Wikipedia

Astra Sharma

Astra Sharma (born 11 September 1995) is an Australian professional tennis player. She has career-high WTA rankings of 84 in singles and 91 in doubles. Sharma has won one singles title and three doubles titles on the WTA Tour. In addition, she has won one singles title on the WTA Challenger Tour as well as eight titles in singles and seven in doubles on the ITF Circuit.

Astra Sharma
Sharma at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships
Country (sports) Australia
ResidencePerth, Western Australia
Born (1995-09-11) 11 September 1995 (age 29)
Singapore[1]
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
PlaysRight (two-handed backhand)
CoachDavid Taylor
Prize moneyUS$ 1,877,430
Singles
Career record231–170
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 84 (21 February 2022)
Current rankingNo. 229 (25 November 2024)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open2R (2019)
French Open2R (2020, 2021)
Wimbledon1R (2019, 2021, 2022)
US Open1R (2019, 2020, 2021)
Doubles
Career record110–88
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 91 (21 February 2022)
Current rankingNo. 324 (25 November 2024)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open1R (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
French Open1R (2019, 2020, 2021)
Wimbledon2R (2019)
US Open1R (2021)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian OpenF (2019)
Last updated on: 25 November 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

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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 Astron 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 Bull Creek Tennis Club, near Willetton.

Career

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2011–2014: Career beginnings

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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

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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

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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: French Open match win

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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: WTA Tour title, rank No. 98

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Sharma defeated top seed Ons Jabeur to win the Charleston Open, her first career title.[12]

In May, she 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.[citation needed]

At the US Open, she qualified before losing to eighth seed Barbora Krejčíková in the first round.[citation needed] In October, she reached the second round at the Indian Wells Open.[citation needed]

Sharma ended 2021 with a singles ranking of 98, a career year-end high, and a doubles ranking of world No. 107.[citation needed]

2022–2024

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In 2022, Sharma reached the second round at Indian Wells with a win over Magda Linette,[13] before losing to 13th seed Victoria Azarenka.[14]

In 2024, she entered the Charleston Open as a lucky loser and defeated compatriot Arina Rodionova[15] and 16th seed Lesia Tsurenko[16] to reach the round of 16 where she lost to third seed Maria Sakkari.[17]

Partnering Veronika Erjavec, Sharma was runner-up in the doubles at the WTA 125 2024 Canberra Tennis International, losing to Veronika Erjavec and Darja Semeņistaja in the final.[18]

Performance timelines

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Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# P# DNQ A Z# PO G S B NMS NTI P NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

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.[19]

Singles

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Current through the 2024 US 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 Q3 0 / 4 2–4 33%
Wimbledon 1R NH 1R 1R A Q1 0 / 3 0–3 0%
US Open 1R 1R 1R Q3 Q1 Q2 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 Q1 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Canadian Open Q1 NH Q1 A A A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Cincinnati Open 1R Q2 Q1 A A A 0 / 1 0–1 0%
Wuhan Open A NH A A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
China Open Q1 NH A A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Guadalajara Open NH A A A 0 / 0 0–0  – 
Career statistics
Tournaments 10 5 12 11 1 1 Career total: 40
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 1–1 1 / 40 26–39 40%
Year-end ranking 108 128 96 231 120 $1,877,430

Doubles

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Current through the 2024 US 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 A 0 / 3 0–3 0%
Wimbledon A 2R NH A 1R A A 0 / 2 1–2 33%
US Open A A A 1R A 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

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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

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Mixed doubles: 1 (runner-up)

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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

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Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)

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Legend
Grand Slam
WTA 1000
WTA 500
WTA 250[b] (1–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (1–1)
Carpet (0–0)
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)

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Legend
Grand Slam
WTA 1000
WTA 500
WTA 250 (3–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–0)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (2–1)
Carpet (0–0)
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, Mexico 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

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Singles: 1 (title)

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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)

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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

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Singles: 13 (8 titles, 5 runner–ups)

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Legend
$60,000 tournaments (1–2)
$40,000 tournaments (0–1)
$25,000 tournaments (4–1)
$10/15,000 tournaments (3–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (6–2)
Clay (2–3)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Jul 2015 ITF Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt 10,000 Hard   Ola Abou Zekry 6–3, 2–6, 6–0
Win 2–0 Jul 2017 ITF Târgu Jiu, Romania 15,000 Clay   Belinda Woolcock 1–6, 6–2, 7–5
Win 3–0 Aug 2017 ITF Graz, Austria 15,000 Clay   Vendula Žovincová 2–6, 6–3, 6–2
Loss 3–1 Oct 2017 ITF Toowoomba, Australia 25,000 Hard   Eri Hozumi 5–7, 2–6
Loss 3–2 Mar 2018 ITF Orlando, United States 15,000 Clay   Sophie Chang 3–6, 6–7(6–8)
Win 4–2 Jun 2018 ITF Baton Rouge, United States 25,000 Hard   Maria Mateas 6–2, 6–1
Win 5–2 Jul 2018 Challenger de Gatineau, Canada 25,000 Hard   Victoria Rodríguez 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win 6–2 Sep 2018 ITF Cairns, Australia 25,000 Hard   Destanee Aiava 0–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–1
Win 7–2 Mar 2019 ITF Irapuato, Mexico 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)

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Legend
$100,000 tournaments (0–1)
$80,000 tournaments (0–1)
$60,000 tournaments (1–1)
$40,000 tournaments (2–0)
$25,000 tournaments (2–2)
$10,000 tournaments (2–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–3)
Clay (5–2)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1–0 Jul 2016 ITF Amstelveen, Netherlands 10,000 Clay   Frances Altick   Erika Vogelsang
  Mandy Wagemaker 		6–4, 6–2
Win 2–0 Jul 2016 ITF Knokke, Belgium 10,000 Clay   Frances Altick   Déborah Kerfs
  Kelly Versteeg 		6–4, 6–4
Loss 2–1 Oct 2017 ITF Cairns, Australia 25,000 Hard   Belinda Woolcock   Naiktha Bains
  Abigail Tere-Apisah 		6–4, 2–6, [6–10]
Win 3–1 Jun 2018 ITF Sumter, United States 25,000 Hard   Luisa Stefani   Julia Elbaba
  Xu Shilin 		2–6, 6–3, [10–5]
Loss 3–2 Jun 2018 ITF Baton Rouge, United States 25,000 Hard   Gabriela Talabă   Hayley Carter
  Ena Shibahara 		3–6, 4–6
Win 4–2 Mar 2019 ITF Irapuato, Mexico 25,000 Hard   Paige Hourigan   Verónica Cepede Royg
  Renata Voráčová 		6–1, 4–6, [12–10]
Loss 4–3 Apr 2019 Dothan Pro Classic, United States 80,000 Clay   Destanee Aiava   Usue Maitane Arconada
  Caroline Dolehide 		6–7(5), 4–6
Loss 4–4 Nov 2020 ITF Charleston Pro, United States 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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ The WTA International tournaments were reclassified as WTA 250 tournaments in 2021.

References

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  1. ^ Tennis Australia. "Astra Sharma: "I'm super thrilled at my progress"".
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b c d Brijnath, Rohit (26 January 2019). "A Grand Slam finalist with Singapore links". The Straits Times.
  4. ^ "Australian Open: Singapore-born Astra Sharma through to mixed doubles final". The Straits Times. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Specialist Tennis Program". Applecross Senior High School. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  6. ^ Astra Sharma: From Currey Tennis Center to the Australian Open Finals
  7. ^ Medical school? Vanderbilt star Astra Sharma is going pro in tennis after postseason
  8. ^ GAME, SET, MATCH: WTA AND UF'S WINNING PARTNERSHIP
  9. ^ "SHARMA, HIVES, BIRRELL OPEN WITH AO VICTORIES". Tennis Australia. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  10. ^ "'Who's got my beers?': Australian doubles delight". The Age. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  11. ^ "ITF ANNOUNCES POSTPONEMENT OF ALL ITF EVENTS UNTIL 20 APRIL". www.itftennis.com.
  12. ^ "Sharma overcomes Jabeur in Charleston to claim first WTA singles title". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Magda Linette vs Astra Sharma". Tennis Majors. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Indian Wells: Two-time champ Azarenka advances past lucky loser Sharma". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Lucky loser Sharma prevails in all-Aussie Charleston first round". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Lucky loser Sharma books Round of 16 spot in Charleston". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Sakkari eases past Sharma, into Charleston quarterfinals". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Champions crowned at Workday Canberra International 2024". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Astra Sharma [AUS] | Australian Open". ausopen.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020.
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