Sara Errani, Italian tennis player

Sara Errani, born on April 29, 1987, and pronounced [ˈsaːra erˈraːni] in her native Italian, is a highly distinguished professional tennis player from Italy. Throughout her impressive career, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, achieving significant milestones in both singles and doubles play. She is notably a former top-five player in singles and a former world No. 1 in doubles, a rare feat that underscores her versatility and talent across different formats of the game.

A Champion's Legacy: Titles and Rankings

Errani’s illustrious career is marked by an extraordinary collection of titles. She boasts 9 WTA singles titles and an impressive 27 doubles titles, making her the Italian tennis player with the highest number of WTA titles ever. Among these doubles victories are 5 coveted Grand Slam championships and 5 Premier Mandatory/Premier doubles titles, highlighting her dominance on the biggest stages of professional tennis.

Her consistent performance saw her break into the elite Top 10 singles ranking on June 11, 2012, where she remained for a remarkable 94 consecutive weeks. She achieved her career-high singles ranking of world No. 5 on May 20, 2013, solidifying her status among the sport's global elite. Errani's prowess in doubles was equally, if not more, pronounced; she ascended to the world No. 1 doubles ranking for the first time on September 10, 2012. Her reign at the top was sustained, as she finished as the year-end No. 1 doubles player in both 2013 and 2014, holding the premier ranking for a combined total of 87 weeks.

The Breakthrough Year: 2012 and Grand Slam Glory

The year 2012 truly marked a pivotal "breakthrough season" for Sara Errani. Her journey began impressively at the Australian Open, where she not only reached the quarterfinals in singles – her first time advancing past the third round in a Grand Slam singles draw – but also made it to the doubles final. This early success set the stage for an extraordinary year.

Widely recognized as a clay-court specialist due to her tactical game and movement particularly suited to the slower clay surface, Errani arrived at the 2012 French Open having already secured three clay-court titles that season. What followed was a memorable run at Roland Garros, where she reached the finals in both the singles and doubles tournaments. Her appearance in the singles final was particularly historic, making her only the second Italian woman ever to reach a Grand Slam singles final. Alongside her formidable partner, Roberta Vinci, she clinched the doubles title, marking a significant milestone in their partnership.

The partnership with Roberta Vinci proved to be one of the most successful in modern tennis history. Following their French Open triumph, they continued their winning streak by securing the doubles title at the 2012 US Open. Their dominance extended into subsequent seasons, as they claimed the Australian Open doubles titles in both 2013 and 2014. A crowning achievement for the duo came with their victory at the 2014 Wimbledon Women's Doubles title. This monumental win meant that Errani and Vinci became only the fifth pair in the entire history of tennis to complete a Career Grand Slam in doubles, having won all four major championships at least once.

Consistent Grand Slam Presence and Later Challenges

Beyond her iconic 2012 season, Errani continued to be a consistent force in Grand Slam events. Her singles performance at the 2012 US Open, where she reached the semifinals, means that Wimbledon remains the sole Grand Slam tournament where she has yet to reach the singles quarterfinals, a testament to her overall strong presence across the majors. She also made it to the semifinals at the 2013 French Open, and the quarterfinals at the 2014 French Open, 2014 US Open, and 2015 French Open. Her consistent top-tier performance also earned her qualifications to the prestigious WTA Finals twice, in 2012 and 2013, pitting her against the world's best players.

However, her career faced a significant setback in 2017 when she was banned from playing for 10 months due to a failed drug test. This period marked a challenging chapter in her otherwise stellar professional journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is Sara Errani?
Sara Errani is an Italian professional tennis player, born on April 29, 1987. She is known for her achievements as a former top-five singles player and a former world No. 1 in doubles, holding the record for the most WTA titles won by an Italian player.
What are Sara Errani's most significant career achievements?
Errani has won 9 WTA singles titles and 27 WTA doubles titles. Her major achievements include 5 Grand Slam doubles championships (with Roberta Vinci), achieving a Career Grand Slam in doubles, reaching the French Open singles final in 2012, and holding the world No. 1 doubles ranking for a combined 87 weeks.
What is a "Career Grand Slam" in doubles?
A Career Grand Slam in doubles is achieved when a player or a doubles team wins all four major tennis tournaments – the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open – at least once throughout their career. Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci achieved this historic feat in 2014.
Why is Sara Errani considered a "clay-court specialist"?
Errani is known as a clay-court specialist because her tactical game style, which often involves strategic rallying and excellent defensive skills, is particularly well-suited to the slower, higher-bouncing nature of clay courts. This is reflected in her numerous clay-court titles and her run to the French Open singles final in 2012.
What happened to Sara Errani in 2017?
In 2017, Sara Errani received a 10-month ban from professional tennis due to a failed drug test. This event led to a temporary halt in her competitive career.