From the Miami Herald: The semifinalist without a title
Tatiana Golovin, the NASDAQ-100 Open women's semifinalist who fans least likely know, lives a few miles down the road and trains on Stadium Court at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. She also is the only one who hasn't won a Grand Slam event.
The 18-year-old's opponent in tonight's late semifinal on Stadium Court -- fourth-ranked Maria Sharapova -- won last year's Wimbledon. Top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo, who meets 14th-ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova at 1 p.m. today in the other women's semifinal, won the Australian Open in January, and Kuznetsova won the 2004 U.S. Open.
Golovin is among the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour players who draw attention with their overall package -- good looks, good game, good personality, diverse interests. But she is still seeking her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title. A win against Sharapova would put Golovin one match from that dream.
Golovin defeated Zheng Jie 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a Wednesday NASDAQ quarterfinal. She said she also plays piano, rides horses, ballroom dances and helps design her tennis outfits with sponsor Lacoste.
''How would I describe it?'' Golovin said of her drop-waisted white tennis dress with a halter-style top and flared skirt. ``I think it's very, you know -- we try to stay elegant and classy as Lacoste. I love the open back. It definitely is a little sassy and a little sexy, just the little wavy skirt. It's kind of what's happening in fashion right now.''
Golovin, a French national born in Moscow, has risen from No. 355 at the start of 2004 to her current ranking of 24 (and as high as 18 last April)...
Golovin's family moved to Lyon, France, when she was 8 months old, so her father could coach a French hockey team. She played hockey when she was young but stopped at about age 7 when she began spending winters in Bradenton, learning tennis with Nick Bollettieri. She moved to Miami's Brickell Key, off Brickell Avenue, after last year's Wimbledon.
''It feels really nice to be driving your car to the courts,'' Golovin said, ``sleeping in your own bed, knowing you know everything around. I know the courts so well. I know the conditions and the wind. I have my friends and family, so there's definitely a lot more support.''
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