Samsonova

Liudmila Samsonova is a professional tennis player from Russia. She reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 12 in February 2023 and has won five WTA singles titles and two doubles titles. Samsonova was a semifinalist at the Adelaide International in 2025 and played a key role in Russia’s 2021 Billie Jean King Cup championship.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Liudmila Dmitrievna Samsonova was born on November 11, 1998 in Olenegorsk, Russia, to Dmitry Samsonov and Svetlana Samsonova. She stands 182 cm tall and is right-handed with a two-handed backhand. She is coached by Danilo Pizzorno and Alessandro Dumitrache. Since turning pro, she has earned around US$4.7 million in prize money.

Samsonova moved to Italy with her family as a child and represented Italy from 2014 to 2018 before switching back to Russia. She speaks Russian, Italian, and English fluently.

Her father was a table tennis player and encouraged her to play tennis from age six. Samsonova idolized Maria Sharapova growing up, and is known for her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game. Her hobbies include listening to and playing music, attending concerts, and watching films. She prefers to play on hard courts and her favorite shot is her forehand.

Juniors

Samsonova reached a career-high ITF junior ranking of No. 65 in July 2016. Her junior highlights include winning back-to-back ITF Grade-2 tournaments in 2016, with notable victories over Kaja Juvan and Marta Kostyuk.

Career

Samsonova turned professional in 2013 and began her career on the ITF Circuit, winning her first title in Rome in 2014. After steady progress, she broke through in 2021 by winning her maiden WTA title at the Berlin Open as a qualifier, defeating Belinda Bencic in the final and reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon.

She finished 2021 ranked in the Top 50 and was a key player in Russia’s Billie Jean King Cup triumph, winning all her matches.

In 2022, Samsonova won three WTA singles titles at the Washington Open, Cleveland Open, and Tokyo Open, and reached the fourth round at both Indian Wells and the US Open. She made her Top 20 debut in October 2022. In 2023, she reached two WTA 1000 finals at the Canadian Open and China Open and made the quarterfinals at the French Open in doubles.

She also won the Dubai doubles title with Veronika Kudermetova and finished the year ranked inside the Top 20.

In 2024, Samsonova won her fifth career singles title at the Rosmalen Open and reached the semifinals at the Abu Dhabi Open and Adelaide International.

She made quarterfinal runs at the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open and reached the fourth round at the US Open.

In doubles, she won the Seoul title with Nicole Melichar-Martinez. In 2025, Samsonova reached the semifinals at the Adelaide International, defeating Marie Bouzková, Belinda Bencic, and Emma Navarro before falling to Madison Keys. At the Australian Open, she reached the second round.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 315–205
• Career titles: 5
• Highest ranking: No. 12 (February 27, 2023)
• Current ranking: No. 21 (May 19, 2025)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – 2R (2021, 2022, 2023, 2025)
• French Open – 3R (2024)
• Wimbledon – 4R (2021)
• US Open – 4R (2022, 2024)

Other tournaments

• Billie Jean King Cup – W (2021), record 5–0

Doubles

• Career record: 65–65
• Career titles: 2
• Highest ranking: No. 40 (June 12, 2023)
• Current ranking: No. 56 (May 19, 2025)

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – 2R (2025)
• French Open – QF (2023)
• Wimbledon – 1R (2024)
• US Open – 2R (2023)

Mixed Doubles

Best Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – 2R (2024)
• French Open – 2R (2024)
• Wimbledon – 2R (2023)