Eleni Danilidou

Eleni Daniilidou is a Greek former professional tennis player, considered one of the best Greek players of the Open Era. She is the only female tennis player from Greece to have reached the top 20 in singles.

She won five singles and three doubles titles on the WTA Tour, and notably reached the Australian Open mixed-doubles final in 2003, a first for any Greek player.

Player Profile

Eleni Daniilidou was born on September 19, 1982, in Chania, Crete, Greece. She stands 182 cm tall and she plays right-handed with a one-handed backhand. She currently resides in Thessaloniki.

Professional Career

Eleni Daniilidou turned professional in 1996. Her career was marked by consistent success in singles and doubles, establishing her as one of Greece's greatest tennis players. She achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 14 in May 2003, making her the first and only Greek female player to reach the top 20 until Maria Sakkari achieved the same feat in February 2020.

She also reached a career-high doubles ranking of No. 21 in January 2007.

In Grand Slam singles play, Daniilidou's best results were reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2003, Wimbledon in 2002, and the US Open in 2004. In a notable singles match at Wimbledon in 2005, she became the first player to defeat a reigning French Open champion in the first round of Wimbledon when she beat Justine Henin.

Daniilidou's Grand Slam success extended to doubles and mixed doubles.

In mixed doubles, she reached the final of the Aussie Open in 2003, becoming the first Greek player to reach a major final. In women's doubles, she reached the semifinals of Rolan Garros in 2006 and the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2005 and Wimbledon in 2006. She also reached the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games in singles in 2004.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 509–431
• Career titles: 5
• Highest ranking: No. 14 (May 12, 2003)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – 4R (2003)
• French Open – 3R (2003)
• Wimbledon – 4R (2002)
• US Open – 4R (2004)

Other tournaments (Singles)

• Olympic Games – QF (2004)

Doubles

• Career record: 298–277
• Career titles: 3
• Highest ranking: No. 21 (January 29, 2007)

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – QF (2005)
• French Open – SF (2006)
• Wimbledon – QF (2006)
• US Open – 2R (2004, 2007)

Mixed Doubles

Best Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – F (2003)
• French Open – 1R (2007)
• Wimbledon – 2R (2006)
• US Open – 2R (2003)