Bernarda Pera Bio
Bernarda Pera is a Croatian-American professional tennis player who has competed on the WTA Tour since 2014. Pera has won two singles titles and one doubles title on the WTA Tour, along with nine singles and eight doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 27 on June 12, 2023, and a career-high doubles ranking of No. 35 on February 21, 2022. Pera has represented the United States in international competition since March 2013, after previously competing for her country of birth, Croatia.
Early Life and Background
Bernarda Pera was born on December 3, 1994, in Zadar, Croatia, into a Croatian-Dalmatian Italian family. She grew up speaking both Croatian and English at home, and her family supported her interest in tennis from an early age. When she was 16 years old, Pera and her family relocated to the United States so that she could pursue a higher level of competitive tennis. Her father, who holds United States citizenship, made the move possible for the family.
The family settled in New Jersey, where friends and relatives were already living, giving Pera a familiar base while she adapted to a new country. The transition gave her access to stronger coaching, better training facilities, and more competitive junior events. Her time in the United States also allowed her to develop a more powerful baseline game suited to hard and clay courts.
Path to Tennis
As a junior, Pera developed her game in the Croatian system before moving to the United States. Once settled in New Jersey, she began competing in national junior events and United States Tennis Association tournaments. Her results in these events helped her earn the right to compete in lower-level professional events on the ITF Circuit. By her late teens, Pera was ready to turn professional.
She made her WTA Tour debut at the 2014 US Open, where she was given a wildcard into the doubles draw alongside Tornado Alicia Black. This early exposure to the top level of professional tennis gave Pera the experience she needed to continue climbing the rankings. Over the next few years, she balanced WTA qualifying draws with ITF Circuit events, steadily building the match toughness required to compete at the highest level.
Bernarda Pera Career
Early Career (2014-2017)
After her WTA debut in 2014, Pera spent several seasons competing primarily on the ITF Circuit, where she collected multiple singles and doubles titles. She focused on developing a more consistent serve and a stronger two-handed backhand, both of which became trademarks of her game. By 2017, her ranking had improved enough to gain direct entry into several WTA events.
During this period, Pera also began working with coach Guillermo Cañas, a former ATP player. Cañas helped refine her shot selection and tactical awareness, contributing to her steady rise through the rankings. Her breakthrough moment came in 2018.
WTA Tour Breakthrough (2018-2020)
Pera announced herself on the WTA Tour in 2018, when she made her major singles debut at the Australian Open as a lucky loser. She defeated Anna Blinkova in the first round before knocking out ninth seed Johanna Konta, eventually falling in the third round to Barbora Strýcová. Later that year, Pera reached her first WTA Tour semifinal at the Guangzhou Open, defeating Aleksandra Krunić before losing to Yulia Putintseva.
Over the next two seasons, Pera reached three additional WTA semifinals, including events in Prague, Lausanne, and the Baltic Open. While she did not yet capture a title, these deep runs showed she was ready to compete with top players. By the end of 2020, Pera had established herself inside the WTA’s top 80 and was consistently reaching the second week of major tournaments.
First Career Titles (2021-2022)
In 2021, Pera continued to build her resume, reaching the French Open doubles semifinal alongside Magda Linette. She also reached her first WTA 1000 doubles semifinal at the Canadian Open that year. Her hard work paid off in 2022, when she captured her first WTA Tour doubles title at the Melbourne Summer Set 2 with Kateřina Siniaková.
The 2022 clay season was the high point of Pera’s career to that point. She won her first WTA Tour singles title at the Budapest Grand Prix as a qualifier, defeating Aleksandra Krunić in the final. The following week, she reached the Hamburg European Open final and upset world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit to claim her second title, extending her winning streak to 12 matches. She finished 2022 ranked No. 44 in the world, a career-best year-end position.
Top 30 Ranking and Major Fourth Round (2023-2024)
Pera opened 2023 by reaching the third round of the Australian Open for the second time, with a notable win over 29th seed Zheng Qinwen. Her best Grand Slam result came at the French Open, where she advanced to the fourth round of a major for the first time, defeating Anett Kontaveit and Donna Vekić before losing to Ons Jabeur. This run pushed her into the world’s top 30 for the first time in her career.
In 2024, Pera reached the third round of Wimbledon for the first time, defeating Caroline Garcia along the way. She also reached the final of the WTA 125 Veneto Open and posted strong showings at events in Guangzhou and Hong Kong. These results showed she remained a threat on both grass and hard courts.
Current Form (2025-Present)
In 2025, Pera made her debut for the United States Billie Jean King Cup team during the qualifying round in Bratislava. She won both of her singles matches, helping the United States top its group and advance to the finals. She also reached the third round of the French Open, defeating Caroline Garcia and Donna Vekić before losing to Elina Svitolina. By mid-October 2025, however, Pera had fallen to her lowest ranking since 2017 at world No. 136 after a difficult stretch of results.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pera is a left-handed player who uses a two-handed backhand, giving her unusual angles and a stable defensive base. She is known for her patience from the baseline, her willingness to extend rallies, and her ability to redirect pace. Her coach Guillermo Cañas has helped her sharpen her tactical game, particularly her use of slice and her movement on clay. She plays most effectively on clay and hard courts, where her counter-punching style is most effective.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Pera’s career are her upset of ninth seed Johanna Konta at the 2018 Australian Open, her first WTA title in Budapest in 2022, and her 12-match winning streak that same year. Her run to the French Open fourth round in 2023 marked her deepest major singles result. She has also earned two career top-10 wins, including her victory over Anett Kontaveit in Hamburg.
Bernarda Pera Career Wins
Bernarda Pera has captured two WTA Tour singles titles and one WTA Tour doubles title, along with nine ITF Circuit singles titles and eight ITF Circuit doubles titles. Her biggest wins have come on clay, including titles in Budapest and Hamburg during 2022. She has also reached one WTA Tour doubles final and advanced to a WTA 1000 doubles semifinal at the 2021 Canadian Open.
WTA Tour Highlights
Pera’s first WTA Tour title came at the 2022 Budapest Grand Prix, where she won four matches as a qualifier before defeating Aleksandra Krunić in the final. A week later, she captured her second title in Hamburg by upsetting world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit. Her doubles title came at the 2022 Melbourne Summer Set 2 with Kateřina Siniaková, lifting her to a career-high doubles ranking of No. 35.
Other Wins and Performances
On the ITF Circuit, Pera has been a consistent performer, winning nine singles titles and eight doubles titles at various levels. She has also reached three WTA Challenger finals, finishing as runner-up each time, including the 2024 Veneto Open. Her highest career prize money total stands at US$ 5,161,425.
Bernarda Pera Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Pera was raised in a Croatian-Dalmatian Italian family that valued both education and sport. Her father, a United States citizen, played a key role in relocating the family to New Jersey so that Bernarda could pursue her tennis dreams. The support of her parents and extended family, many of whom were already living in the United States, helped ease her transition to life in a new country.
Personal Life
Since 2018, Bernarda Pera has been in a relationship with Croatian basketball player Kristijan Krajina. The couple has been seen together at several tennis and basketball events, and their shared athletic background has been a point of connection. Pera continues to live and train in the United States, though she frequently returns to Croatia to visit family.
2025 Season Performance
Pera’s 2025 season was a story of two halves. She began the year strongly at the ASB Classic in Auckland, reaching the quarterfinals with wins over Victoria Jiménez Kasintseva and Rebecca Marino. Her most important contribution came in the Billie Jean King Cup, where she debuted for the United States in Bratislava and posted two singles victories, helping her country qualify for the finals. She also enjoyed a strong French Open, advancing to the third round with wins over Caroline Garcia and Donna Vekić.
However, the second half of the season proved more difficult. After the French Open, Pera struggled to win a WTA main-draw match for several months. By mid-October 2025, her ranking had slipped to world No. 136, her lowest position since 2017. This drop in form reflected both the depth of the WTA Tour and the challenges of returning to top-level competition after a year of inconsistent results.
Looking ahead, Pera is expected to focus on rebuilding her ranking through ITF and WTA 125 events before re-entering the main draw of major tournaments. With her experience, her proven ability to win titles, and the support of her coaching team, she remains a player capable of returning to the WTA’s top 50. Her upcoming goals include performing well at Grand Slams and helping the United States in the Billie Jean King Cup finals.