Meghann Shaughnessy

Meghann Shaughnessy (born April 13, 1979 in Richmond, Virginia) is an American former professional tennis player. She achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 11 in 2001 and won six titles on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour. Her best doubles ranking was world No. 4, and she won 17 WTA Tour doubles titles, including the WTA Championships in 2004. She is best known for her serve, which was one of the most powerful on tour, and has produced as many as 22 aces in a match.

Meghann Shaughnessy
Shaughnessy at the 2011 Australian Open
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceScottsdale, Arizona
Born (1979-04-13) April 13, 1979
Richmond, Virginia
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Turned pro1996
Retired2014
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money$3,975,223
Singles
Career record378–343 (52.4%)
Career titles6
Highest rankingNo. 11 (10 September 2001)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenQF (2003)
French Open4R (2001)
Wimbledon4R (2001)
US Open4R (2003)
Doubles
Career record315–185 (63.0%)
Career titles17
Highest rankingNo. 4 (March 21, 2005)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenSF (2006)
French OpenSF (2005)
WimbledonQF (2004, 2005, 2006)
US OpenQF (2002, 2007, 2010)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (2004)
Mixed doubles
Career record22–21
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian OpenSF (2001)
French OpenQF (2007)
WimbledonQF (2007)
US OpenF (2007)

Shaughnessy was coached and managed by Rafael Font de Mora for most of her career. She is the niece of Dan Shaughnessy, a Boston Globe sports columnist.[1]

Career

Shaughnessy made her debut on the WTA Tour in 1996 in Budapest and broke into the top 100 in 1998. In 2000, she won her first WTA singles title in Shanghai, defeating Iroda Tulyaganova in the final, and breaking into the top 50. In her breakout year of 2001, she achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 11, won the second singles title of her career in Quebec City, and reached the finals of Hamburg and her home tournament in Scottsdale, Arizona.[2] She also recorded wins over world No. 5 Conchita Martínez, world No. 4 Monica Seles,[3] and world No. 2 Venus Williams.[4]

In 2002, Shaughnessy began the season by reaching the final of Sydney, and recaptured her career-high No. 11 ranking. She also reached the quarterfinals or better of four other tournaments that year,[2] with wins over top five players Jelena Dokić and Serena Williams.[5][6] In 2003, Shaughnessy had another strong year, finishing the season in the top 20 for the second time in her career. She captured her third career singles title in Canberra and also had strong major results. She defeated Nuria Llagostera Vives, Ľudmila Cervanová, Klára Koukalová and Elena Bovina to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open, and she reached the round of 16 at the US Open.[2] Shaughnessy also scored an upset over world No. 2 Venus Williams, in the round of 16 of the NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami. In 2004, she produced sub-par results, finishing just inside of the top 40, with only one top five win, over Anastasia Myskina in Dubai. However, she obtained the best doubles results of her career, winning seven tournaments with partner Nadia Petrova, including the WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles.[2]

In 2005, Shaughnessy struggled with injuries and consistency. Her year began with a right leg injury, which forced her to withdraw from the Australian Open doubles competition, and from a tournament in Hyderabad, India. However, she showed signs of recovery in February, reaching the final of Memphis, defeating Nicole Vaidišová in the semifinals. The match featured Shaughnessy serving 22 aces in a 7–6, 7–6 win. After Memphis, Shaughnessy struggled with back injuries for the duration of the spring, not reaching another semifinal until June at the Ordina Open in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

By July, Shaughnessy's ranking had dropped so low that she was forced to qualify for the Palo Alto tournament. She qualified, and then surprised fifth seed Vera Zvonareva in the first round,[7] before losing to Daniela Hantuchová in the second round. A back injury forced her to withdraw from tournaments in Carlsbad, California and Los Angeles. As a wildcard in New Haven, she defeated No. 9 seed Nathalie Dechy for the first time in ten attempts,[8] before losing to doubles partner Anna-Lena Grönefeld in the second round. In the opening round of the US Open, Shaughnessy led 16-year-old Sesil Karatantcheva 6–3, 5–2 and held two match points, before losing 6–3, 5–7, 5–7.

However, on March 24, 2006, Shaughnessy beat No. 3 seed Justine Henin 7–5, 6–4 in the second round of the NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami. She then won a WTA-level event in Rabat, beating eighth seeded Martina Suchá in three sets. It was her fourth tour title. She became the first American to win a WTA-level title as well as the first to reach a WTA final in 2006. Shaughnessy afterwards reached the second round at Istanbul, beating third seeded Anna Chakvetadze in the first round. She then fell in the first round in the French Open to top-seeded Amélie Mauresmo, 4–6, 4–6.

The next year, she faced the previous year's runner-up, Svetlana Kuznetsova, in the second round of the French Open. Shaughnessy raced into a 5–0 lead in the first set, and in the sixth game held three set points on Kuznetsova's serve. However, Kuznetsova saved them all, won the game and recovered to clinch the set on a tie-break, before winning the second set 6–3.

Shaughnessy then concentrated on doubles, and regularly partnered with fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands. The pair reached the doubles finals of the 2011 Indian Wells Open, by successively defeating Alisa Kleybanova & Yan Zi, Raquel Kops-Jones & Abigail Spears, Liezel Huber & Nadia Petrova and Victoria Azarenka & Maria Kirilenko, but lost to Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina in the finals.

Personal life

Shaughnessy was in a relationship with her coach Rafael Font de Mora; they met when she was 13 and she moved in with him a year later.[9][10][11] Their romantic and coaching relationship ended in 2005. However, she briefly reunited with Font De Mora as her coach during the latter part of 2006.[12]

Shaughnessy was in a relationship with Major League Baseball player Roberto Alomar from 2004 to 2006, whom she alleged had exposed her to HIV. The lawyer of Alomar's ex-wife claimed that Alomar paid $4 million in settlements to Shaughnessy and another ex-girlfriend.[13]

WTA career finals

Singles: 10 (6–4)

Legend (pre/post 2009)
Grand Slam tournaments
Tier I / Premier M & Premier 5
Tier II / Premier (0–3)
Tier III, IV & V / International (6–1)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Winner 1. Oct 2000 Shanghai, China Hard (i) Uzbekistan Iroda Tulyaganova 7–6, 7–5
Runner-up 1. Mar 2001 Scottsdale, United States Hard United States Lindsay Davenport 2–6, 3–6
Runner-up 2. May 2001 Hamburg, Germany Clay United States Venus Williams 3–6, 0–6
Winner 2. Sep 2001 Quebec City, Canada Carpet (i) Croatia Iva Majoli 6–1, 6–3
Runner-up 3. Jan 2002 Sydney, Australia Hard Switzerland Martina Hingis 2–6, 3–6
Winner 3. Jan 2003 Canberra, Australia Hard Italy Francesca Schiavone 6–1, 6–1
Runner-up 4. Feb 2005 Memphis, United States Hard (i) Russia Vera Zvonareva 6–7(3–7), 2–6
Winner 4. May 2006 Rabat, Morocco Clay Slovakia Martina Suchá 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
Winner 5. Aug 2006 Forest Hills, United States Hard Israel Anna Smashnova 1–6, 6–0, 6–4
Winner 6. Jun 2007 Barcelona, Spain Clay Romania Edina Gallovits 6–3, 6–2

Doubles: 33 (17–16)

Legend (pre/post 2009)
Grand Slam tournaments
WTA Tour Championships (1–0)
Tier I / Premier M & Premier 5 (5–5)
Tier II / Premier (6–6)
Tier III, IV & V / International (5–5)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up 1. May 1999 Bol, Croatia Clay Romania Andreea Vanc Croatia Jelena Kostanić
Czech Republic Michaela Paštiková
5–7, 7–6(7–1), 2–6
Runner-up 2. May 1999 Antwerp, Belgium Clay Australia Louise Pleming Italy Laura Golarsa
Slovenia Katarina Srebotnik
4–6, 2–6
Runner-up 3. Oct 2000 Shanghai, China Hard (i) Italy Rita Grande United States Lilia Osterloh
Thailand Tamarine Tanasugarn
5–7, 1–6
Winner 1. Nov 2000 Quebec City, Canada Hard (i) Australia Nicole Pratt Belgium Els Callens
United States Kimberly Po
6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 4. Jan 2001 Gold Coast, Australia Hard United States Katie Schlukebir Italy Giulia Casoni
Slovakia Janette Husárová
6–7(9–11), 5–7
Runner-up 5. Mar 2001 Scottsdale, United States Hard Belgium Kim Clijsters United States Lisa Raymond
Australia Rennae Stubbs
w/o
Winner 2. May 2001 Berlin, Germany Clay Belgium Els Callens Zimbabwe Cara Black
Russia Elena Likhovtseva
6–4, 6–3
Runner-up 6. Oct 2001 Filderstadt, Germany Hard (i) Belgium Justine Henin United States Lindsay Davenport
United States Lisa Raymond
4–6, 7–6(7–4), 5–7
Winner 3. Jan 2002 Gold Coast Hard Belgium Justine Henin Sweden Åsa Carlsson
Netherlands Miriam Oremans
6–1, 7–6(8–6)
Runner-up 7. Oct 2002 Filderstadt Hard (i) Argentina Paola Suárez United States Lindsay Davenport
United States Lisa Raymond
2–6, 4–6
Winner 4. Oct 2003 Moscow, Russia Carpet (i) Russia Nadia Petrova Russia Anastasia Myskina
Russia Vera Zvonareva
6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 8. Jan 2004 Sydney, Australia Hard Russia Dinara Safina Zimbabwe Cara Black
Australia Rennae Stubbs
5–7, 6–3, 4–6
Winner 5. Apr 2004 Key Biscayne, United States Hard Russia Nadia Petrova Russia Svetlana Kuznetsova
Russia Elena Likhovtseva
6–2, 6–3
Winner 6. Apr 2004 Amelia Island, United States Clay Russia Nadia Petrova Switzerland Myriam Casanova
Australia Alicia Molik
3–6, 6–2, 7–5
Winner 7. May 2004 Berlin Clay Russia Nadia Petrova Slovakia Janette Husárová
Spain Conchita Martínez
6–2, 2–6, 6–1
Winner 8. May 2004 Rome, Italy Clay Russia Nadia Petrova Spain Virginia Ruano Pascual
Argentina Paola Suárez
2–6, 6–3, 6–3
Winner 9. Jul 2004 Los Angeles, United States Hard Russia Nadia Petrova Spain Conchita Martínez
Spain Virginia Ruano Pascual
6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–3
Winner 10. Aug 2004 New Haven, United States Hard Russia Nadia Petrova United States Martina Navratilova
United States Lisa Raymond
6–1, 1–6, 7–6(7–4)
Winner 11. Nov 2004 Los Angeles Hard Russia Nadia Petrova Zimbabwe Cara Black
Australia Rennae Stubbs
7–5, 6–2
Runner-up 9. Mar 2005 Indian Wells, United States Hard Russia Nadia Petrova Spain Virginia Ruano Pascual
Argentina Paola Suárez
6–7(3–7), 1–6
Winner 12. Sep 2005 Bali, Indonesia Hard Germany Anna-Lena Grönefeld China Yan Zi
China Zheng Jie
6–3, 6–3
Winner 13. Jan 2006 Gold Coast Hard Russia Dinara Safina Zimbabwe Cara Black
Australia Rennae Stubbs
6–2, 6–3
Winner 14. Mar 2006 Acapulco, Mexico Clay Germany Anna-Lena Grönefeld Japan Shinobu Asagoe
France Émilie Loit
6–1, 6–3
Runner-up 10. Mar 2006 Indian Wells Hard Spain Virginia Ruano Pascual United States Lisa Raymond
Australia Samantha Stosur
2–6, 5–7
Runner-up 11. Apr 2006 Charleston, United States Hard Spain Virginia Ruano Pascual United States Lisa Raymond
Australia Samantha Stosur
6–3, 1–6, 1–6
Runner-up 12. Aug 2006 San Diego, United States Hard Germany Anna-Lena Grönefeld Zimbabwe Cara Black
Australia Rennae Stubbs
2–6, 2–6
Winner 15. Jan 2007 Sydney Hard Germany Anna-Lena Grönefeld France Marion Bartoli
United States Meilen Tu
6–3, 3–6, 7–6(7–2)
Runner-up 13. Feb 2010 Memphis, United States Hard (i) United States Bethanie Mattek-Sands United States Vania King
Netherlands Michaëlla Krajicek
5–7, 2–6
Winner 16. May 2010 Warsaw, Poland Clay Spain Virginia Ruano Pascual Zimbabwe Cara Black
China Yan Zi
6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 14. Aug 2010 New Haven Hard United States Bethanie Mattek-Sands Czech Republic Květa Peschke
Slovenia Katarina Srebotnik
5–7, 0–6
Winner 17. Feb 2011 Paris, France Hard (i) United States Bethanie Mattek-Sands Russia Vera Dushevina
Russia Ekaterina Makarova
6–4, 6–2
Runner-up 15. Mar 2011 Indian Wells Hard United States Bethanie Mattek-Sands India Sania Mirza
Russia Elena Vesnina
0–6, 5–7
Runner-up 16. Apr 2011 Charleston Clay United States Bethanie Mattek-Sands India Sania Mirza
Russia Elena Vesnina
4–6, 4–6

References

  1. Wilstein, Steve (2000-09-02). "Williams survives scare in U.S. Open". Ellensburg Daily Record. Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  2. "Meghann Shaughnessy". WTA Tour. Archived from the original on 2010-11-04. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  3. Tokarz, Wally (2001-03-04). "Shaughnessy Upsets Seles". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  4. "Tennis: Roundup; Venus Williams Falls to Shaughnessy". The New York Times. 2001-07-28. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  5. "Shaughnessy upsets Dokic in Leipzig". CNN Sports Illustrated. 2002-09-25. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  6. Dillman, Lisa (2002-01-14). "Two Cruel Twists of Fate". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  7. Curtis, Jake (2005-07-27). "No. 1,008 loses, but improves". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  8. Ulman, Howard (2005-08-23). "Shaughnessy ends winless streak against Dechy". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  9. Bricker, Charles (2003-03-26). "Shaughnessy Frank About Capriati, More". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  10. Roberts, Selena (2001-07-01). "TENNIS; Shaughnessy's Way Works Again". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  11. "Meghann Shaughnessy". memim.com. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  12. "TennisReporters.net/Groenefeld Tormented by Ex-CoachOn Font de Mora: 'I don't want to go down to his level'". Archived from the original on 2010-04-29. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
  13. Mike Fish, "Drama follows retired baseball all-star", "ESPN Outside the Lines", August 10, 2011
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