Sofya Zhuk is an inactive Russian tennis player, who had 6 ITF titles and the top WTA ranking of the world’s No 116. Her biggest achievement is winning the 2015 Wimbledon girls’ singles title.
Sofya Andreyevna Zhuk was born on December 1, 1999, in Moscow, Russia. She started playing tennis at an early age and trained at the Justine Henin Academy in Belgium. Her first junior achievement was winning the Boris Skorodumov Memorial Cup in Pins (Belarus) in 2010. A year later, she won the titles at Novikov Cup (Russia), 23 April Cup (Turkey), Gold Reserv (Russia), and Balashikha Open (Russia), but also reached the quarter-finals of the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl in the United States. During her junior career, Sofya Zhuk won the titles at the Torneo Int. Le Citta Di Correggio, BNP Paribas Cup Stade Francais Paris, Mercedes Jugend Cup, J4 Almere \ ITF Almere Autumn Indoor, but definitely her biggest achievements were winning the titles at the 2014 Yucatan Cup and 2015 Junior Wimbledon.
Sofya Zhuk made her professional debut in September 2014 at the $10,000 W15 Shymkent (Kazahstan), when she lost in the first round. However, on the next week, she attended the same tournament and this time won the title.
In 2015, she reached the semi-finals of the $10,000 W25 Trnava (Slovakia). The same year she won the Junior Wimbledon and reached the quarter-finals of the Junior US Open.
In 2016, Sofya Zhuk debuted in the WTA Tour after receiving a wildcard into the main draw of the WTA 1000 Miami Open. However, she lost in the first round but gained the needed experience in the big tournaments. During the season, she won the titles at $10,000 W15 Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), $10,000 Cali (Colombia), and $50,000+H Tampico (Mexico).
Sofya Zhuk started very good the season 2017, being the runner-up at the $25,000 W25+H Irapuato (Mexico) and winning the $25,000 W25 Naples, FL (USA) and her biggest trophy so far at the $60,000 Bursa (Turkey). During the season she debuted in the Grand Slam at the US Open but lost in the first round. During the season she first time entered the WTA Top 150.
In 2018, the Russian tennis player had a fantastic start of the season, reaching her first WTA final at the WTA 125 Newport Beach Oracle Challenger Series. However, she lost to Danielle Collins. Sofya Zhuk made a real breakthrough at the WTA 1000 Indian Wells Open, reaching the third round. At the end of the season, she reached the semi-finals of the WTA 125 Houston Oracle Challenger Series.
In 2019, Sofya Zhuk was not able to compete at a high level due to injury. She reached the quarter-finals of the $60,000 W60 Saint-Gaudens (France) and $80,000 W80 Dothan, AL (USA).
In 2020, Sofya Zhuk announced that she had paused her tennis career because of an ongoing injury.
Sofya Zhuk was one of the most talented young tennis players. She performed on a high level and had a bright future in tennis, but an unfortunate injury stopped her career too early.
Sofya Zhuk photos
