Monica Niculescu life and biography

Monica Niculescu is a Romanian tennis player. As of October 25, 2010 she is ranked No. 83 at the WTA Tour Singles Ranking. Her highest WTA rankings was No. 47 in singles, reached on 10 November 2008, and No. 24 in doubles, reached on June 7, 2010.

Niculescu was born in Slatina, Romania, but moved to Bucharest when she was four. She is currently coached by Calin Stelian Ciorbagiu.

CAREER:

2010:
In 2010 Monica started the tournament in Auckland coming from qualifying. In the first round of qualifying has gone Kurumi Nara with the score 6–1, 7–6 (0). In the second round of qualifying has gone Kristína Kučová with the score 3–6, 6 -3, 6–1.In the last round of qualifying has gone Rebecca Marino with 6–4, 1–6, 6–3 qualifying, first round, where they lost to # 5 Virginie Razzano with the score 5–7, 4–6. The doubles went along with Ioana Raluca Olaru of a pair of Anabel Medina Garrigues and Carla Suárez Navarro with the score 7–5, 7–5 in the second round losing to Cara Black and Liezel Huber with the score 3–6, 2–6. The tournament in Australian Open lost in first round at Jelena Janković with the score 4–6, 0–6. And in doubles along with Chan Yung-jan passed the first round of Monique Adamczak and Nicole Kriz with the score 6–3, 6–1. The group passed the second round consists of two Russian girl Alla Kudryavtseva and Ekaterina Makarova with 6–4, 6–4 in the third round losing to # 6 Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs with the score 5–7, 3–6. In the next tournament ITF in Midland lost in first round at Eleni Daniilidou with the score 4–6, 2–6. In the next tournament Memphis lost in first round qualifying on a player coming from Valérie Tétreault with the score 3–6, 4–6. In doubles, reached the semifinals along with Riza Zalameda losing to Vania King and Michaëlla Krajicek with the score 1–6, 4–6. The tournament in Indian Wells lost in qualifying at Tamarine Tanasugarn with the score 0–6, 1–6. In doubles, together with Michaëlla Krajicek lost in first round at Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Yan Zi with a score of 7–6 (2), 6–2. The tournament in Marbella failed to qualify in the first round in singles, but double crossing with Sophie Lefèvre by Kristina Barrois and Ioana Raluca Olaru with the score 6–3, 4–6, in the second round losing to Virginia Ruano Pascual and Meghann Shaughnessy with the score 2–6, 4–6.

2011:
At the 2011 Australian Open, Niculescu defeated Timea Bacsinszky in straight sets 6-0, 6-3. Facing off against the 32nd seed, Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria, Niculescu cruised through the match winning, 6-4, 6-1. In the third round, she lost to the 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 0-6, 6-7.

PERSONAL:

Coached by Ciorbagiu Stelian Calin; also trains with Sorana Cirstea and Ioana Raluca Olaru when they are in Bucharest
Born in Slatina, Romania; has been living in Bucharest since age 4
Began playing at age 5; earliest memory of tennis was playing against sister
Mother is Cristiana Silvia Niculescu (pharmaceutical sales rep); father is Mihai Niculescu (engineer); has an older sister, Gabriela (was a professional tennis player and currently attends USC)
Admires Hingis, Agassi
Enjoys shopping, movies, reading, spending time with family
Favorite movie is Butterfly Effect (with Ashton Kutcher).

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