Silvia Farina Elia
Encyclopedia
Silvia Farina Elia is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) is a former female tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. She reached a career high of World No. 11 on 20 May 2002. She won her first ITF
International Tennis Federation
The International Tennis Federation is the governing body of world tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations.It was established as the International Lawn Tennis Federation by 12 national associations meeting at a conference in Paris, France on 1 March 1913...
title at Caltagirone
Caltagirone
Caltagirone is a town and comune in the province of Catania, on the island of Sicily, about 70 km southwest of Catania. It is bounded by the comuni of Acate, Gela, Grammichele, Licodia Eubea, Mazzarino, Mazzarrone, Mineo, Mirabella Imbaccari, Niscemi, Piazza Armerina, San Michele di...
in 1991 and her first WTA
Women's Tennis Association
The Women's Tennis Association , founded in 1973 by Billie Jean King, is the principal organizing body of Women's Professional Tennis. It governs the WTA Tour which is the worldwide professional tennis tour for women. Its counterpart organization in the men's professional game is the Association of...
tournament at Strasbourg
Internationaux de Strasbourg
The Internationaux de Strasbourg is a tennis tournament held in Strasbourg, France. Held since 1987, this WTA Tour event is an International-level tournament played on outdoor clay courts....
in 2001. She made her début Grand Slam appearance at the 1991 French Open
1991 French Open
List of the 1991 French Open champions:-Men's singles: Jim Courier def. Andre Agassi, 3–6, 6–4, 2–6, 6–1, 6–4*It was Courier's 3rd title of the year, and his 4th overall. It was his 1st career Grand Slam title.-Women's singles:...
and was coached by husband Francesco Elia, whom she married September 1999.
Career
Farina Elia made steady progression on the ITF circuit during the early 1990s and finished her first year in the top 100 in 1991. She completed her first victory over a top ten player (Gabriela SabatiniGabriela Sabatini
Gabriela Beatriz Sabatini is a former professional Argentine tennis player. She was one of the leading players on the women's circuit in the late-1980s and early-1990s...
, Roland Garros) in 1994 and won her first doubles title the next year. In 1996, she represented Italy at the Atlanta Olympics. 1998 was considered her breakthrough year, reaching the final of four tournaments and in the process securing a place in the year end top 20. She was 26 at the time and thus considered a "late bloomer". She only reached one singles final in 1999 but made a greater impact in doubles, winning three tournaments.
In 2001 Farina Elia won a belated first WTA Tour title, at the Internationaux de Strasbourg
Internationaux de Strasbourg
The Internationaux de Strasbourg is a tennis tournament held in Strasbourg, France. Held since 1987, this WTA Tour event is an International-level tournament played on outdoor clay courts....
. She ended the year #14, what was to be her best year end finish and played in the WTA Tour Championships
WTA Tour Championships
The WTA Tour Championships is a tennis tournament played annually at the end of the season for the top-ranked players on the Women's Tennis Association tour. The month, city and number of players has changed since the first edition in 1972...
of 2001 and 2002. She consolidated the Strasbourg win with two more wins at the tournament. In 2003 she achieved her best Grand Slam result at the unlikely venue of Wimbledon, home of her least favourite surface, losing to Kim Clijsters
Kim Clijsters
Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters is a Belgian professional tennis player. As of 7 November 2011, Clijsters is ranked No. 13 in singles. Clijsters is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles....
, 7–5, 0–6, 1–6 in the quarterfinals.
Farina Elia represented the Italy Fed Cup team
Italy Fed Cup team
The Italy Fed Cup team represents Italy in Fed Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Federazione Italiana Tennis. They currently compete in the World Group.-Current Team:* Francesca Schiavone * Flavia Pennetta...
at nine Federation Cups and also represented Italy at three Olympics.
On Monday October 24, 2005 she announced her retirement from the WTA Tour due a recurrence of a shoulder, saying, "My body has given all it can."
Personal life
Farina Elia began playing tennis aged 10; introduced to the sport by her mother who played recreationally. Her parents are both insurance agents, as is her sister, Olga. Her brother, Enrico, restores furniture. She married Francesco Elia on September 22, 1999 and described the prospect of life after tennis as "exciting".Singles: 13 (3-10)
| Legend |
| Grand Slam (0) |
| Tier I (0) |
| Tier II (0) |
| Tier III (3) |
| Tier IV-V (0) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| 1. | 26 May 2001 | Strasbourg Internationaux de Strasbourg The Internationaux de Strasbourg is a tennis tournament held in Strasbourg, France. Held since 1987, this WTA Tour event is an International-level tournament played on outdoor clay courts.... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
Clay |  Anke HuberAnke Huber Anke Huber is a German retired professional tennis player. She was the runner-up in women's singles at the 1996 Australian Open. Her career-high singles ranking was fourth, also in 1996.-Early life:... |
7–5, 0–6, 6–4 |
| 2. | 25 May 2002 | Strasbourg, France | Clay |  Jelena DokićJelena Dokic Jelena Dokić is an Australian female professional tennis player.During the height of her career, she played for Serbia and Montenegro and reached a career-high ranking of World No. 4 on 19 August 2002. After several family-related difficulties , she slowly slipped down the rankings in 2006... |
6–4, 3–6, 6–3 |
| 3. | 24 May 2003 | Strasbourg, France | Clay |  Karolina ŠpremKarolina Šprem Karolina Šprem was a Croatian tennis player.She has won eight titles all at the ITF level. She has not won any titles on the WTA Tour. Career highlight is a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon in 2004 where she defeated two-time champion, four-time finalist and then-world No... |
6–3, 4–6, 6–4 |
Runner-ups (10)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| 1. | 21 July 1991 | San Marino San Marino Open The San Marino CEPU Open is a professional tennis tournament played on red clay. It is currently part of the Association of Tennis Professionals Challenger Tour... |
Clay |  Katia Piccolini |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 2. | 11 January 1998 | Auckland ASB Classic The ASB Classic is a tennis tournament held in Auckland, New Zealand. Held since 1986, this WTA Tour event is an International series tournament and is played on outdoor hardcourts during the first week of the year.... , New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... |
Hard |  Dominique van Roost |
4–6, 7–6(9), 7–5 |
| 3. | 26 April 1998 | Budapest Budapest Grand Prix The Poli-Farbe Budapest Grand Prix, formerly Gaz de France Grand Prix, Budapest Grand Prix and GDF SUEZ Grand Prix, is a tennis tournament held in Budapest, Hungary. Held since 1993, this WTA Tour event is an International-level tournament and is played on outdoor clay... , Hungary Hungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... |
Clay |  Virginia Ruano PascualVirginia Ruano Pascual Virginia Ruano Pascual is a Spanish professional female tennis player. She was born in Madrid, Spain.She has won three career singles titles but she has been more successful in doubles where she has won 43 titles, including 10 Grand Slam titles Between 2002... |
6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 4. | 19 July 1998 | Warsaw, Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
Clay | Conchita Martínez Conchita Martínez Inmaculada Concepción Martínez Bernat is a former professional tennis player from Monzón, Aragón, Spain. She is the only Spanish woman to have won the singles title at Wimbledon, when she beat Martina Navrátilová in the 1994 Women's Singles. She also was the singles runner-up at the 1998... |
6–0, 6–3 |
| 5. | 1 November 1998 | Luxembourg City Fortis Championships Luxembourg The BGL Luxembourg Open is a tennis tournament held in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Held since 1991, the tournament was an exhibition event until 1995. After that, it became a WTA Tier III tournament, which it remained until 2004. In 2005, it was promoted to Tier II, marking the first such... , Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south... |
Carpet (i) |  Mary PierceMary Pierce Mary Pierce is a French-American tennis professional playing on the Women's Tennis Association tour. She is a citizen of France, Canada, and the United States but plays for France in team competitions and the Olympics.Pierce has won four Grand Slam titles, two in singles and two in doubles... |
6–0, 2–0, retired |
| 6. | 14 February 1999 | Prostějov Prostejov Prostějov is a city in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. Today the city is known for its fashion industry and special military forces based there.... , Czech Republic Czech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... |
Carpet (i) |  Henrieta NagyováHenrieta Nagyová Henrieta Nagyová is a Slovak female professional tennis player. She turned professional in 1994 and has been ranked as high as the 21st in the world . In recent years her ranking has fallen due to constant injury. In late 2005, she brought her ranking up to a year ending 145, after it fell below 200... |
7–6(2), 6–4 |
| 7. | 7 January 2001 | Gold Coast, Australia | Hard | Justine Henin |
7–6(5), 6–4 |
| 8. | 17 January 2004 | Canberra Richard Luton Properties Canberra International The Richard Luton Properties Canberra International was a women's tennis tournament held in Canberra, Australia. The event was affiliated with the Women's Tennis Association , and was classed variously as a Tier III , a Tier V , and a Tier IV on the WTA Tour. It was competed on outdoor hardcourts... , Australia |
Hard |  Paola SuárezPaola Suárez Paola Suárez was a top 10 tennis player in the early 2000s. She gained prominence in 2004 by reaching the finals of nine straight WTA doubles tournaments, and by reaching the singles semifinals of the French Open tournament, held in Paris."La Negra" Suárez began playing professional tennis at the... |
3–6, 6–4, 7–6(5) |
| 9. | 22 February 2004 | Antwerp Proximus Diamond Games The Proximus Diamond Games was a professional tennis tournament held in Antwerp, Belgium. Held since 2002, the tournament takes place in the Sportpaleis, and was played at the beginning of February... , Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
Hard (i) | Kim Clijsters Kim Clijsters Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters is a Belgian professional tennis player. As of 7 November 2011, Clijsters is ranked No. 13 in singles. Clijsters is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles.... |
6–3, 6–0 |
| 10. | 10 April 2005 | Amelia Island Bausch & Lomb Championships The MPS Group Championships was a women's tennis tournament held in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States. The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event was an International series tournament played on outdoor green clay courts from 1980 to 2010.-History:... , USA |
Green Clay |  Lindsay DavenportLindsay Davenport Lindsay Ann Davenport is a former World No. 1 American professional tennis player. She has won three Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. In 2005, TENNIS Magazine ranked her as the 29th-best player of the preceding forty years... |
7–5, 7–5 |
Does not include ITF titles.
Doubles: 17 (9-8)
Wins (9)- 2004: Warsaw (w/ Francesca SchiavoneFrancesca SchiavoneFrancesca Schiavone is an Italian tennis player who turned professional in 1998. She won the 2010 French Open singles title, becoming the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam event in singles. She was also runner-up at the 2011 French Open. As of 24 October 2011, Schiavone's ranking is World...
) - 2001: StrasbourgInternationaux de StrasbourgThe Internationaux de Strasbourg is a tennis tournament held in Strasbourg, France. Held since 1987, this WTA Tour event is an International-level tournament played on outdoor clay courts....
(w/ Iroda TulyaganovaIroda TulyaganovaIroda Tulyaganova is a professional tennis player who comes from Uzbekistan.She has been ranked as high as No.16 on the WTA Tour and has won three WTA singles titles in her career...
) - 2000: PalermoInternazionali Femminili di PalermoThe Internazionali Femminili di Palermo is a tennis tournament held in Palermo, Italy. Held since 1988, this WTA Tour event is a Tier IV-tournament and is played on outdoor clay courts. It was lowered to a Tier V event in 2001 but returned to Tier IV in 2005....
(w/ Rita GrandeRita GrandeRita Grande is a professional female tennis player from Italy.-Singles :*2001: Hobart, Australia*2001: Bratislava, Slovakia*2003: Casablanca, Morocco-Singles finalist :*1999: Hobart...
) - 1999: AucklandASB ClassicThe ASB Classic is a tennis tournament held in Auckland, New Zealand. Held since 1986, this WTA Tour event is an International series tournament and is played on outdoor hardcourts during the first week of the year....
(w/ Barbara SchettBarbara SchettBarbara Schett Eagle is a former Austrian tennis player, who reached her highest singles ranking, World No. 7, on 13 September 1999. She ended her career at the 2005 Australian Open. Between 1993 to 2004 she played in 48 games for the Austria Fed Cup team, winning 30...
) - 1999: 's HertogenboschOrdina OpenThe Rosmalen Grass Court Championships, now sponsored by UNICEF and called the UNICEF Open, is a tennis tournament on the ATP Tour and WTA Tour held in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.-Singles:-Doubles:-Singles:-Doubles:-External links:*...
(w/ Rita Grande) - 1999: Portschach (w/ Karina HabšudováKarina HabšudováKarina Habšudová is a former Slovak female professional tennis player. She has been ranked as high as 10 in the world . Together with Karol Kučera she won the Hopman Cup in 1998....
) - 1998: PraguePraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
(w/ Karina Habšudová) - 1997: Palermo (w/ Barbara Schett)
- 1995: Maria LankowitzWTA AustriaThe WTA Austrian Open is a WTA Tour affiliated tennis tournament held off and on from 1968. In the Open Era seven locations hosted the event: Pörtschach in 1968 and 1999; Kitzbühel from 1969 to 1977, from 1979 to 1983 and from 1990 to 1993; Vienna in 1978 and from 2001 to 2004; Bregenz from 1985 to...
(with Andrea TemesváriAndrea TemesvariAndrea Temesvári is a former professional tennis player once ranked as high as World No. 7. She won the Italian Open at sixteen, but injuries later hampered her career. She received the Most Improved Player Award by WTA Tour and TENNIS Magazine in 1982. At the 1986 French Open she won the women's...
)
Runner-ups (8)
- 2005: Gold Coast (w/ Maria Elena CamerinMaria Elena CamerinMaria Elena Camerin is a professional female tennis player from Italy.On 11 October 2004, Camerin reached her career-high singles ranking: World No...
) - 2004: ParisOpen Gaz de FranceOpen GDF Suez, formerly Open Gaz de France, is a Premier level tennis tournament on the WTA Tour held in Paris, France. Held since 1993, the tournament is played on indoor hardcourts....
(w/ Francesca SchiavoneFrancesca SchiavoneFrancesca Schiavone is an Italian tennis player who turned professional in 1998. She won the 2010 French Open singles title, becoming the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam event in singles. She was also runner-up at the 2011 French Open. As of 24 October 2011, Schiavone's ranking is World...
) - 2003: LinzGenerali Ladies LinzThe Generali Ladies Linz is a tennis tournament held in Linz, Austria. Held since 1987, this WTA Tour event is a Tier II-tournament and is played on indoor hardcourts...
(w/ Marion BartoliMarion BartoliMarion Bartoli is a French professional tennis player and the current French no. 1. She has won seven Women's Tennis Association singles titles and three doubles titles. She was also a runner-up at the 2007 Wimbledon Championships....
) - 2000: Hannover (w/ Karina HabšudováKarina HabšudováKarina Habšudová is a former Slovak female professional tennis player. She has been ranked as high as 10 in the world . Together with Karol Kučera she won the Hopman Cup in 1998....
) - 1997: Gold Coast (w/ Ruxandra DragomirRuxandra DragomirRuxandra Dragomir Ilie is a retired female tennis player from Romania, who won four singles and five doubles titles during her career. The right-hander reached her highest individual ranking on the WTA Tour on August 25, 1997, when she became the number 15 of the world...
) - 1996: MoscowKremlin CupThe Kremlin Cup is a professional tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts. It is currently part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the ATP Tour and is a Premier Tournament on the WTA Tour...
(w/ Barbara SchettBarbara SchettBarbara Schett Eagle is a former Austrian tennis player, who reached her highest singles ranking, World No. 7, on 13 September 1999. She ended her career at the 2005 Australian Open. Between 1993 to 2004 she played in 48 games for the Austria Fed Cup team, winning 30...
) - 1993: PalermoInternazionali Femminili di PalermoThe Internazionali Femminili di Palermo is a tennis tournament held in Palermo, Italy. Held since 1988, this WTA Tour event is a Tier IV-tournament and is played on outdoor clay courts. It was lowered to a Tier V event in 2001 but returned to Tier IV in 2005....
(w/ Brenda Schultz) - 1990: TarantoTarantoTaranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
(w/ Rita GrandeRita GrandeRita Grande is a professional female tennis player from Italy.-Singles :*2001: Hobart, Australia*2001: Bratislava, Slovakia*2003: Casablanca, Morocco-Singles finalist :*1999: Hobart...
)