After shocking world No. 1 Simona Halep, 6-2, 6-4, in the US Open first round on Monday, Kaia Kanepi, currently ranked No. 44, is looking to play spoiler again on Sunday against 23-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams. But before the two take the court, here are five fast facts about the 33-year-old journeywoman:
She loves the bright lights of New York. Kanepi’s favorite surface may be clay, but the Estonian’s best Grand Slam results have come on the blue hard courts in Flushing Meadows, including two quarterfinals, a Round of 16 finish and three third-round exits.
“I think the courts suit my game, and I love being in New York. I like the city. I like the atmosphere in tournaments and in the city, also. And I like the weather: humid and hot.”
She has a reputation for being a giant-slayer at Grand Slams. Halep was not her first big upset in the majors. Although Serena Williams has never dropped a set to Kanepi in four matches, that might not be as comforting as one would expect. Kanepi is known for sowing chaos for seeds in Slams.
Notable wins include her defeat of No. 6 seed Sam Stosur in the first round at Wimbledon in 2010, No. 9 seed Caroline Wozniacki in the third round at Roland-Garros in 2012, and No. 7 seed Jelena Jankovic in the first round at Wimbledon in 2014, to name a few.
She is the queen of Estonian “firsts.” The 33-year-old grew up idolizing Swiss legend Martina Hingis. However, Kanepi has emerged as a trailblazer in her own right. Kanepi became the first player from Estonia to be ranked inside the Top 20, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 15, in 2012.
Her records do not stop there. She was the first player from the nation of 1.3 million to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal (2008, at Roland-Garros), to reach a final (2006, at Hasselt), to win a WTA title (2010, at Palermo) and to beat a world No. 1 (2011, against Wozniacki).
She enjoys adventure. While out with an injury, Kanepi tried her hand at ice driving and found a new love. In Finland, she took a course to learn how to drive on the frozen-over roads. The high-speed adrenaline rush clearly got under her skin; Kanepi had an opportunity to do it again this past winter, in her home country.
She is just like us off the court. Kanepi first began playing tennis with her parents and two older sisters, Karin and Kadri. One of her favorite activities? Caring for her beloved Manchester Terrier, Bossu.
