# Kristína Kučová

Kristína Kučová (Slovak pronunciation:; born 23 May 1990) is a Slovak tennis player. On 12 September 2016, she reached her best singles ranking of world No. 71. On 5 October 2009, she peaked at No. 168 in the WTA doubles rankings. She has won one singles title on the WTA Challenger Tour with eleven singles titles and five doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit.
Kučová was an accomplished junior player, having won the girls' singles title at the 2007 US Open and reaching a combined career-high junior ranking of world No. 3, on 10 September 2009.
Playing for Slovakia Fed Cup team, she has a win–loss record of 1–5.

## Personal life

Kučová's elder sister Zuzana retired from the professional tour in 2013.

## Tennis career
### Junior years

At the 2007 US Open, the unseeded Kučová took the girls' singles title, defeating the 13th seed Julia Glushko in the third round, top seed and defending champion Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarterfinals, and number two seed Urszula Radwańska in the final. Kučová also reached the 2007 Wimbledon Championships and 2007 French Open girls' doubles quarterfinals. She reached the French Open quarterfinals with her compatriot Klaudia Boczová, losing to the eventual champions and third seeds, Ksenia Milevskaya and Urszula Radwańska. With her compatriot Lenka Juríková, she reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals and lost to the eventual runners-up Misaki Doi and Kurumi Nara.

### 2014

Kučová started the year in the qualifying for Sydney where she lost to Misaki Doi, then she lost in the first round of qualifying for the Australian Open to Paula Kania in three sets. She lost in qualifying for Doha to Mirjana Lučić-Baroni in straight sets, and also in Dubai where she lost to Flavia Pennetta. She managed to qualify for Katowice and then beat Monica Niculescu 6–1, 6–1 in the first round, before losing to Alizé Cornet. She lost in qualifying for the French Open to the wildcard Irina Ramialison, 1–6, 0–6, and in qualifying for Wimbledon to Maryna Zanevska.
She reached her first WTA Tour semifinal at Bucharest by beating Anna Schmiedlová, Cristina Dinu and Danka Kovinić, before losing to Roberta Vinci 1–6, 3–6 in the semifinals. She won the $50k event in Sobota, Poland by beating Sesil Karatantcheva in the final. She won a $25k event in Fleurus, Belgium by beating Evgeniya Rodina in the final. She lost in the second round of qualifying in Linz to Anna-Lena Friedsam, and in the first round of qualifying for Limoges to Katarzyna Piter.

### 2016: Breakthrough, Canadian Open semifinalist and top 100

Kučová failed to qualify for the Australian Open. She lost in the final qualifying round to Wang Yafan, despite having a match point in the second set.
After defeating Stefanie Vögele and Hsieh Su-wei, Kučová reached the quarterfinals in Kuala Lumpur, where she lost to the second seed Elina Svitolina despite winning the first set 6–1.
She qualified for the main draw of the Canadian Open by defeating Erin Routliffe and Christina McHale. She upset Yanina Wickmayer in the first round, who had won the singles and doubles titles in Washington the week before. In the second round, she caused a bigger upset by defeating the No. 8 seed, Carla Suárez Navarro, setting up a third-round clash with the Canadian Eugenie Bouchard. Kučová won the match in three sets to reach her first WTA Premier-level quarterfinal, where she beat the 15th seed, Johanna Konta, in straight sets. She was eventually eliminated in the semifinals by the tenth seed, Madison Keys. Following the tournament, she broke into the top 100 for the first time in her career.

### 2019–23: First WTA 125 title, Maiden WTA Tour final

Kučová won her first WTA 125 title at the Sparta Prague Open, defeating Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the final.
At the 2021 Miami Open, she qualified for the main draw and proceeded to face world No. 1 and defending champion, Ashleigh Barty, in the second round, losing the match in three sets
In July 2021, she reached her first WTA 250 final, at the Poland Open, but lost to Maryna Zanevska.
At the 2021 US Open, Kučová qualified for the first time in five years, after entering the main draw as lucky loser, and won her first match at this major against Ann Li. She lost to 12th seed Simona Halep in the second round.
In January 2023, she entered the Australian Open using protected ranking, losing in the first round to qualifier Diana Shnaider in straight sets.

## Performance timelines

Key :
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | P# | DNQ | A | Z# | PO | G | S | B | NMS | NTI | P | NH |
Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Fed Cup/Billie Jean King Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records.

### Singles

Current through the 2023 Madrid Open.
| Tournament | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | SR | W–L | Win% |
| Grand Slam tournaments ||||||||||||||||||||
| Australian Open | A | A | 1R | A | Q1 | A | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | 2R | 1R | A | Q1 | Q1 | 2R | 1R | 0 / 5 | 2–5 | 29% |
| French Open | A | Q1 | Q1 | Q1 | A | A | Q1 | Q1 | Q3 | 1R | 1R | 2R | Q1 | Q2 | 1R | 1R | 0 / 5 | 1–5 | 17% |
| Wimbledon | A | 2R | Q1 | Q1 | A | A | Q1 | Q1 | Q2 | 2R | A | Q1 | NH | Q2 | 2R | A | 0 / 3 | 3–3 | 50% |
| US Open | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | Q2 | A | A | Q1 | Q1 | 1R | A | A | Q3 | A | 2R | A | A | 0 / 2 | 1–2 | 33% |
| Win–loss | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0 / 15 | 7–15 | 32% |
| WTA 1000 ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dubai / Qatar Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | Q1 | Q1 | A | A | Q2 | A | A | A | Q2 | Q1 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Indian Wells Open | A | A | Q1 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Q1 | A | NH | 2R | 2R | A | 0 / 2 | 1–2 | 33% |
| Miami Open | A | A | Q1 | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | NH | 2R | 1R | Q2 | 0 / 3 | 1–3 | 25% |
| Madrid Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | NH | A | Q1 | Q1 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Italian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Q2 | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Canadian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | SF | A | A | A | NH | A | A | | 0 / 1 | 4–1 | 80% |
| Cincinnati Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Wuhan Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | NH | NH | NH | | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| China Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | NH | NH | NH | | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Career statistics ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tournaments | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1 | Career total: 62 | Career total: 62 | Career total: 62 |
| Titles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Career total: 0 | Career total: 0 | Career total: 0 |
| Finals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Career total: 1 | Career total: 1 | Career total: 1 |
| Overall win–loss | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 4–5 | 1–4 | 10–8 | 3–10 | 2–5 | 1–5 | 0–1 | 10–8 | 4–8 | 0–1 | 0 / 62 | 38–65 | 37% |
| Year-end ranking | 217 | 105 | 234 | 205 | 287 | 154 | 143 | 147 | 80 | 243 | 265 | 169 | 149 | 109 | 185 | | $1,890,388 | $1,890,388 | $1,890,388 |

### Doubles
## WTA Tour finals
### Singles: 1 (runner-up)

* Legend
* Grand Slam
* WTA 1000
* WTA 500
* WTA 250 (0–1)
* Finals by surface
* Hard (0–0)
* Grass (0–0)
* Clay (0–1)
* Carpet (0–0)
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | Jul 2021 | Poland Open | WTA 250 | Clay | Maryna Zanevska | 4–6, 6–7$^{(3–7)}$ |

## WTA Challenger finals
### Singles: 1 (title)

| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Win | 1–0 | Sep 2020 | Prague Open, Czech Republic | Clay | Elisabetta Cocciaretto | 6–4, 6–3 |

## ITF Circuit finals

* Legend
* $100,000 tournaments
* $80,000 tournaments
* $60,000 tournaments
* $25,000 tournaments
* $10,000 tournaments

### Singles: 25 (11 titles, 14 runner–ups)

| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | Apr 2007 | ITF Hvar, Croatia | 10,000 | Clay | Karolina Jovanović | 1–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 1–1 | May 2007 | ITF Michalovce, Slovakia | 10,000 | Clay | Katarzyna Piter | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1–2 | May 2008 | ITF Galați, Romania | 10,000 | Clay | Valentina Sulpizio | 2–6, 6–7$^{(2–7)}$ |
| Loss | 1–3 | Aug 2008 | Ladies Open Hechingen, Germany | 25,000 | Clay | Maša Zec Peškirič | 6–3, 6–7$^{(1–7)}$, 3–6 |
| Loss | 1–4 | Sep 2008 | Maribor Open, Slovenia | 50,000 | Clay | Maša Zec Peškirič | 2–6, 6–7$^{(6–8)}$ |
| Loss | 1–5 | Mar 2009 | ITF La Palma, Spain | 25,000 | Hard | Anastasija Sevastova | 6–4, 1–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 1–6 | Jun 2009 | Open de Pozoblanco, Spain | 50,000 | Hard | Angelique Kerber | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1–7 | Jun 2010 | ITF Brno, Czech Republic | 25,000 | Clay | Zuzana Ondrášková | 3–6, 6–4, 2–6 |
| Loss | 1–8 | Sep 2010 | ITF Bucharest, Romania | 25,000 | Clay | Mădălina Gojnea | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 2–8 | Jun 2012 | ITF Alkmaar, Netherlands | 10,000 | Clay | Janina Toljan | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 3–8 | Jul 2012 | ITF Denain, France | 25,000 | Clay | Michaela Hončová | 6–2, 1–6, 6–2 |
| Loss | 3–9 | Jun 2013 | ITF Zlín, Czech Republic | 25,000 | Clay | Melanie Klaffner | 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 4–9 | Jul 2013 | ITF Les Contamines, France | 25,000 | Hard | Clothilde de Bernardi | 7–5, 6–7$^{(3–7)}$, 6–3 |
| Win | 5–9 | Aug 2013 | ITF Craiova, Romania | 50,000 | Clay | Alberta Brianti | 7–5, 3–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 5–10 | Sep 2013 | Sofia Cup, Bulgaria | 25,000 | Clay | Patricia Mayr-Achleitner | 2–6, 6–1, 3–6 |
| Loss | 5–11 | Oct 2013 | ITF Herzliya, Israel | 25,000 | Hard | Yuliya Beygelzimer | 3–6, 6–4, 2–5 ret. |
| Win | 6–11 | Jul 2014 | Powiat Poznański Open, Poland | 50,000 | Clay | Sesil Karatantcheva | 1–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
| Win | 7–11 | Aug 2014 | ITF Fleurus, Belgium | 25,000 | Clay | Evgeniya Rodina | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 8–11 | Feb 2015 | ITF Beinasco, Italy | 25,000 | Clay (i) | Barbora Krejčíková | 6–4, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$ |
| Win | 9–11 | Jul 2015 | Bella Cup Toruń, Poland | 25,000 | Clay | Giulia Gatto-Monticone | 4–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
| Win | 10–11 | Sep 2015 | ITF Bucha, Ukraine | 25,000 | Clay | Alexandra Cadanțu | 4–6, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 6–0 |
| Loss | 10–12 | Mar 2018 | ITF Irapuato, Mexico | 25,000 | Hard | Marie Bouzková | 4–6, 0–6 |
| Loss | 10–13 | Feb 2019 | Trnava Indoor, Slovakia | 25,000 | Hard (i) | Lucie Hradecká | 4–6, 6–3, 6–7$^{(0–7)}$ |
| Win | 11–13 | Apr 2019 | Dothan Pro Classic, United States | 80,000 | Clay | Lauren Davis | 3–6, 7–6$^{(11–9)}$, 6–2 |
| Loss | 11–14 | Nov 2021 | Dubai Tennis Challenge, UAE | 100,000+H | Hard | Daria Snigur | 3–6, 0–6 |

### Doubles: 7 (5 titles, 2 runner–ups)

| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1–0 | Mar 2007 | ITF Cairo, Egypt | 10,000 | Clay | Zuzana Kučová | Melissa Berry Michelle Gerards | 6–7$^{(3–7)}$, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | 2–0 | May 2007 | ITF Michalovce, Slovakia | 10,000 | Clay | Klaudia Boczová | Olga Brózda Justyna Jegiołka | 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 2–1 | May 2008 | ITF Jounieh Open, Lebanon | 50,000 | Clay | Stefanie Vögele | Nina Bratchikova Veronika Kapshay | 5–7, 6–3, [6–10] |
| Win | 3–1 | May 2008 | ITF Galați, Romania | 10,000 | Clay | Valentina Sulpizio | Alexandra Cadanțu Antonia Xenia Tout | 6–0, 6–2 |
| Loss | 3–2 | May 2009 | Soweto Open, South Africa | 100,000 | Hard | Anastasija Sevastova | Naomi Cavaday Lesia Tsurenko | 2–6, 6–2, [9–11] |
| Win | 4–2 | Jun 2009 | Zlín Open, Czech Republic | 50,000 | Clay | Zuzana Kučová | Nikola Fraňková Carmen Klaschka | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 5–2 | Sep 2015 | Open de Saint-Malo, France | 50,000 | Clay | Anastasija Sevastova | Maria Marfutina Natalia Vikhlyantseva | 6–7$^{(1–7)}$, 6–3, [10–5] |

## Fed Cup/Billie Jean King Cup participation
### Singles (1–3)

| Edition | Stage | Date | Location | Against | Surface | Opponent | W/L | Score |
| 2008 | WG2 PO | Apr 2008 | Bratislava (SVK) | Uzbekistan | Clay (i) | Vlada Ekshibarova | W | 6–1, 2–6, 6–4 |
| 2010 | WG2 | Apr 2010 | Bratislava (SVK) | China | Hard (i) | Han Xinyun | L | 1–6, 1–6 |
| 2014 | WG PO | Apr 2014 | Quebec City (CAN) | Canada | Hard (i) | Eugenie Bouchard | L | 6–7$^{(0–7)}$, 6–2, 1–6 |
| 2017 | WG PO | Apr 2017 | Bratislava (SVK) | Netherlands | Clay (i) | Richèl Hogenkamp | L | 5–7, 4–6 |

### Doubles (0–2)

| Edition | Stage | Date | Location | Against | Surface | Partner | Opponents | W/L | Score |
| 2010 | WG2 | Feb 2010 | Bratislava (SVK) | China | Hard (i) | Dominika Cibulková | Lu Jingjing Zhang Shuai | L | 3–2 ret. |
| 2015 | WG2 | Feb 2015 | Apeldoorn (NED) | Netherlands | Clay (i) | Kristína Schmiedlová | Richèl Hogenkamp Michaëlla Krajicek | L | 5–7, 1–6 |

## Junior Grand Slam tournament finals
### Girls' singles: 1 (title)

| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Win | 2007 | US Open | Hard | Urszula Radwańska | 6–3, 1–6, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$ |

## Head-to-head record
### Top 10 wins

| # | Player | Rank | Event | Surface | Rd | Score |
| 2016 |||||||
| 1. | Carla Suárez Navarro | No. 9 | Canadian Open | Hard | 2R | 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 |