Kristina Mladenovic Bio
Kristina Mladenovic (born 14 May 1993) is a French professional tennis player and a former world No. 1 in doubles. Her best singles ranking is world No. 10. She is a nine-time Grand Slam champion, having won the 2016 and 2022 French Open women’s doubles titles partnering Caroline Garcia, and the 2018 Australian Open, 2019 and 2020 French Opens and 2020 Australian Open with Tímea Babos. In mixed doubles, Mladenovic won the 2013 Wimbledon Championships and 2014 Australian Open alongside Daniel Nestor, and the 2022 Australian Open with Ivan Dodig. Mladenovic became world No. 1 in doubles for the first time in June 2019, and has held the top ranking for a total of 12 weeks. She has won 29 career doubles titles, including the 2018 and 2019 WTA Finals and four at WTA 1000 level. Mladenovic has also enjoyed success in singles, reaching her career-high ranking of world No. 10 in October 2017. She has won one WTA Tour singles title, at the 2017 St. Petersburg Trophy, and finished runner-up on seven occasions. Her best Grand Slam performance was reaching the quarterfinals at the 2015 US Open and the 2017 French Open.
Early Life and Background
Kristina Mladenovic was born in Saint-Pol-sur-Mer, in the Nord department of France. Her father, Dragan Mladenović, is a former Yugoslav handball player of Serbian origin, and her mother, Dženita Helić, is a Serbian former volleyball player. The family moved to France in 1992 when Dragan was signed by Dunkerque HGL. Mladenovic has a brother named Luka. She became a French citizen along with her parents. Mladenovic began playing tennis at a young age and showed promise early on, participating in junior tournaments and achieving significant success.
Path to Tennis
Mladenovic started playing juniors in May 2006. In 2007, she became the European Under-14 singles champion. Her biggest junior achievement was at the 2009 French Open girls’ singles, where she won the title. Mladenovic turned professional in 2009, making her Grand Slam debut at that year’s Australian Open. She began playing on the ITF Women’s Circuit in September 2007 and made her WTA Tour debut shortly after. Mladenovic’s early career included participation in various tournaments, where she began to establish herself as a competitive player.
Kristina Mladenovic Career
Early Career (2009–2011)
Mladenovic turned professional in 2009 and made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open, where she received a wildcard but was defeated in the first round. In July of the same year, she qualified for the Prague Open but lost in the first round. At the Internationaux de Strasbourg, she won her first match on the WTA Tour. In 2011, Mladenovic won her first Senior title at a $25k tournament in Sutton and followed it up with another win in Stockholm.
Breakthrough (2012)
Mladenovic’s breakthrough came in 2012 when she claimed her first WTA Tour title in doubles at the Rogers Cup, partnering with Klaudia Jans-Ignacik. She also reached the third round of the US Open, marking her first significant success on the singles circuit. This year marked her entry into the top 100 of the WTA rankings for the first time.
Notable Works and Milestones
Mladenovic’s signature work includes her Grand Slam doubles titles and her rise to world No. 1 in doubles. She has won multiple titles and has been a key player in team competitions, contributing to France’s success in the Fed Cup.
Kristina Mladenovic Award Nominations
Kristina Mladenovic has received numerous nominations throughout her career, reflecting her achievements and contributions to the sport of tennis.
Kristina Mladenovic Awards Won
Mladenovic has won several prestigious awards during her career, including multiple Grand Slam titles in both women’s and mixed doubles.
Kristina Mladenovic Family
Kristina Mladenovic’s family includes her parents, Dragan and Dženita, and her brother, Luka. They have been supportive of her tennis career from a young age.
Personal Life
Kristina Mladenovic dated Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem from mid-2017 until their split in November 2019. She currently resides in Dubai, UAE, and continues to compete at a high level in professional tennis.
