Wikipedia - Claire Liu
Claire Liu (born May 25, 2000) is an American professional tennis player. On 30 January 2023, she reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 52 by the WTA.
Liu has won one singles title and one doubles title on the WTA Challenger Tour as well as six titles in singles and one doubles title in tournaments of the ITF Women's Circuit.
In 2017, she was the world No. 1 in the junior rankings, after winning the Wimbledon girls' singles title, and finishing runner-up at the French Open. Liu also won a junior Grand Slam doubles title at Wimbledon with Usue Arconada in 2016.
History
Juniors
Grand Slam results - Singles:
- Australian Open: –
- French Open: F (2017)
- Wimbledon: W (2017)
- US Open: 2R (2013, 2016)
Grand Slam results - Doubles:
- Australian Open: –
- French Open: QF (2017)
- Wimbledon: W (2016)
- US Open: QF (2016)
Liu won the Junior Wimbledon doubles tournament in 2016 with fellow American Usue Arconada, defeating Mariam Bolkvadze and Caty McNally in the final, in straight sets. The following year, after losing the French Open junior final to Whitney Osuigwe, she came back to win the Wimbledon singles title against Ann Li, making her the first American girl to win the event since Chanda Rubin in 1992. With this Grand Slam success, Liu rose to world No. 1 in the girls' junior rankings.
2015: First professional title, Mixed doubles Major debut
She won her first professional title in March 2015, at an Orlando clay-court tournament on the ITF Women's Circuit. At age 14, Liu was the youngest tennis player to win a professional tournament since Anna Kournikova in 1996.
On her debut at the US Open, Liu was granted a wildcard into the qualifying tournament. She beat Verónica Cepede Royg and ninth seed Jana Čepelová in her first two matches, before losing to the 26th seed, Alexandra Panova, in the final round. Liu, alongside Taylor Fritz, was also given a wildcard for the mixed-doubles draw; they were defeated in the first round by the fourth seeds and eventual champions, Martina Hingis and Leander Paes.
2017: Grand Slam debut in singles and doubles
After securing two ITF tournament wins in 2017, Liu was granted again a wildcard into the qualifying for the US Open. She defeated all three of her opponents in the qualifying tournament, earning her a spot in the singles main draw of a Grand Slam championship for the first time. There, she was defeated in the first round, in straight sets by Duan Yingying.
In their doubles main-draw debut at a major, Liu and Taylor Johnson lost in the first round of the US Open.
2018: First Grand Slam match win
At the 2018 Wimbledon Championships, Liu advanced to the main draw by winning all of her qualifying matches. She lost in the second round to the eventual champion Angelique Kerber. Liu was the only player in the tournament to win a set against Kerber.
2019–2021: Top 100 debut
In October 2019, Liu won her fourth title on the ITF Circuit at a $25k tournament in Florence, South Carolina. After finishing as a runner-up in two tournaments in 2020 and another two in 2021, Liu won consecutive tournaments in May 2021 at a $60k tournament in Charlottesville, Virginia and a $100k tournament in Charleston. As a result, she entered the top 100 on 23 August 2021.
2022: Maiden WTA Tour final, top 60 year-end ranking
In May, she reached her maiden WTA Tour final in Rabat losing to Martina Trevisan who was also a first-time WTA tournament finalist. As a result, she reached the top 75 on 23 May 2022.
2023–2024: WTA 1000 third round
She reached the third round of a WTA 1000 for the first time at the 2023 Miami Open defeating Katerina Siniakova by retirement and lucky loser Julia Grabher. She lost to 25th seed Martina Trevisan.
She qualified for the 2024 Miami Open and defeated Petra Martić before losing to tenth seed Daria Kasatkina after retiring.
She also qualified for the 2024 Credit One Charleston Open but lost to wildcard and compatriot Shelby Rogers.