Astra Sharma (born 11 September 1995) is an Australian professional tennis player. She has career-high WTA rankings of 84 in singles and world No. 91 in doubles. Sharma has won one singles title and three doubles titles on the WTA Tour. She has also won one singles title on the WTA Challenger Tour as well as eight titles in singles and seven in doubles on the ITF Circuit.
_(52191610935).jpg) Sharma at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships | |
| Country (sports) |  Australia |
|---|---|
| Residence | Perth, Western Australia |
| Born | 11 September 1995 Singapore[1] |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Plays | Right (two-handed backhand) |
| Coach | David Taylor |
| Prize money | US$ 1,727,122 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 216–144 (60.0%) |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Highest ranking | No. 84 (21 February 2022) |
| Current ranking | No. 135 (18 March 2024) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2019) |
| French Open | 2R (2020, 2021) |
| Wimbledon | 1R (2019, 2021, 2022) |
| US Open | 1R (2019, 2020, 2021) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 110–88 (55.6%) |
| Career titles | 3 |
| Highest ranking | No. 91 (21 February 2022) |
| Current ranking | No. 191 (1 April 2024) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024) |
| French Open | 1R (2019, 2020, 2021) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2019) |
| US Open | 1R (2021) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | F (2019) |
| Last updated on: 3 April 2024. | |
In December 2017, she won the Australian Open Wildcard Playoff alongside Belinda Woolcock, their main-draw entry into the 2018 Australian Open.
At the 2019 Australian Open, she and fellow Australian John-Patrick Smith reached the final of the mixed-doubles competition after receiving a wildcard to enter the main draw.
Early life edit
Sharma's father, Devdutt Sharma, is a Singaporean Indian with roots from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Northern India.[2] He was a high jumper.[3] He attended Raffles Institution and National University of Singapore.[3] He worked as an acoustic engineer.[3] Astra's mother, Susan Tan, is a Singaporean Chinese. She was a sprinter from CHIJ Saint Theresa's Convent.[3] Astra, named after the Astras wielded by the Hindu gods, has a younger brother Ashwin who also went into a tennis career.[2]
Astra was born and raised in Singapore, before her parents emigrated to Perth, Western Australia in 2005, when she was ten years old.[4] She attended Applecross Senior High School.[5] As a junior, she did some training at Bullcreek Tennis Club, near Willeton.
Career edit
2011–2014: Career beginnings and first title edit
Sharma made her ITF Circuit debut in October 2011, after qualifying in Kargoorlie. In 2012, Sharma played just four tournaments, without a win. In March 2013, she reached the quarterfinals in doubles at an ITF event in Sydney. In 2014, she competed in qualifying in three tournaments across the U.S., making the main draw in just one, where she lost in the first round.
In 2015, Sharma played just three tournaments on the ITF Circuit, reaching the quarterfinal or better in all three. She won her first title in July 2015 at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Sharma ended the season with a singles rank of 787. She also received a scholarship to Vanderbilt University, graduating in 2018, majoring in medicine, Health and Society, along the way helping the Commodores win their first NCAA team tournament in 2015, with various honors such as a selection to the 2014 SEC All Freshman team and being the 2017 SEC Player of the Year.[6] Originally intent on becoming an orthopedic surgeon, she decided not to continue in medical school as her professional tennis career took off.[7] Still in 2022, she used a partnership between the WTA and the University of Florida to earn a Master's degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology.[8]
2016–2018: ITF Circuit edit
In 2016, Sharma competed on the European ITF Circuit. She experienced little singles success but partnering Frances Altick, won two doubles titles in July.
She commenced the next season in June, qualifying and making the main draw in Sumter, USA. Across July and August 2017, Sharma won her second and third ITF titles in Târgu Jiu and Graz. She ended the year with a singles rank of 440.
In 2018, Sharma competed mostly on ITF events across North America. In March, she reached the final of the ITF Orlando. In June and July, she won her fourth and fifth singles titles in Baton Rouge and Gatineau, Canada. In October, she returned to Australia and reached the quarterfinals in three consecrative tournaments. Sharma ended 2018 with a singles rank of 225.
2019: First WTA Tour final edit
In January 2019, Sharma qualified for the Australian Open and won her first-round match over fellow Australian Priscilla Hon, before losing in the second round.[9] In mixed doubles, she and John-Patrick Smith made it through to the final, after they defeated the second seed team of Bruno Soares and Nicole Melichar in the semifinals, but lost to the third seeds, Barbora Krejčíková and Rajeev Ram.[10] In March, Sharma won the $25k singles and doubles at Irapuato, Mexico. In April, Sharma reached her first WTA Tour final, losing to Amanda Anisimova at the Copa Colsanitas. In May, she qualified for and reached the second round of the Strasbourg International, and later lost in the first round at the French Open. Sharma competed in qualifying events across the European grass-court season and lost in the first round of Wimbledon. In August, she travelled to North America and qualified for Cincinnati. At the US Open, Sharma lost in the first round. She ended the year with a singles rank of 108, and a doubles rank of 136.
2020: First French Open match win edit
Sharma started 2020, losing in the singles and doubles first rounds of both Hobart International and Australian Open. For the mixed doubles, she partnered again with John-Patrick Smith, and they reached the semifinals in Melbourne. In March, Sharma reached the second round of the Monterrey Open and the quarterfinal of the ITF event in Irapuato, Mexico, before the tour was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]
At the US Open, Sharma lost in the first round to 19th seed Dayana Yastremska in a third set tie-breaker.
She qualified for the French Open and reached the second round of this year's much later held event.
2021: First WTA title, career-high ranking edit
Sharma started 2021, losing in the first round of the Gippsland Trophy. She defeated top seed Ons Jabeur to win the 2021 MUSC Health Women's Open, her first WTA title.
In May, Sharma made the second round of the French Open for a second consecutive year. In June, she entered Wimbledon as a lucky loser and was defeated by Kristýna Plíšková in the first round.
Sharma lost in the first round of qualifying for both Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open. At the US Open, she qualified before losing to eighth seed Barbora Krejčíková in the first round. In October, she reached the second round at the Indian Wells Open.
Sharma ended 2021 with a singles ranking of 98, a career year-end high, and a doubles ranking of world No. 107.
2022–2024: Back to top 150 edit
In 2022, she reached the second round at Indian Wells for the second consecutive year. Later in the season, her singles ranking dropped to No. 200, on 25 July 2022.
In 2024, she entered the 2024 Credit One Charleston Open as a lucky loser and defeated compatriot Arina Rodionova and 16th seed Lesia Tsurenko to reach the round of 16.
Performance timelines edit
| 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, Billie Jean King Cup, United Cup, Hopman Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records.[12]
Singles edit
Current through the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open.
| Tournament | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | SR | W–L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||
| Australian Open | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | Q2 | Q2 | 0 / 4 | 1–4 | 20% |
| French Open | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | 0 / 4 | 2–4 | 33% | |
| Wimbledon | 1R | NH | 1R | 1R | A | 0 / 3 | 0–3 | 0% | |
| US Open | 1R | 1R | 1R | Q3 | Q1 | 0 / 3 | 0–3 | 0% | |
| Win–loss | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 / 14 | 3–14 | 18% |
| WTA 1000 | |||||||||
| Dubai / Qatar Open[a] | A | A | A | Q1 | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Indian Wells Open | A | NH | 2R | 2R | A | A | 0 / 2 | 2–2 | 50% |
| Miami Open | A | NH | Q1 | 1R | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% |
| Madrid Open | A | NH | A | A | A | Q2 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Italian Open | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |
| Canadian Open | Q1 | NH | Q1 | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |
| Cincinnati Open | 1R | Q2 | Q1 | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | |
| Wuhan Open | A | NH | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |||
| China Open | Q1 | NH | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |||
| Guadalajara Open | NH | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – | |||
| Career statistics | |||||||||
| Tournaments | 10 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | Career total: 39 | ||
| Titles | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Career total: 1 | ||
| Finals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Career total: 2 | ||
| Overall win–loss | 7–10 | 2–5 | 12–11 | 3–11 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1 / 39 | 24–39 | 38% |
| Year-end ranking | 108 | 128 | 96 | 231 | 120 | $1,599,235 | |||
Doubles edit
Current through the 2024 Australian Open.
| Tournament | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | SR | W–L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Slam tournaments | ||||||||||
| Australian Open | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | 1R | 1R | 0 / 6 | 0–6 | 0% |
| French Open | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | 0 / 3 | 0–3 | 0% | |
| Wimbledon | A | 2R | NH | A | 1R | A | 0 / 2 | 1–2 | 33% | |
| US Open | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0% | |
| Win–loss | 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0 / 12 | 1–12 | 8% |
| Career statistics | ||||||||||
| Tournaments | 1 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 1 | Career total: 36 | ||
| Titles | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Career total: 3 | ||
| Finals | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Career total: 4 | ||
| Overall win–loss | 0–1 | 4–5 | 2–5 | 11–12 | 8–8 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3 / 36 | 25–33 | 44% |
| Year-end ranking | 327 | 136 | 109 | 107 | 117 | 204 | ||||
Mixed doubles edit
| Tournament | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | SR | W–L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | F | SF | 1R | 1R | A | 0 / 4 | 7–4 | 64% |
| French Open | A | NH | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Wimbledon | A | NH | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| US Open | A | NH | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | – |
| Win–loss | 4–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0 / 4 | 7–4 | 64% |
Grand Slam tournament finals edit
Mixed doubles: 1 (runner-up) edit
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 2019 | Australian Open | Hard | John-Patrick Smith |
 Barbora Krejčíková  Rajeev Ram |
6–7(3–7), 1–6 |
WTA Tour finals edit
Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up) edit
|
|
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Apr 2019 | Copa Colsanitas, Colombia | International | Clay | Amanda Anisimova
|
6–4, 4–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 1–1 | Apr 2021 | Charleston Open, United States | WTA 250 | Clay |  Ons Jabeur
|
2–6, 7–5, 6–1 |
Doubles: 4 (3 titles, 1 runner-up) edit
|
|
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Apr 2019 | Copa Colsanitas, Colombia | International | Clay | Zoe Hives
|
Hayley Carter Ena Shibahara
|
6–1, 6–2 |
| Win | 2–0 | Mar 2021 | Abierto Zapopan, |
WTA 250 | Hard | Ellen Perez
|
Desirae Krawczyk  Giuliana Olmos
|
6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 2–1 | Jul 2021 | Hamburg European Open, Germany | WTA 250 | Clay |  Rosalie van der Hoek
|
 Jasmine Paolini  Jil Teichmann
|
0–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 3–1 | Apr 2022 | Copa Colsanitas, Colombia (2) | WTA 250 | Clay |  Aldila Sutjiadi
|
Emina Bektas  Tara Moore
|
4–6, 6–4, [11–9] |
WTA Challenger finals edit
Singles: 1 (title) edit
| Result | W-L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Sep 2023 | Open Romania Ladies, Romania | Clay | Sara Errani
|
0–6, 7–5, 6–2 |
Doubles: 1 (runner-up) edit
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Jan 2024 | Canberra International, Australia | Hard | Kaylah McPhee
|
 Veronika Erjavec  Darja Semeņistaja
|
2–6, 4–6 |
ITF Circuit finals edit
Singles: 13 (8 titles, 5 runner–ups) edit
|
|
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Jul 2015 | ITF Sharm El Sheikh, |
10,000 | Hard |  Ola Abou Zekry
|
6–3, 2–6, 6–0 |
| Win | 2–0 | Jul 2017 | ITF Târgu Jiu, |
15,000 | Clay | Belinda Woolcock
|
1–6, 6–2, 7–5 |
| Win | 3–0 | Aug 2017 | ITF Graz, |
15,000 | Clay | Vendula Žovincová
|
2–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| Loss | 3–1 | Oct 2017 | ITF Toowoomba, |
25,000 | Hard |  Eri Hozumi
|
5–7, 2–6 |
| Loss | 3–2 | Mar 2018 | ITF Orlando, |
15,000 | Clay | Sophie Chang
|
3–6, 6–7(6–8) |
| Win | 4–2 | Jun 2018 | ITF Baton Rouge, |
25,000 | Hard | Maria Mateas
|
6–2, 6–1 |
| Win | 5–2 | Jul 2018 | Challenger de Gatineau, |
25,000 | Hard | Victoria Rodríguez
|
3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | 6–2 | Sep 2018 | ITF Cairns, |
25,000 | Hard | Destanee Aiava
|
0–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–1 |
| Win | 7–2 | Mar 2019 | ITF Irapuato, |
25,000 | Hard |  Verónica Cepede Royg
|
6–7(3–7), 6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 7–3 | Jun 2023 | ITF Ystad, Sweden | 40,000 | Clay |  İpek Öz
|
1–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 7–4 | Jul 2023 | Open de Montpellier, France | 60,000 | Clay |  Clara Burel
|
3–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 8–4 | Oct 2023 | Playford International, Australia | 60,000 | Hard |  Joanna Garland
|
7–6(6), 6–0 |
| Loss | 8–5 | Oct 2023 | Sydney Open, Australia | 60,000 | Hard | Destanee Aiava
|
3–6, 4–6 |
Doubles: 12 (7 titles, 5 runner–ups) edit
|
|
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Jul 2016 | ITF Amstelveen, |
10,000 | Clay | Frances Altick
|
Erika Vogelsang Mandy Wagemaker
|
6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 2–0 | Jul 2016 | ITF Knokke, |
10,000 | Clay | Frances Altick
|
 Déborah Kerfs Kelly Versteeg
|
6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 2–1 | Oct 2017 | ITF Cairns, |
25,000 | Hard | Belinda Woolcock
|
Naiktha Bains  Abigail Tere-Apisah
|
6–4, 2–6, [6–10] |
| Win | 3–1 | Jun 2018 | ITF Sumter, |
25,000 | Hard |  Luisa Stefani
|
Julia Elbaba  Xu Shilin
|
2–6, 6–3, [10–5] |
| Loss | 3–2 | Jun 2018 | ITF Baton Rouge, |
25,000 | Hard |  Gabriela Talabă
|
Hayley Carter Ena Shibahara
|
3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 4–2 | Mar 2019 | ITF Irapuato, |
25,000 | Hard |  Paige Hourigan
|
Verónica Cepede Royg Renata Voráčová
|
6–1, 4–6, [12–10] |
| Loss | 4–3 | Apr 2019 | Dothan Pro Classic, |
80,000 | Clay | Destanee Aiava
|
Usue Maitane Arconada Caroline Dolehide
|
6–7(5), 4–6 |
| Loss | 4–4 | Nov 2020 | ITF Charleston Pro, |
100,000 | Clay | Mayar Sherif
|
 Magdalena Fręch Katarzyna Kawa
|
6–4, 4–6, [2–10] |
| Win | 5–4 | May 2023 | ITF Naples, United States | 60,000 | Clay | Christina Rosca
|
Sophie Chang Angela Kulikov
|
6–1, 7–6(15-13) |
| Win | 6–4 | Jun 2023 | ITF Ystad, Sweden | 40,000 | Clay |  Valeriya Strakhova
|
Jenny Dürst  Fanny Östlund
|
4–6, 7–6(7–3), [11–9] |
| Win | 7–4 | Sep 2023 | ITF Kuršumlijska Banja, Serbia | 40,000 | Clay | Valeriya Strakhova
|
 Anastasia Gasanova Ekaterina Makarova
|
6–1, 6–4 |
| Loss | 7–5 | Oct 2023 | Playford International, Australia | 60,000 | Hard | Kaylah McPhee
|
Talia Gibson Priscilla Hon
|
1–6, 2-6 |
Notes edit
- ^ The first Premier 5 event of the year has switched back and forth between the Dubai Tennis Championships and the Qatar Ladies Open since 2009. Dubai was classified as a Premier 5 event from 2009 to 2011 before being succeeded by Doha for the 2012–2014 period. In 2015, Dubai regained its Premier 5 status while Doha was demoted to Premier status. The Premier 5 tournaments were reclassified as WTA 1000 tournaments in 2021.
- ^ The WTA International tournaments were reclassified as WTA 250 tournaments in 2021.
References edit
- ^ Tennis Australia. "Astra Sharma: "I'm super thrilled at my progress"".
- ^ a b Reddy, Vishnu (29 June 2019). "I chose the name 'Astra' which means the weapon of God and she has indeed lived up to that name!' – Mr Devdutt Sharma shares a brief perspective as a parent on the journey of Astra Sharma". Indian Tennis Daily.
- ^ a b c d Brijnath, Rohit (26 January 2019). "A Grand Slam finalist with Singapore links". The Straits Times.
- ^ "Australian Open: Singapore-born Astra Sharma through to mixed doubles final". The Straits Times. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ "Specialist Tennis Program". Applecross Senior High School. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ Astra Sharma: From Currey Tennis Center to the Australian Open Finals
- ^ Medical school? Vanderbilt star Astra Sharma is going pro in tennis after postseason
- ^ GAME, SET, MATCH: WTA AND UF'S WINNING PARTNERSHIP
- ^ "SHARMA, HIVES, BIRRELL OPEN WITH AO VICTORIES". Tennis Australia. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- ^ "'Who's got my beers?': Australian doubles delight". The Age. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "ITF ANNOUNCES POSTPONEMENT OF ALL ITF EVENTS UNTIL 20 APRIL". www.itftennis.com.
- ^ "Astra Sharma [AUS] | Australian Open". ausopen.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020.
