 | Born: 16/7/76 Nationality: Israeli Seeded: 14 World ranking: 17 Australian Open best:
3rd round (2003 & 1995) Recent record:
2003: 3rd round
2002: 1st round
2001: 1st round |
Pistolesi has raised her level considerably over the last two years to become a fixture in the world's top 20, but she has yet to threaten at a Grand Slam. The 27-year-old made a major improvement in 2002 when she picked up three tour titles and managed to build on that last year, adding two more.
It was an impressive effort from a player who turned professional 12 years ago.
But the Israeli, formerly Anna Smashnova, remains very much in the second tier of the world game.
She beat Klara Koukalova and Jelena Kostanic to win her titles in Sopot and Helsinki last year, and struggled whenever she faced a top-10 player.
Pistolesi's Grand Slam record is woeful, with only one fourth round appearance at the French Open way back in 1995, and she needs to improve at the highest level to break into the top 10.
MMIX
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