, ranked No.223, won her way through qualifying on her maiden Slam appearance, going on to reach 2r (upset No.23 seed Ivanovic in 1r) • Won WTA 125K Series title at Limoges in 2016, 2018-19 • Reached 2r on WTA main draw debut at 2016 Katowice (as qualifier, l. eventual R-Up Giorgi) • Contested qualifying for the first time at a WTA-level tournament at 2014 Bad Gastein • Played first professional events of career on ITF Circuit in Europe in 2011

GASPARYAN:

• Making third main draw appearance at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy (fourth overall) • Made 2r during debut in 2016 (l. Ivanovic) before falling 1r in 2019 (as qualifier, l. Azarenka) • Fell during qualifying in 2020 • Struck 37 winners to upset No.7 seed and 2017 St. Petersburg champion Mladenovic in 1r • Defeated Siniakova to register back-to-back main draw wins and enter the final eight for the first time since 2019 Luxemburg • In today’s QF match, faces top seed and No.34 Alexandrova – a win today would be best-by-ranking since stunning No.7 Svitolina during 1r at 2019 Birmingham • Bidding to reach first SF since 2019 Istanbul • Coming off 2r run at Lyon (as qualifier, l. Mladenovic) • During Australian swing, made 1r exits at Gippsland Trophy (l. Hercog) and Australian Open (as qualifier, l. Muguruza) • Best result during disrupted 2020 was making 2r at US Open (d. Puig, l. S.Williams) • In 2019 enjoyed SF run at Istanbul (ret. vs. eventual champion Martic w/dizziness), QF at Luxembourg (ret. vs. Blinkova) and advancing to 2r at Wimbledon for the first time (l. Svitolina) • Defeated No.7 Svitolina in 1r at Birmingham for second career Top 10 win (also defeated No.10 Bertens at 2018 Linz) • At St Petersburg in 2019 captured doubles title w/Makarova. Also R-Up in doubles w/Niculescu at the Bronx (l. Jurak/Martínez Sánchez) • Started the 2018 season unranked and re-entered the Top 100 at No.92 on November 12, 2018 • Scored first Top 10 win of her career over No.10 Bertens at 2018 Linz • Owns a perfect 2-0 record in WTA singles finals. At No.299, became the lowest-ranked player to win a WTA title in 2018 at Tashkent – and second-lowest ranked WTA champion of all time after Angel-ique Widjaja at 2001 Bali (ranked No.579) ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Sidelined for half of 2016 and most of 2017 due to knee surgeries, made comeback at 2017 Kremlin Cup (fell in qualifying) • Achieved best major result by reaching R16 at 2016 Australian Open (l. eventual R-Up S.Williams); was her debut appearance at the tournament – run included career first Top 20 win, over No.19 Errani in 1r • Reached career-high rankings during the 2016 season – No.41 in singles (week of February 15, 2016) and No.25 in doubles (week of May 6, 2016) • Doubles semifinalist at 2016 Roland Garros (w/Kuznetsova, l. eventual champions Garcia/Mladenovic) • Ended 2015 season ranked No.62, her best year-end finish. Season highlighted by winning first WTA singles title at Baku (unseeded, d. Tig in F) and first two doubles titles (Baku and Tashkent, both w/Panova) • Nominated for WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2015 (awarded to Gavrilova) • Owns four WTA doubles titles: 2015 Baku (w/Panova), 2015 Tashkent (w/Panova), 2016 Prague (w/Sestini Hlavackova) and 2019 St Petersburg (w/Makarova) • Made Fed Cup debut for Russia in 2013, playing doubles – Italy won the tie, 4-0. Also a member of squad in 2016 and 2019 • On ITF Circuit, owns nine singles titles and eight doubles titles • First played WTA qualifying at 2010 Moscow and made main draw debut at same event (Kremlin Cup) in 2012 • Member of victorious Junior Fed Cup in 2010 for Russia, alongside Gavrilova

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[WC] VERA ZVONAREVA (RUS #145) VS. [Q] ANASTASIA GASANOVA (RUS #241)

Head-to-head: First meeting

ZVONAREVA GASANOVA Career Prize Money $14,743,190 Career Prize Money $97,691 Plays Right-Handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Sep. 7, 1984 (36) Date of Birth (Age) May 15, 1999 (21) Singles Titles 12 Singles Titles 0 Tournament W-L (MD) 6-2 Tournament W-L (MD) 2-0 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 5-3 / 455-244 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 4-1 / 4-1 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 2-3 / 120-90 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 2-0 / 2-0 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 2-3 / 32-30 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 2-1 / 2-1 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 5-3 / 324-169 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 4-1/ 4-1 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 33-80 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 1-0 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 76-119 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 1-0 Coach Evseechev Ruslan Coach Alexey Filenkov

ZVONAREVA:

• Making third main draw appearance (fourth overall) here at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, with her best result being a SF run in 2019 (l. eventual R-Up Vekic) • Made 2r in 2018 (l. Ostapenko) and fell in 2020 qualifying • Doubles champion here in 2018 with Bacsinszky (d. Kudryavtseva/Srebotnik in F) – one of ten doubles titles she owns • Opened 2021 St. Petersburg campaign with straight sets victory over Rodionova • Defeated No.43 Ferro in 2r to register her first Top 50 win since defeating No.33 Linette at the 2020 Western & Southern Open • Needed three hours and 10 minutes to oust the Frenchwoman, becoming the longest match to take place in the tournament’s history • In today’s QF action, takes on fellow Russian Gasanova – looking to advance to first Tour-level QF since reaching the final four here in 2019 • Coming off falling in Dubai qualifying, falling to fellow veteran Kanepi in final round • Made R16 at Yarra Valley Classic (l. Vondrousova) and fell 1r at Australian Open (l. Rybakina) • Opened season with 2r appearance at Abu Dhabi (d. Hesse, l. Svitolina) • Highlight of 2020 was reaching the R16 at the Western & Southern Open, as a qualifier (l. Konta) • Returned to tour after eight-month break due to wrist injury in February 2020 with 2r showing at $25k ITF/Trnava-SVK. Went on to make SF showing at WTA 125K Series event at Indian Wells in early March and then R16 at Western & Southern Open in August (l. Konta) • Ended 2019 ranked No.141 after a promising start to season was ended prematurely by wrist injury – during time away from court commentated for Russian TV ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Highlights in 2019 were SF runs at Shenzhen (l. Riske via ret. w/left hip injury) and St. Petersburg (d. No.16 Goerges and No.12 Kasatkina, l. Vekic). Also won ninth career WTA doubles title, at Budapest (w/Alexandrova) – now owns 9-6 career record in doubles finals • Broke back into Top 100 after Shenzhen (January 7, 2019), making it as high as No.76 following St. Petersburg run (February 4, 2019) • At 2018 Wimbledon, overcame three rounds of qualifying to enter her first Grand Slam main draw in over three years, falling to eventual champion Kerber in 1r. Previous main draw appearance at a major was 2015 Australian Open (l. eventual champion S.Williams in 2r) • Enjoyed doubles success in 2018, winning seventh and eighth career titles, at St. Petersburg (w/Bacsinszky) and Moscow [River Cup] (w/Potapova) • Returned to the tour in 2017 following a two-year hiatus, finishing with a year-end ranking of No.204 • Comeback season was highlighted by title at $15k ITF/Sharm El Sheikh-EGY, runner-up finish at WTA 125K Series event at Dalian (l. Kozlova) and a SF run at Tashkent (l. eventual champion K.Bondarenko) • Prior to her return to tour, last played in 2015 – highlighted by QF appearances at Shenzhen and Pattaya City • A 2013 shoulder injury sidelined her for a year and a half prior to returning for another injury-stricken season in 2014 - best result was 3r finish at 2014 Wimbledon (l. Diyas) • Has won 12 career WTA singles titles (most recent 2011 Baku); biggest title to date is 2009 Indian Wells • Reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals in 2010 as runner-up at both Wimbledon (l. S.Williams) and US Open (l. Clijsters) • Finished ranked in Top 10 four consecutive years (2008-2011), including a year-end No.2 ranking in 2010 – became fifth Russian to rank in Top 2 in October 2010 and held No.2 for 14 weeks (Oct. 25, 2010 to Jan. 30, 2011) • Has four wins vs. World No.1s: Maria Sharapova (2007 Indian Wells), Jelena Jankovic (2008 WTA Championships) and Caroline Wozniacki, twice (2011 Doha and WTA Championships) • Participated at WTA Championships six times in career (2004, 2008-11; includes 2009 as alternate); reached final in 2009 (l. V.Williams) • Has won ten doubles titles, including three Grand Slams (2020 US Open, 2012 Australian Open, and 2006 US Open) and 2009 Indian Wells (w/Azarenka), completing singles-doubles sweep • Missed second half of 2005 season with left ankle injury; missed four months of 2007 with left wrist injury; also missed two months in 2009 due to a right ankle injury; had surgery to remove scar tissue in November 2009 • Represented Russia in Olympics twice: 2008 Beijing (replaced Sharapova, won singles bronze) and 2012 London

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

GASANOVA:

• Making debut appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Enters the main draw having won two rounds of qualifying, defeating Paar and Konjuh without dropping a set • One of ten Russian women to contest the 1r, with seven now playing in the QFs • This is just her second WTA main draw appearance, after making debut at Abu Dhabi earlier this year • Currently ranked No.241 – career-high is No.223, posted on January 25, 2021 • Defeated fellow 21-year-old Zavatska in opening match, which was third main draw win (after two on WTA main draw debut in Abu Dhabi at beginning of 2021) • At 3 hours and 4 minutes, her three-set win vs. Zavatska registered as the longest match ever played here at the St Petersburg Ladies Trophy – however, his record was broken by today’s opponent Zvonareva, who needed three hours and 10 minutes to defeat Ferro in QF • In 2r, triumphed in another three-hour showdown, this time against fellow Russian Pavlyuchenkova, needing three hours and three minutes to oust the World No.45 and reach her maiden WTA QF • Yesterday’s defeat was the second-highest ranked player she’s ousted, having also won over No.6 Ka.Pliskova (2021 Abu Dhabi) • Today, faces another compatriot, Russia’s Zvonareva – prior to this week, had faced a Russian woman only once at Tour level, defeating Morgina in qualifying at 2018 Moscow • Has competed in three previous WTA level events in Russia, falling in qualifying in Moscow at each (at the Kremlin Cup and River Cup) • Made main draw debut earlier this year at Abu Dhabi • Came through qualifying, defeated Barthel in 1r before stunning World No.6 Pliskova in straight sets. Fell to Sorribes Tormo • Other tour level competition includes appearances at 125K events in Dalian (2016) and Prague (2020) • Her 2020 campaign was highlighted by a semifinal visit at ITF $15K Sharm El Sheikh 3 and a quarterfinal performance at ITF $100K Cairo 4 • Produced a successful ITF resume in 2019, having reached three ITF finals at $25K Kazan, $25K Incheon and $25K Nanning • Has yet to compete in a Grand Slam event • Captured ITF $25K Guiyang title, and was a runner-up at $25K Karshi and $15K Moscow in 2018 • Hoisted two ITF titles in 2016 at $10K Nanjing and $10K Khimki • Won back-to-back ITF crowns in 2015 at $10K Telavi 4 and Telavi 5 (Georgia) • First career ITF title came at $10K Telavi in 2014 • Owns six career ITF singles titles so far • Played first ITF event in 2013 at $10K Astanan 5, Kazakhstan

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[Q] JAQUELINE CRISTIAN (ROU #160) VS. [4] SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUS #39)

Head-to-head: First meeting

CRISTIAN KUZNETSOVA Career Prize Money $246,195 Career Prize Money $25,596,078 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) June 5, 1998 (22) Date of Birth (Age) Jun. 27, 1985 (35) Singles Titles 0 Singles Titles 18 Tournament W-L (MD) 2-0 Tournament W-L (MD) 3-2 YTD / Career W-L 2-0 / 6-4 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 4-4 / 606-322 3-Set (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 3-1 3-Set (YTD / Career) 2-1 / 193-124 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 2-1 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 129-104 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 2-0 / 4-2 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 4-4 / 380-205 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-1 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 63-102 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 0-1 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-2 / 136-176 Coach Cosiac Andrei Coach Piles Ciscar Javier Francisco, Krendelev Vyacheslav

CRISTIAN: • Making tournament debut at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy as the sole non-Russian player remaining in the draw • Enters this week’s tournament at No.160, just three spots shy of career-high ranking of No.157 (posted Feb. 1, 2021) • Earned spot in first main draw of the year by coming through qualifying (d. Kostic and Charaeva) • Defeated Lapko in 1r via ret. to post first Tour-level main draw win since 2020 Lyon • Ousted Ostapenko in 2r to post first back-to-back wins of career • Faces No.4 seed Kuznetsova today in first career WTA QF appearance • Win today would mark best by-ranking win and first Top 50 win on WTA Tour however did defeat another Russian, No.38 Kudermetova in Fed Cup action last year • Coming off qualifying exits at Dubai, Lyon and Australian Open • Opened season with an R-Up appearance at $60K ITF/Andrezieux-Boutheon-FRA (l. Tan in F) • Owns 10 singles and doubles titles on the ITF Circuit • Season highlight of 2020 was 2r run at Lyon (as qualifier, l. Kenin) • Member of Romanian Billie Jean King Cup team in 2020 – winning rubber against Russia’s Kudermetova • In 2019, enjoyed a second 2r run at Bucharest (l. Rybakina), also advanced through qualifying to reach 1r at Nanchang (l. Golubic) • Made WTA main draw debut at 2017 Bucharest, winning first Tour-level match of her career against Kozlova before falling in 2r against Begu • Contested maiden WTA qualifying at 2015 Bucharest • Began playing ITF Circuit events in 2012

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

KUZNETSOVA: • Making third appearance at St. Petersburg, where she has tied her previous best result by advancing to QF; also reached QF during debut in 2017 (l. Putintseva) before falling 2r in 2020 (l. Bencic) • Following a 1r bye, defeated qualifier Wang Xinyu to book spot in final eight • Faces another qualifier, No.160 Cristian today looking to book SF for the first time in St. Petersburg – last lost to a qualifier at 2020 Istanbul (l. eventual R-Up Bouchard) • Owns 73-61 career record in WTA QF matches • One of 10 Russian players contesting the main draw where seven have advanced to QF • Has lifted 14 hard court titles throughout her career – the sixth most among active players • Coming off 3r run at Dubai (l. eventual R-Up Krejcikova) after 1r exit at Doha (l. Azarenka) • Opened 2021 season with 1r exit at Grampians Trophy (l. Brady) before 2r showing at Australian Open (d. Strycova, l. Bencic) • Best result in 2020 was SF showing at Doha (d. No.9 Bencic, l. Sabalenka) • Season highlight in 2019 was reaching final at Cincinnati (l. Keys) as a WC ranked No.153 –defeated four Top 20 seeds en route to the final (No.11 Sevastova, No.10 Stephens, No.3 Ka.Pliskova and No.1 Barty). Returned to Top 100 after tournament • Missed first few months of 2019 season due to knee injury – returned at Lugano, where she reached QF • At 2018 Washington, DC won first title since October 2016 (d. Vekic in F after saving 4mp) • After falling 2r at 2018 Wimbledon (l. Strycova), dropped out of the Top 100 for the first time since August 12, 2002 (ending a run of 831 consecutive weeks) • Missed opening two months of 2018 (w/wrist injury) • Secured 600th match win (all levels) at 2017 Brisbane – is one of five active players to reach the milestone, along with V.Williams, S.Williams, Kerber and Stosur • In 2016, won 45 matches, two titles (Sydney and Moscow) and qualified for WTA Finals for sixth time in career (reached SF) • Is a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, winning 2004 US Open (d. Dementieva in F) and 2009 Roland Garros (d. Safina in F). Also a two-time finalist, reaching the championship match at Roland Garros in 2006 (l. Henin) and 2007 US Open (l. Henin) • One of three Russian women to lift a Grand Slam singles title (also Myskina, Sharapova), and one of five Russians to rank in Top 2; had a chance to become No.1 by winning 2008 Roland Garros (fell two matches short with SF loss to Safina) • At 2011 Australian Open, played her part in setting the record for the longest women’s match at a Slam, eventually succumbing to Schiavone in 4h 44min • Ranked continuously in Top 20 from March 1, 2004 to July 11, 2010 (including over four years ranked continuously in Top 10 – April 2006 to June 2010) ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Owns seven wins over reigning world No.1s, most recently defeating S.Williams at 2016 Miami. Also Mauresmo, Safina and Henin twice each when they were No.1; one of only two players (also S.Williams) to beat Henin twice when she was No.1 • Haul of 16 tour level doubles titles includes two Australian Open crowns, won in 2005 (w/Molik) and 2012 (w/Zvonareva). Rose as high as No.3 in doubles (week of June 7, 2004) • Member of victorious Russia Billie Jean King Cup sides in 2004 and 2007-08 and Russian Olympic Team in 2004, 2008, 2016 • Won a career-best 60 main draw matches in 2006 campaign, which saw her lift two titles and finish R-Up a further three times (including Roland Garros) • Breakthrough 2004 season, saw her make debut in Top 20 (March 1) and Top 10 (June 1) before lifting maiden Slam title at US Open (d. Dementieva in F) • Made Top 50 debut at No.45 on September 30, 2002, after winning title at Bali (d. Martínez in F) • In 2002, reached first WTA QF at Warsaw, SF at Casablanca and then lifted maiden title at Helsinki (as qualifier, d Chladkova in F) • Started 2002 season by reaching 2r on Grand Slam main draw debut at Australian Open (d. Cho, l. Tulyaganova) • Reached 2r on WTA debut (main draw and qualifying) at Madrid in 2001 (d. Ruano Pascual, l. Raymond) • Advanced to QF on professional debut at $10K ITF/Mallorca-ESP in 2000

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[8] DARIA KASATKINA (RUS #61) VS. [2] VERONIKA KUDERMETOVA (RUS #36)

Head-to-head: First meeting

KASATKINA KUDERMETOVA Career Prize Money $6,088,267 Career Prize Money $1,936,517 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) May 7, 1997 (23) Date of Birth (Age) Apr. 24, 1997 (23) Singles Titles 3 Singles Titles 0 Tournament W-L (MD) 9-5 Tournament W-L (MD) 3-2 YTD / Career W-L 12-4 / 146-110 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 10-6 / 55-46 3-Set (YTD / Career) 5-1 / 55-37 3-Set (YTD / Career) 4-1 / 24-14 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 2-1 / 26-23 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 5-2 / 23-11 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 12-4 / 98-76 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 10-6 / 36-31 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 12-23 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-2 / 5-5 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-2 / 26-45 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-3 / 6-11 Coach Carlos Martínez Coach Sergey Demkhine

KASATKINA: • Making sixth appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy – has appeared in all five previous editions of the event • Is a two-time semifinalist, reaching the last four in 2016 (l. Bencic) and 2018 (l. Mladenovic). Also made the QF stage in 2019 (l. Zvonareva) and now in 2021 • In 1r, defeated Tauson to end the Dane’s 13-match win streak (including qualifying matches) • Ousted Sasnovich in 2r in their sixth career meeting coming out victorious in a tight 3s battle in which the Russian claimed it in third set tie break • Faces No.36 Kudermetova today hoping to tie best result year by reaching SF for a third time • Owns 10-15 record in career QF matches last reaching SF at a WTA500 event or higher during title run at 2018 Moscow • Six of her twelve wins this season have come over higher ranked players including four during title run at the Phillip Island Trophy • One of seven Russians to reach QF here hoping to be first Russian in history to win this tournament since it became a WTA event • Coming off 1r exit to Cornet in Dubai • Won first title for over two years at Phillip Island Trophy during Australian swing, defeating Bouzkova in the final • Was first final since winning the 2018 Moscow title (d. Jabeur in F), which helped propel her into the WTA Top 10 for the first time in her career on October 22, 2018 • Is now 3-3 in Tour-level finals, also lifting the trophies at 2017 Charleston (d. Ostapenko in F) and 2018 Moscow (d. Jabeur in F). R-Up at 2017 Moscow (l. Goerges in F), 2018 Dubai (l. Svitolina in F) and 2018 Indian Wells (l. Osaka in F) ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Posted 3r at Gippsland Trophy (l. eventual R-Up Kanepi) and 2r exit at Australian Open (l. Sabalenka) • Began 2021 season with 3r showing at Abu Dhabi (l. Rybakina) • Highlight of truncated 2020 season was SF showing at Lyon (l. Friedsam) – her first run to the last four at a WTA event since lifting title at 2018 Moscow [Kremlin Cup] • Won consecutive matches only twice in difficult 2019 campaign, with best result a QF run at Premier Mandatory China Open (l. Wozniacki) • Ended 2018 season by lifting her second WTA singles title at Moscow [Kremlin Cup]. Recovered from a set and 6-2 4-1 down to defeat Jabeur in final; broke into Top 10 following the tournament, on October 22, 2018 • Knocked out No.2 seed Wozniacki en route to her first Grand Slam QF, at 2018 Roland Garros • Reached biggest final of career at 2018 Indian Wells (l. Osaka), having upset No.2 Wozniacki, No.10 Kerber and No.8 V.Williams along the way • Made Top 20 debut on February 26, 2018, following R-Up finish at Dubai (d. No.3 Muguruza, l. Svitolina) • Upset No.1 Wozniacki during SF run at 2018 St. Petersburg; having also beaten Kerber at 2017 Sydney, is one of six players in WTA history to have multiple wins over World No.1s before their 21st birthday, also V.Williams (9), S. Williams (8), Sharapova (4) Kenin (2) and Kuznetsova (2) • Captured maiden WTA singles title in debut final at 2017 Charleston, defeating fellow teenager Ostapenko in F – the first all-teenage final on tour since 2009 Linz (Wickmayer d. Kvitova) • Ended 2016 as the highest-ranked teenager on tour, at No.27, after reaching a second career WTA SF, at St. Petersburg and made QF stage at Indian Wells, Charleston, Montréal, Rio Olympics and Moscow • Made Top 50 debut on February 15, 2016, following St. Petersburg run • Upset No.7 V.Williams in opening match of 2016 season at Auckland to register the first Top 10 win of her career • Made Billie Jean King Cup debut in World Group quarter-final defeat to Netherlands in 2016. Has also represented Russia in the competition in 2017 and 2019 and at 2016 Olympics • Reached first WTA SF at 2015 Moscow (as qualifier, l. Pavlyuchenkova, having recorded first Top 20 win over No.14 Suárez Navarro in QF); following the tournament made Top 100 debut at No.73 (October 26, 2015) • Reached 3r at 2015 US Open (as LL, l. Mladenovic) on Grand Slam debut (main draw and qualifying). Earlier in summer of 2015, won back-to-back matches for first time at a WTA tournament during QF run at Bad Gastein (as qualifier, l. Errani) • Also in 2015, won maiden WTA doubles title at 2015 Moscow (w/Vesnina), lifted five singles titles on ITF Circuit and was nominated for WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2015 • Fell 1r on WTA main draw debut at 2014 Moscow (as WC, l. Riske) • Made WTA qualifying debut at 2013 Moscow

KUDERMETOVA: ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Making fifth overall appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy • Has reached the 2r twice, in 2019 (as qualifier, l. eventual runner-up Vekic) and 2020 (l. eventual champion Bertens) • Fell in qualifying in 2017 and 2018 • Seeded No.2 this week – her highest seeding at a WTA event, bettering her No.5 seeding at 2020 Linz • Contesting this week at No.36 in the rankings – two spots off career high of No.34 (February 15, 2021) • After 1r bye, defeated compatriot, qualifier Rakhimova in three set battle that ended in a tie break which the No.2 seed won 7-5 • Including second round victory, has won her last four matches vs. Russian woman – Vikhlyantseva (2020 Brisbane), Gracheva (2021 Australian Open), Pavlyuchenkova (2021 Dubai) • Faces another Russian in No.8 seed Kasatkina hoping to reach second SF of the year after finishing R-Up at Abu Dhabi to start the season • Owns 5-9 record in career WTA QF matches hoping to reach SF this week for the first time in her home country • Coming off 2r exit at Dubai (l. Bencic) and 1r exit at Doha (l. Muguruza) • Suffered 1r exit at Adelaide (l. Rogers) after a career-best 3r run at Australian Open (l. Halep) • Also this season, made 2r at Grampians Trophy (l. Li) after opening her campaign by reaching her maiden WTA final, at Abu Dhabi (l. Sabalenka) • Began last season with qualifying exit at Brisbane and then SF run at Hobart • Scored first win over a Top-3 ranked opponent by upsetting No.3 Ka.Pliskova at 2020 Western & Southern Open. • Closed out 2020 season with back-to-back QFs at Ostrava (as qualifier, l. Brady) and Linz (l. Mertens) • Won 27 main-draw matches during 2019 – had previously won six across entire career – to rise over sixty places in the WTA rankings, making Top 100 debut on February 4 and Top 50 debut on September 9 • Singles highlights in 2019 included reaching maiden WTA SF at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. eventual champion Riske), 3r at Roland Garros (d. No.13 Wozniacki in 1r – her maiden Grand Slam main draw win and also first over a Top 20 opponent – l. Kanepi) and winning WTA 125K Series title at Guadalajara (d. Bouzkova in F) • Posted first two Top 10 wins of career in final weeks of 2019, over No.10 Bencic at Wuhan and No.4 Svitolina at Moscow • Fell 1r on Grand Slam main draw debut at 2019 Australian Open (as qualifier, l. Kenin) • Won career first WTA doubles title at 2019 Wuhan with Duan (d. Mertens/Sabalenka in F); also in 2019 was R-Up at Charleston (w/Khromacheva) and Lugano (w/Voskoboeva) • Posted maiden career WTA QF runs in 2018, first at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. eventual champion Krunic) and then Gstaad (l. Bouchard) • Reached 2r on WTA main draw debut at 2018 Stuttgart (d. No.25 Suárez Navarro, l. eventual champion Ka.Pliskova) • WTA qualifying debut came at 2014 Moscow ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Made Billie Jean King Cup debut in 2014 vs. Australia (l. Stosur – her first Tour-level match) • On ITF Circuit, owns four singles – most recently at 2018 $25K Keito-JPN – and 16 doubles titles • Made professional debut at $50K ITF/Kazan-RUS in 2014

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

Tournament Information: formulatx.com | @formula_tx | facebook.com/formula_tx WTA Information: www.wtatennis.com | @WTA | facebook.com/WTA WTA Communications: Chris Whitmore ([email protected])

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – SEMIFINALS

[WC] MARGARITA GASPARYAN (RUS #126) vs. [WC] VERA ZVONAREVA (RUS #145)

Zvonareva leads 1-0 Gasparyan hoping to reach first career final at a WTA500 event or higher... Zvonareva looking to reach first WTA final since 2011... Both players aiming to be first WC in tournament history to win title

[4] SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUS #39) vs. [8] DARIA KASATKINA (RUS #61)

First meeting Kuznetsova trying to reach 43rd career WTA final... A win for Kasatkina would put her into her second WTA final of the year

A LOOK AT THE SEMIFINALISTS ST. PETERSBURG SEASON CAREER CAREER CAREER PLAYER RANK AGE NAT (MD) W/L* (MD) W/L* (MD) W/L* PRIZE $^ TITLES [4] Svetlana Kuznetsova 39 35 RUS 4-2 5-4 607-322 25,596,078 18 [8] Daria Kasatkina 61 23 RUS 10-5 13-4 147-110 6,088,267 3 [WC] Margarita Gasparyan 126 26 RUS 4-3 4-3 49-54 1,814,201 2 [WC] Vera Zvonareva 145 36 RUS 7-2 6-3 456-244 14,743,190 12 *Includes current tournament / ^ Does not include current tournament

SEMIFINAL RECORDS PLAYER LAST FINAL REACHED (final result) CAREER SF W/L CAREER F W/L

[4] Svetlana Kuznetsova 2019 Cincinnati (R-UP) 42-29 18-24 [8] Daria Kasatkina 2021 Phillip Island Trophy (WON) 6-4 3-3 [WC] Margarita Gasparyan 2018 Tashkent (WON) 2-1 2-0 [WC] Vera Zvonareva 2011 Moscow (R-Up) 30-29 12-18

POTENTIAL FINAL HEAD-TO-HEADS KUZNETSOVA KASATKINA

GASPARYAN First meeting First meeting ZVONAREVA Kuznetsova leads 8-4 Series tied 1-1

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 1

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

HOME COURT HEROES

• With all four semifinalists hailing from the home country of Russia, there is guaranteed to be a Russian champion in St. Petersburg for the first time in tournament history

• This is also the first time there has been an all-Russian semifinal line-up at any WTA tournament.

• Previously, the most Russian players to reach the semifinals of a tournament was three when Daria Kasatkina (SF), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (R-Up) and Svetlana Kuznetsova (Champion) all reached the final four of 2015 Moscow.

• The last time a single country held all four spots in a semifinal was at 2017 US Open when CoCo Vandeweghe (SF), (SF), (R-Up) and (Champion) made up the all-American final four.

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 2

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[WC] MARGARITA GASPARYAN (RUS #126) VS. [WC] VERA ZVONAREVA (RUS #145)

Head-to-head: ZVONAREVA leads 1-0

2020 ST. PETERSBURG HARD I Q-R32 VERA ZVONAREVA 6-2 6-2

GASPARYAN ZVONAREVA Career Prize Money $1,814,201 Career Prize Money $14,743,190 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-Handed Date of Birth (Age) Sept. 1, 1994 (26) Date of Birth (Age) Sep. 7, 1984 (36) Singles Titles 2 Singles Titles 12 Tournament W-L (MD) 4-3 Tournament W-L (MD) 7-2 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 4-3 / 49-54 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 6-3 / 456-244 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 18-13 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 2-3 / 120-90 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 11-9 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 2-3 / 32-30 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 4-3 / 41-34 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 5-3 / 324-169 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 2-9 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 33-80 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 4-19 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 76-119 Coach Betau Siarhei Coach Evseechev Ruslan

GASPARYAN:

• Making third main draw appearance at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy (fourth overall) where she has set a new career best result by reaching SF • Made 2r during debut in 2016 (l. Ivanovic) before falling 1r in 2019 (as qualifier, l. Azarenka) • Fell during qualifying in 2020 • Struck 37 winners to upset No.7 seed and 2017 St. Petersburg champion Mladenovic in 1r • Defeated Siniakova to register back-to-back main draw wins and enter the final eight for the first time since 2019 Luxemburg • Ousted top seed and No.34 Alexandrova in QF yesterday to book first SF since 2019 Istanbul • Win was first career victory over a No.1 seed (now 1-3 record) and best-by-ranking since stunning No.7 Svitolina during 1r at 2019 Birmingham • Faces another WC Zvonareva today hoping to reach first career final at a WTA500 event or better and first since title run at 2018 Tashkent • Win today would mark 50th career main draw victory • Owns 2-1 record in WTA SF matches also advancing to final during maiden title run at 2015 Baku • Aiming to become first WC to win title in tournament history • Including win over Alexandrova in QF, now owns 6-4 record against fellow Russian players • Coming off 2r run at Lyon (as qualifier, l. Mladenovic) • During Australian swing, made 1r exits at Gippsland Trophy (l. Hercog) and Australian Open (as qualifier, l. Muguruza) • Best result during disrupted 2020 was making 2r at US Open (d. Puig, l. S.Williams) ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• In 2019 enjoyed SF run at Istanbul (ret. vs. eventual champion Martic w/dizziness), QF at Luxembourg (ret. vs. Blinkova) and advancing to 2r at Wimbledon for the first time (l. Svitolina) • Defeated No.7 Svitolina in 1r at Birmingham for second career Top 10 win (also defeated No.10 Bertens at 2018 Linz) • At St Petersburg in 2019 captured doubles title w/Makarova. Also R-Up in doubles w/Niculescu at the Bronx (l. Jurak/Martínez Sánchez) • Started the 2018 season unranked and re-entered the Top 100 at No.92 on November 12, 2018 • Scored first Top 10 win of her career over No.10 Bertens at 2018 Linz • Owns a perfect 2-0 record in WTA singles finals. At No.299, became the lowest-ranked player to win a WTA title in 2018 at Tashkent – and second-lowest ranked WTA champion of all time after Angel-ique Widjaja at 2001 Bali (ranked No.579) • Sidelined for half of 2016 and most of 2017 due to knee surgeries, made comeback at 2017 Kremlin Cup (fell in qualifying) • Achieved best major result by reaching R16 at 2016 Australian Open (l. eventual R-Up S.Williams); was her debut appearance at the tournament – run included career first Top 20 win, over No.19 Errani in 1r • Reached career-high rankings during the 2016 season – No.41 in singles (week of February 15, 2016) and No.25 in doubles (week of May 6, 2016) • Doubles semifinalist at 2016 Roland Garros (w/Kuznetsova, l. eventual champions Garcia/Mladenovic) • Ended 2015 season ranked No.62, her best year-end finish. Season highlighted by winning first WTA singles title at Baku (unseeded, d. Tig in F) and first two doubles titles (Baku and Tashkent, both w/Panova) • Nominated for WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2015 (awarded to Gavrilova) • Owns four WTA doubles titles: 2015 Baku (w/Panova), 2015 Tashkent (w/Panova), 2016 Prague (w/Sestini Hlavackova) and 2019 St Petersburg (w/Makarova) • Made Fed Cup debut for Russia in 2013, playing doubles – Italy won the tie, 4-0. Also a member of squad in 2016 and 2019 • On ITF Circuit, owns nine singles titles and eight doubles titles • First played WTA qualifying at 2010 Moscow and made main draw debut at same event (Kremlin Cup) in 2012 • Member of victorious Junior Fed Cup in 2010 for Russia, alongside Gavrilova

ZVONAREVA:

• Making third main draw appearance (fourth overall) here at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, with her best result being a SF run in 2019 (l. eventual R-Up Vekic) • Made 2r in 2018 (l. Ostapenko) and fell in 2020 qualifying • Doubles champion here in 2018 with Bacsinszky (d. Kudryavtseva/Srebotnik in F) – one of ten doubles titles she owns • Opened 2021 St. Petersburg campaign with straight sets victory over Rodionova ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Defeated No.43 Ferro in 2r to register her first Top 50 win since defeating No.33 Linette at the 2020 Western & Southern Open • Needed three hours and 10 minutes to oust the Frenchwoman, becoming the longest match to take place in the tournament’s history • Took out fellow Russian Gasanova in QF to advance to first Tour-level SF since reaching the final four here in 2019 • Faces another WC Gasparyan today looking to reach 31st career WTA final but first since 2011 Tokyo [Pan Pacific] (l. Radwanska in F) • Owns 30-29 record in career WTA SF matches and has advanced to one final in her home country when she finished R-Up at 2008 Moscow (l. Jankovic in F) • Including win over Gasanova in QF, now owns 66-48 record against her countrywomen • Owns 97-25 record against players ranked outside the Top 100 last falling to No.104 Fernandez in 1r of 2020 US Open • Aiming to be first WC in tournament history to win the title in St. Petersburg • Coming off falling in Dubai qualifying, falling to fellow veteran Kanepi in final round • Made R16 at Yarra Valley Classic (l. Vondrousova) and fell 1r at Australian Open (l. Rybakina) • Opened season with 2r appearance at Abu Dhabi (d. Hesse, l. Svitolina) • Highlight of 2020 was reaching the R16 at the Western & Southern Open, as a qualifier (l. Konta) • Returned to tour after eight-month break due to wrist injury in February 2020 with 2r showing at $25k ITF/Trnava-SVK. Went on to make SF showing at WTA 125K Series event at Indian Wells in early March and then R16 at Western & Southern Open in August (l. Konta) • Ended 2019 ranked No.141 after a promising start to season was ended prematurely by wrist injury – during time away from court commentated for Russian TV • Highlights in 2019 were SF runs at Shenzhen (l. Riske via ret. w/left hip injury) and St. Petersburg (d. No.16 Goerges and No.12 Kasatkina, l. Vekic). Also won ninth career WTA doubles title, at Budapest (w/Alexandrova) – now owns 9-6 career record in doubles finals • Broke back into Top 100 after Shenzhen (January 7, 2019), making it as high as No.76 following St. Petersburg run (February 4, 2019) • At 2018 Wimbledon, overcame three rounds of qualifying to enter her first Grand Slam main draw in over three years, falling to eventual champion Kerber in 1r. Previous main draw appearance at a major was 2015 Australian Open (l. eventual champion S.Williams in 2r) • Enjoyed doubles success in 2018, winning seventh and eighth career titles, at St. Petersburg (w/Bacsinszky) and Moscow [River Cup] (w/Potapova) • Returned to the tour in 2017 following a two-year hiatus, finishing with a year-end ranking of No.204 • Comeback season was highlighted by title at $15k ITF/Sharm El Sheikh-EGY, runner-up finish at WTA 125K Series event at Dalian (l. Kozlova) and a SF run at Tashkent (l. eventual champion K.Bondarenko) ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Prior to her return to tour, last played in 2015 – highlighted by QF appearances at Shenzhen and Pattaya City • A 2013 shoulder injury sidelined her for a year and a half prior to returning for another injury-stricken season in 2014 - best result was 3r finish at 2014 Wimbledon (l. Diyas) • Has won 12 career WTA singles titles (most recent 2011 Baku); biggest title to date is 2009 Indian Wells • Reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals in 2010 as runner-up at both Wimbledon (l. S.Williams) and US Open (l. Clijsters) • Finished ranked in Top 10 four consecutive years (2008-2011), including a year-end No.2 ranking in 2010 – became fifth Russian to rank in Top 2 in October 2010 and held No.2 for 14 weeks (Oct. 25, 2010 to Jan. 30, 2011) • Has four wins vs. World No.1s: Maria Sharapova (2007 Indian Wells), Jelena Jankovic (2008 WTA Championships) and Caroline Wozniacki, twice (2011 Doha and WTA Championships) • Participated at WTA Championships six times in career (2004, 2008-11; includes 2009 as alternate); reached final in 2009 (l. V.Williams) • Has won ten doubles titles, including three Grand Slams (2020 US Open, 2012 Australian Open, and 2006 US Open) and 2009 Indian Wells (w/Azarenka), completing singles-doubles sweep • Missed second half of 2005 season with left ankle injury; missed four months of 2007 with left wrist injury; also missed two months in 2009 due to a right ankle injury; had surgery to remove scar tissue in November 2009 • Represented Russia in Olympics twice: 2008 Beijing (replaced Sharapova, won singles bronze) and 2012 London

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[4] SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUS #39) VS. [8] DARIA KASATKINA (RUS #61)

Head-to-head: First meeting

KUZNETSOVA KASATKINA Career Prize Money $25,596,078 Career Prize Money $6,088,267 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Jun. 27, 1985 (35) Date of Birth (Age) May 7, 1997 (23) Singles Titles 18 Singles Titles 3 Tournament W-L (MD) 4-2 Tournament W-L (MD) 10-5 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 5-4 / 607-322 YTD / Career W-L 13-4 / 147-110 3-Set (YTD / Career) 3-1 / 194-124 3-Set (YTD / Career) 6-1 / 56-37 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 129-105 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 2-1 / 26-23 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 5-4 / 381-205 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 13-4 / 99-76 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-0 / 63-102 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 12-23 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-2 / 136-176 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-2 / 26-45 Coach Piles Ciscar Javier Francisco, Coach Carlos Martínez Krendelev Vyacheslav

KUZNETSOVA: • Making third appearance at St. Petersburg, where she has improved her previous best result by advancing to SF for the first time in her hometown; reached QF during debut in 2017 (l. Putintseva) before falling 2r in 2020 (l. Bencic) • Following a 1r bye, defeated qualifier Wang Xinyu to book spot in final eight • Ousted another qualifier, No.160 Cristian to book SF for the first time in St. Petersburg – last lost to a qualifier at 2020 Istanbul (l. eventual R-Up Bouchard) • Faces No.8 seed Kasatkina today as the only semifinalist who has yet to face one of her countrywomen this week – owns 77-42 record against fellow Russian opposition • Has amassed 42-29 career record in WTA SF matches hoping to book 43rd career WTA final and first since 2019 Cincinnati (l. Keys in F) • Has lifted 14 hard court titles throughout her career (sixth most among active players) including two on home soil at Moscow in 2015 and 2016 • Coming off 3r run at Dubai (l. eventual R-Up Krejcikova) after 1r exit at Doha (l. Azarenka) • Opened 2021 season with 1r exit at Grampians Trophy (l. Brady) before 2r showing at Australian Open (d. Strycova, l. Bencic) • Best result in 2020 was SF showing at Doha (d. No.9 Bencic, l. Sabalenka) • Season highlight in 2019 was reaching final at Cincinnati (l. Keys) as a WC ranked No.153 –defeated four Top 20 seeds en route to the final (No.11 Sevastova, No.10 Stephens, No.3 Ka.Pliskova and No.1 Barty). Returned to Top 100 after tournament • Missed first few months of 2019 season due to knee injury – returned at Lugano, where she reached QF • At 2018 Washington, DC won first title since October 2016 (d. Vekic in F after saving 4mp) ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• After falling 2r at 2018 Wimbledon (l. Strycova), dropped out of the Top 100 for the first time since August 12, 2002 (ending a run of 831 consecutive weeks) • Missed opening two months of 2018 (w/wrist injury) • Secured 600th match win (all levels) at 2017 Brisbane – is one of five active players to reach the milestone, along with V.Williams, S.Williams, Kerber and Stosur • In 2016, won 45 matches, two titles (Sydney and Moscow) and qualified for WTA Finals for sixth time in career (reached SF) • Is a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, winning 2004 US Open (d. Dementieva in F) and 2009 Roland Garros (d. Safina in F). Also a two-time finalist, reaching the championship match at Roland Garros in 2006 (l. Henin) and 2007 US Open (l. Henin) • One of three Russian women to lift a Grand Slam singles title (also Myskina, Sharapova), and one of five Russians to rank in Top 2; had a chance to become No.1 by winning 2008 Roland Garros (fell two matches short with SF loss to Safina) • At 2011 Australian Open, played her part in setting the record for the longest women’s match at a Slam, eventually succumbing to Schiavone in 4h 44min • Ranked continuously in Top 20 from March 1, 2004 to July 11, 2010 (including over four years ranked continuously in Top 10 – April 2006 to June 2010) • Owns seven wins over reigning world No.1s, most recently defeating S.Williams at 2016 Miami. Also Mauresmo, Safina and Henin twice each when they were No.1; one of only two players (also S.Williams) to beat Henin twice when she was No.1 • Haul of 16 tour level doubles titles includes two Australian Open crowns, won in 2005 (w/Molik) and 2012 (w/Zvonareva). Rose as high as No.3 in doubles (week of June 7, 2004) • Member of victorious Russia Billie Jean King Cup sides in 2004 and 2007-08 and Russian Olympic Team in 2004, 2008, 2016 • Won a career-best 60 main draw matches in 2006 campaign, which saw her lift two titles and finish R-Up a further three times (including Roland Garros) • Breakthrough 2004 season, saw her make debut in Top 20 (March 1) and Top 10 (June 1) before lifting maiden Slam title at US Open (d. Dementieva in F) • Made Top 50 debut at No.45 on September 30, 2002, after winning title at Bali (d. Martínez in F) • In 2002, reached first WTA QF at Warsaw, SF at Casablanca and then lifted maiden title at Helsinki (as qualifier, d Chladkova in F) • Started 2002 season by reaching 2r on Grand Slam main draw debut at Australian Open (d. Cho, l. Tulyaganova) • Reached 2r on WTA debut (main draw and qualifying) at Madrid in 2001 (d. Ruano Pascual, l. Raymond) • Advanced to QF on professional debut at $10K ITF/Mallorca-ESP in 2000

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

KASATKINA: • Making sixth appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy – has appeared in all five previous editions of the event • Is now a three-time semifinalist, reaching the last four in 2016 (l. Bencic) and 2018 (l. Mladenovic). Also made the QF stage in 2019 (l. Zvonareva) and now in 2021 • In 1r, defeated Tauson to end the Dane’s 13-match win streak (including qualifying matches) • Ousted Sasnovich in 2r in their sixth career meeting coming out victorious in a tight 3s battle in which the Russian claimed it in third set tie break • Took out No.2 seed Kudermetova in QF to reach first SF at a WTA500 event or higher since title run at 2018 Moscow • Faces No.4 seed Kuznetsova today hoping to reach second WTA final of the season following title run at the Phillip Island Trophy in Melbourne earlier this year (d. Bouzkova in F) • Owns 6-4 record in career SF matches and 12-7 record against fellow Russian opposition including QF win over countrywoman, Kudermetova • Seven of her thirteen wins this season have come over higher ranked players including four during title run at the Phillip Island Trophy • Win today would mark 100th career hard court victories with two of her three titles coming on the surface (2021 Phillip Island Trophy and 2018 Moscow) • Coming off 1r exit to Cornet in Dubai • Won first title for over two years at Phillip Island Trophy during Australian swing, defeating Bouzkova in the final • Was first final since winning the 2018 Moscow title (d. Jabeur in F), which helped propel her into the WTA Top 10 for the first time in her career on October 22, 2018 • Is now 3-3 in Tour-level finals, also lifting the trophies at 2017 Charleston (d. Ostapenko in F) and 2018 Moscow (d. Jabeur in F). R-Up at 2017 Moscow (l. Goerges in F), 2018 Dubai (l. Svitolina in F) and 2018 Indian Wells (l. Osaka in F) • Posted 3r at Gippsland Trophy (l. eventual R-Up Kanepi) and 2r exit at Australian Open (l. Sabalenka) • Began 2021 season with 3r showing at Abu Dhabi (l. Rybakina) • Highlight of truncated 2020 season was SF showing at Lyon (l. Friedsam) – her first run to the last four at a WTA event since lifting title at 2018 Moscow [Kremlin Cup] • Won consecutive matches only twice in difficult 2019 campaign, with best result a QF run at Premier Mandatory China Open (l. Wozniacki) • Ended 2018 season by lifting her second WTA singles title at Moscow [Kremlin Cup]. Recovered from a set and 6-2 4-1 down to defeat Jabeur in final; broke into Top 10 following the tournament, on October 22, 2018 • Knocked out No.2 seed Wozniacki en route to her first Grand Slam QF, at 2018 Roland Garros • Reached biggest final of career at 2018 Indian Wells (l. Osaka), having upset No.2 Wozniacki, No.10 Kerber and No.8 V.Williams along the way ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Made Top 20 debut on February 26, 2018, following R-Up finish at Dubai (d. No.3 Muguruza, l. Svitolina) • Upset No.1 Wozniacki during SF run at 2018 St. Petersburg; having also beaten Kerber at 2017 Sydney, is one of six players in WTA history to have multiple wins over World No.1s before their 21st birthday, also V.Williams (9), S. Williams (8), Sharapova (4) Kenin (2) and Kuznetsova (2) • Captured maiden WTA singles title in debut final at 2017 Charleston, defeating fellow teenager Ostapenko in F – the first all-teenage final on tour since 2009 Linz (Wickmayer d. Kvitova) • Ended 2016 as the highest-ranked teenager on tour, at No.27, after reaching a second career WTA SF, at St. Petersburg and made QF stage at Indian Wells, Charleston, Montréal, Rio Olympics and Moscow • Made Top 50 debut on February 15, 2016, following St. Petersburg run • Upset No.7 V.Williams in opening match of 2016 season at Auckland to register the first Top 10 win of her career • Made Billie Jean King Cup debut in World Group quarter-final defeat to Netherlands in 2016. Has also represented Russia in the competition in 2017 and 2019 and at 2016 Olympics • Reached first WTA SF at 2015 Moscow (as qualifier, l. Pavlyuchenkova, having recorded first Top 20 win over No.14 Suárez Navarro in QF); following the tournament made Top 100 debut at No.73 (October 26, 2015) • Reached 3r at 2015 US Open (as LL, l. Mladenovic) on Grand Slam debut (main draw and qualifying). Earlier in summer of 2015, won back-to-back matches for first time at a WTA tournament during QF run at Bad Gastein (as qualifier, l. Errani) • Also in 2015, won maiden WTA doubles title at 2015 Moscow (w/Vesnina), lifted five singles titles on ITF Circuit and was nominated for WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2015 • Fell 1r on WTA main draw debut at 2014 Moscow (as WC, l. Riske) • Made WTA qualifying debut at 2013 Moscow

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

Tournament Information: formulatx.com | @formula_tx | facebook.com/formula_tx WTA Information: www.wtatennis.com | @WTA | facebook.com/WTA WTA Communications: Chris Whitmore ([email protected])

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – FINALS

[WC] MARGARITA GASPARYAN (RUS #126) vs. [8] DARIA KASATKINA (RUS #61)

First meeting Guaranteed to be a Russian champion in St. Petersburg for the first time in tournament history… Gasparyan is currently 2-0 in WTA finals… Kasatkina recovered from a set down to reach second WTA final of the season... A win for Gasparyan would make her the first WC in tournament history to win the title… Kasatkina bidding to win multiple titles in one season for the first time in her career

A LOOK AT THE FINALISTS ST. PETERSBURG SEASON CAREER CAREER CAREER PLAYER RANK AGE NAT (MD) W/L* (MD) W/L* (MD) W/L* PRIZE $^ TITLES [8] Daria Kasatkina 61 23 RUS 11-5 14-4 148-110 6,088,267 3 [WC] Margarita Gasparyan 126 26 RUS 5-3 5-3 50-54 1,814,201 2 *Includes current tournament / ^ Does not include current tournament

FINAL RECORDS PLAYER LAST FINAL REACHED (final result) CAREER F W/L

[8] Daria Kasatkina 2021 Phillip Island Trophy (WON) 3-3 [WC] Margarita Gasparyan 2018 Tashkent (WON) 2-0

FINALIST STATS SERVICE POINTS SERVICE GAMES RETURN POINTS RETURN GAMES PLAYER ACES WON WON WON WON [8] Daria Kasatkina 7 193/332 (58%) 31/49 (63%) 171/332 (52%) 24/49 (49%) [WC] Margarita Gasparyan 6 172/299 (58%) 31/43 (72%) 152/300 (51%) 24/44 (55%)

ROAD TO THE FINAL KASATKINA GASPARYAN OPPONENT RESULT ROUND RESULT OPPONENT

[Q] Clara Tauson (DEN #96) 6-4 7-6(0) First Round 7-6(1) 6-1 6-1 [7] Kristina Mladenovic (FRA #55) Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR #97) 5-7 6-3 7-6(2) Second Round 6-4 6-4 Katerina Siniakova (CZE #69) [2] Veronika Kudermetova (RUS #36) 1-6 6-1 6-2 Quarterfinals 6-2 7-5 [1] Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS #34) [4] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS #39) 1-6 6-0 6-2 Semifinals 5-7 6-2 [WC] Vera Zvonareva (RUS #145) Total time on court: 8h 11m Total time on court: 7h 28m

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 1

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

[WC] MARGARITA GASPARYAN (RUS #126) VS. [8] DARIA KASATKINA (RUS #61)

Head-to-head: First meeting

GASPARYAN KASATKINA Career Prize Money $1,814,201 Career Prize Money $6,088,267 Plays Right-handed Plays Right-handed Date of Birth (Age) Sept. 1, 1994 (26) Date of Birth (Age) May 7, 1997 (23) Singles Titles 2 Singles Titles 3 Tournament W-L (MD) 5-3 Tournament W-L (MD) 11-5 YTD / Career W-L (MD) 5-3 / 50-54 YTD / Career W-L 14-4 / 148-110 3-Set W-L (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 18-13 3-Set (YTD / Career) 7-1 / 57-37 Tie-Break W-L (YTD / Career) 1-1 / 12-9 Tie-Break (YTD / Career) 2-1 / 26-23 Hard Court W-L (YTD / Career) 5-3 / 42-34 Hard Court (YTD / Career) 14-4 /100-76 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-0 / 2-9 Top 10 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 12-23 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 0-1 / 4-19 Top 20 W-L (YTD / Career) 1-2 / 26-45 Coach Betau Siarhei Coach Carlos Martínez

GASPARYAN:

• Making third main draw appearance at St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy (fourth overall), where she is through to the final for the first time • On other outings here, made 2r during debut in 2016 (l. Ivanovic) before falling 1r in 2019 (as qualifier, l. Azarenka). Fell during qualifying in 2020 • Overall this is her third Tour level singles final, and is undefeated in title matches, winning 2015 Baku and Tashkent 2018 • The St. Petersburg final is the biggest of her career (as a WTA 500 event), with her previous finals coming at WTA 250 level (formerly WTA Internationals) • She and Kasatkina are the first Russians to reach the final at St. Petersburg – prior to this week, no Russian had gone beyond the SF stage (most recently Zvonareva in 2019) • First player with a single-handed to reach a WTA 500 final since Suarez Navarro at 2018 New Haven; Gasparyan is second one-handed backhand player to reach a final this season, after Golubic at Lyon (l. Tauson) • This is the first all-country final since 2020 Ostrava, with Belarussians Azarenka and Sabalenka contesting the title match • This is the first all-Russian final since 2019 Tashkent, when Gaspraryan herself defeated Potapova • This the first all-Russian final at WTA 500 level or above since 2017 Indian Wells (Vesnina d. Kuznetsova) • First WC to reach the final here; bidding to be first WC to win a title since Watson at 2020 Acapulco • Second Russian to a reach a final in 2021, after her opponent today Kasatkina triumphed at the Phillip Island trophy (d. Bouzkova in F) • Began 2021 St. Petersburg campaign by striking 37 winners to upset No.7 seed and 2017 St. Petersburg champion Mladenovic in 1r

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 2

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Defeated Siniakova to register back-to-back main draw wins and enter the final eight for the first time since 2019 Luxemburg • Ousted top seed and No.34 Alexandrova in QF to book first SF since 2019 Istanbul; win was first career victory over a No.1 seed (now 1-3 record) and best-by-ranking since stunning No.7 Svitolina during 1r at 2019 Birmingham • Defeated Zvonareva in SF yesterday, which was 50th career main draw victory • Including wins over Alexandrova and Zvonareva, now owns 7-4 record against fellow Russian players; faces Kasatkina today • Coming off 2r run at Lyon (as qualifier, l. Mladenovic) • During Australian swing, made 1r exits at Gippsland Trophy (l. Hercog) and Australian Open (as qualifier, l. Muguruza) • Best result during disrupted 2020 was making 2r at US Open (d. Puig, l. S.Williams) • In 2019 enjoyed SF run at Istanbul (ret. vs. eventual champion Martic w/dizziness), QF at Luxembourg (ret. vs. Blinkova) and advancing to 2r at Wimbledon for the first time (l. Svitolina) • Defeated No.7 Svitolina in 1r at Birmingham for second career Top 10 win (also defeated No.10 Bertens at 2018 Linz) • At St Petersburg in 2019 captured doubles title w/Makarova. Also R-Up in doubles w/Niculescu at the Bronx (l. Jurak/Martínez Sánchez) • Started the 2018 season unranked and re-entered the Top 100 at No.92 on November 12, 2018 • Scored first Top 10 win of her career over No.10 Bertens at 2018 Linz • Owns a perfect 2-0 record in WTA singles finals. At No.299, became the lowest-ranked player to win a WTA title in 2018 at Tashkent – and second-lowest ranked WTA champion of all time after Angelique Widjaja at 2001 Bali (ranked No.579) • Sidelined for half of 2016 and most of 2017 due to knee surgeries, made comeback at 2017 Kremlin Cup (fell in qualifying) • Achieved best major result by reaching R16 at 2016 Australian Open (l. eventual R-Up S.Williams); was her debut appearance at the tournament – run included career first Top 20 win, over No.19 Errani in 1r • Reached career-high rankings during the 2016 season – No.41 in singles (week of February 15, 2016) and No.25 in doubles (week of May 6, 2016) • Doubles semifinalist at 2016 Roland Garros (w/Kuznetsova, l. eventual champions Garcia/Mladenovic) • Ended 2015 season ranked No.62, her best year-end finish. Season highlighted by winning first WTA singles title at Baku (unseeded, d. Tig in F) and first two doubles titles (Baku and Tashkent, both w/Panova) • Nominated for WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2015 (awarded to Gavrilova) • Owns four WTA doubles titles: 2015 Baku (w/Panova), 2015 Tashkent (w/Panova), 2016 Prague (w/Sestini Hlavackova) and 2019 St Petersburg (w/Makarova) • Made Fed Cup debut for Russia in 2013, playing doubles – Italy won the tie, 4-0. Also a member of squad in 2016 and 2019 • On ITF Circuit, owns nine singles titles and eight doubles titles

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 3

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• First played WTA qualifying at 2010 Moscow and made main draw debut at same event (Kremlin Cup) in 2012 • Member of victorious Junior Fed Cup in 2010 for Russia, alongside Gavrilova

KASATKINA:

• Making sixth appearance at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, and is through to the final for first time • Has appeared in all five previous editions of the event, with previous best result coming with two SF appearances in 2016 (l. Bencic) and 2018 (l. Mladenovic). Also made the QF stage in 2019 (l. Zvonareva) • In 2017, lost 2r (l. Vikhlyantseva) and fell 1r in 2020 (l. Alexandrova) • Overall owns an impressive an 11-5 record here • This is the second final she’s reached in 2021, winning the Phillip Island Trophy in February (d. Bouzkova in F). Should she win, would be the first time she’s won multiple titles in one season (either singles or doubles) • Has reached multiple finals in one season twice before in career, in 2017 (won Charleston, lost Moscow) and 2018 (won Moscow, lost Indian Wells and Dubai) • Overall, she owns a 3-3 record in WTA singles finals • In 1r this week, defeated Tauson to end the Dane’s 13-match win streak (including qualifying matches) • Ousted Sasnovich in 2r in their sixth career meeting coming out victorious in a tight 3s battle in which the Russian claimed it in third set tie break • Took out No.2 seed Kudermetova in QF to reach first SF at a WTA500 event or higher since title run at 2018 Moscow • Ousted fellow Russian Kuznetsova in SF, and including win vs. Kudermetova in QF, improves to 13-7 vs. fellow Russians. Win was also 100th main draw victory on hard court • Eight of her 14 wins this season have come over higher ranked players including four during title run at the Phillip Island Trophy and two this week at St. Petersburg (over No.36 Kudermetova and No.39 Kuznetsova) • Faces Gasparyan today in her seventh WTA singles final – will now have faced a different opponent from a different country in each of her finals – Latvia (Ostapenko, 2017 Charleston), Germany (Goerges, 2017 Moscow), Ukraine (Svitolina, 2018 Dubai), Japan (Osaka, 2018 Indian Wells), Tunisia (Jabeur, 2018 Moscow), Czech (Bouzkova, 2021 Phillip Island) and now Russia (Gasparyan, 2021 St. Petersburg) • Coming off 1r exit to Cornet in Dubai • Won first title for over two years at Phillip Island Trophy during Australian swing, defeating Bouzkova in the final • Was first final since winning the 2018 Moscow title (d. Jabeur in F), which helped propel her into the WTA Top 10 for the first time in her career on October 22, 2018 • Is now 3-3 in Tour-level finals, also lifting the trophies at 2017 Charleston (d. Ostapenko in F) and 2018 Moscow (d. Jabeur in F). R-Up at 2017 Moscow (l. Goerges in F), 2018 Dubai (l. Svitolina in F) and 2018 Indian Wells (l. Osaka in F) • Posted 3r at Gippsland Trophy (l. eventual R-Up Kanepi) and 2r exit at Australian Open (l. Sabalenka) Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 4

ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY – MATCH NOTES ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA | MARCH 14-21, 2021 | USD $565,530 WTA 500

• Began 2021 season with 3r showing at Abu Dhabi (l. Rybakina) • Highlight of truncated 2020 season was SF showing at Lyon (l. Friedsam) – her first run to the last four at a WTA event since lifting title at 2018 Moscow [Kremlin Cup] • Won consecutive matches only twice in difficult 2019 campaign, with best result a QF run at Premier Mandatory China Open (l. Wozniacki) • Ended 2018 season by lifting her second WTA singles title at Moscow [Kremlin Cup]. Recovered from a set and 6-2 4-1 down to defeat Jabeur in final; broke into Top 10 following the tournament, on October 22, 2018 • Knocked out No.2 seed Wozniacki en route to her first Grand Slam QF, at 2018 Roland Garros • Reached biggest final of career at 2018 Indian Wells (l. Osaka), having upset No.2 Wozniacki, No.10 Kerber and No.8 V.Williams along the way • Made Top 20 debut on February 26, 2018, following R-Up finish at Dubai (d. No.3 Muguruza, l. Svitolina) • Upset No.1 Wozniacki during SF run at 2018 St. Petersburg; having also beaten Kerber at 2017 Sydney, is one of six players in WTA history to have multiple wins over World No.1s before their 21st birthday, also V.Williams (9), S. Williams (8), Sharapova (4) Kenin (2) and Kuznetsova (2) • Captured maiden WTA singles title in debut final at 2017 Charleston, defeating fellow teenager Ostapenko in F – the first all-teenage final on tour since 2009 Linz (Wickmayer d. Kvitova) • Ended 2016 as the highest-ranked teenager on tour, at No.27, after reaching a second career WTA SF, at St. Petersburg and made QF stage at Indian Wells, Charleston, Montréal, Rio Olympics and Moscow • Made Top 50 debut on February 15, 2016, following St. Petersburg run • Upset No.7 V.Williams in opening match of 2016 season at Auckland to register the first Top 10 win of her career • Made Billie Jean King Cup debut in World Group quarter-final defeat to Netherlands in 2016. Has also represented Russia in the competition in 2017 and 2019 and at 2016 Olympics • Reached first WTA SF at 2015 Moscow (as qualifier, l. Pavlyuchenkova, having recorded first Top 20 win over No.14 Suárez Navarro in QF); following the tournament made Top 100 debut at No.73 (October 26, 2015) • Reached 3r at 2015 US Open (as LL, l. Mladenovic) on Grand Slam debut (main draw and qualifying). Earlier in summer of 2015, won back-to-back matches for first time at a WTA tournament during QF run at Bad Gastein (as qualifier, l. Errani) • Also in 2015, won maiden WTA doubles title at 2015 Moscow (w/Vesnina), lifted five singles titles on ITF Circuit and was nominated for WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2015 • Fell 1r on WTA main draw debut at 2014 Moscow (as WC, l. Riske) • Made WTA qualifying debut at 2013 Moscow

Follow WTA on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WTA Facebook: www.facebook.com/WTA YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/WTA 5