Lina Krasnoroutskaya

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Lina Krasnoroutskaya (Russian: Лина Красноруцкая; born April 29, 1984 in Obninsk, Russia) is a former Junior World Number 1 (1999) tennis star. In addition to gaining the coveted top spot, Lina won the US Open Junior title. She has however had a career blighted by injury to date.

After a hugely successful year in 2001, when she reached the quarter finals at Roland Garros (seventh youngest player ever to do so) and the Wimbledon last 16, as the world number 34 she was badly injured at the 2002 Australian Open. She was not effectively back until February 2003 when she climbed back up the rankings (reached 25) after wins over players of the calibre of Monica Seles, Elena Bovina, Nadia Petrova and then world number 1 Kim Clijsters.

However a shoulder injury at the end of 2003, then a liver condition in 2004, followed by stomach problems at the start of 2005 meant that she had considered (March 2005) whether to continue on the pro tour. In June 2005 she announced she would be returning, but that the return would be delayed until after the birth of her first baby in November 2005. She hopes to return either by the end of 2006 or for the start of the 2007 season.

Despite her injuries, she has earned almost $1 million in prize money, has represented her country at both junior and senior level, reached a WTA Tier I final in Canada (2003), a semi-final appearance at Wimbledon in the doubles with Elena Dementieva (having beaten the Williams sisters on a packed centre court in the 3rd round) and R/U at the US Open in 2003 in the mixed with Daniel Nestor (having had 3 match points!)

She is presently a commentator on Russian TV, for NTV.