Latent heat: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

1991-born Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is one of the biggest prospects in women's tennis. She enjoyed a brilliant junior career highlighted by Grand Slam titles at 2006 Australian Open (being just 14 years old), 2006 US Open and 2007 Australian Open, one runner-up finish at 2006 Roland Garros and four Grand Slam doubles titles. She competed with girls one or even two years older than her, such as current WTA #11 Agnieszka Radwanska, WTA #17 Alize Cornet or WTA #30 Caroline Wozniacki.


But as her junior opponents started to collect good results in the pro circuit and climb in the rankings, she didn't suceed in going a level up and even her domination of the junior circuit was over. Her career seemed stuck and everyone feared that Anastasia was going to be another brilliant junior who fails in reaching the top level.

But on 2008 she has finally moved a step forward. First in the ITF circuit, where in March she captured the titles in Moscow and Minsk. In May she moved to WTA Tour and got to 2nd round as a qualifier in Fes, where she also captured her first WTA doubles title. Then she scored her first Grand Slam win in Roland Garros, where she reached the 2nd round as a qualifier, and even took a set from Top 25 and clay specialist Flavia Pennetta. And finally she has confirmed her progression in Wimbledon where, again going through the qualy, she has reached the 3rd round defeating Top 20 Alize Cornet and former Top 15 Na Li on her way.


She started the year ranked at #286 and next week she will break into the Top 100 for the first time in her career. Today Anastasia turns 17 and we wish that she keeps on climbing and reaching higher goals. In fact we are sure she will.