Maria Martinez Sanchez

Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez was born on August 12, 1982 in Murcia, Spain. She won the 1999 Orange Bowl while still in the Juniors.

Sanchez played her first career event in the ITF in 1997 in Spain, and continued to play in the ITF Circuit a year later. She won one singles title and two doubles titles in the ITF in 1999, and in 2000, finally made it to her first tour qualifying in Miami as a wild card. She added more ITF victories to her record in the same year, winning the three singles titles and two doubles titles before the season was over.

Sanchez made it to the top 100 for the first time in 2001. She reached the semifinals in Madrid, the QF twice in Bogota and Antwerp, and reached the second round three times. She entered the top 100 on May 7, from a previous rank of 106 to a then career-high of 95. It was also in 2001 when she won four times in doubles, all with partner Medina Garrigues.

Sanchez suffered a few setbacks in 2002, falling in all four Tour main draws including the Australian Open. She also fell eleven times in the Tour qualifiers.

She managed to win a few events in the ITF in 2003 however. After falling in the Tour qualifying in 2004, Sanchez spent the remainder of the year out of the court, and a year later played exclusively on the ITF, where she won another singles title and added five more wins to her doubles record.

She almost made it to the top 100 again in 2006, with a rank of 106. Sanchez also won four more singles titles and three doubles titles in the ITF.

In June of 2008, Sanchez reached her first Tour singles final as a wildcard in Barcelona, where she was defeated by no. 2 seed Kirilenko. The 26-year-old also reached the third round in Wimbledon where she was beaten by no. 7 Serena Williams.
As of August 23, 2010, Martinez Sanchez is at No. 24, although she reached her highest rank earlier in May 10, 2010 when she reached No. 19. She has also accumulated 3 WTA titles and 12 ITF titles as well.