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Karin Knapp

Ita
Residence: Lutago, Italy
DOB: June 28, 1987
Birthplace: Brunico, Italy
Height: 5' 11" (1.80 m)
Weight: 159 lbs. (72 kg)
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Status: Pro (2002)
JANUARY - Fell in Brisbane qualifying; fell 1r at Sydney (as LL, l. to WC Gajdosova); reached 2r at Australian Open (l. to Voskoboeva).

FEBRUARY - Played on ITF Circuit.

MARCH - Reached 3r at Indian Wells (l. to Pavlyuchenkova); fell 1r at Miami (l. to Zahlavova Strycova).

APRIL - Fell in Stuttgart qualifying.

MAY - Fell 1r at Rome (as WC, l. to Dulko).
2003 - Played first events of career on ITF Circuit in Italy.

2004 - Won one doubles title on ITF Circuit.

2005 - Played first Tour qualifying at Modena; continued to play on ITF Circuit.

2006 - Played first four Tour main draws, reaching QF at Palermo (l. to Medina Garrigues) and 2r at Luxembourg (d. No.17 Groenefeld in 1r for first Top 20 win; l. to Peschke) but falling 1r at Strasbourg and Portoroz (both 76 third set); fell in Tour qualifying three times (incl. US Open); won one singles title and one doubles title on ITF Circuit.

2007 - First Top 100 finish in first full season on Tour; SF three times, at Budapest (l. to Cirstea), Palermo (l. to Müller) and Bad Gastein (l. to Meusburger); played first three Grand Slam main draws, reaching 3r at Roland Garros and 2r at US Open but falling 1r at Wimbledon; reached 2r two more times; fell 1r four more times and in Tour qualifying seven times (incl. Australian Open); made Top 100 debut on April 16 (rose from No.102 to No.99) and Top 50 debut on July 30 (after Bad Gastein; rose from No.58 to No.46).

2008 - Second straight Top 100 season, highlighted by strong early results but marred by illness; breakthrough week at Antwerp, reaching first Tour singles final (d. No.4 seed Schnyder and No.9 seed Li en route, falling to top seed Henin; win over world No.13 Schnyder was second Top 20 win); QF at Estoril (as No.3 seed, l. to No.6 seed Zakopalova in 3s); reached 3r at Roland Garros (as No.32 seed, l. to top seed Sharapova); in nine other events in first half of year, reached 2r three times and fell 1r six times (incl. Australian Open); reached career-high No.35 on February 25 (a week after Antwerp); withdrew from grass court season (Eastbourne, Wimbledon) and almost all of summer (Budapest, Bad Gastein, Portoroz, Stockholm, Olympics, New Haven) w/illness; returned at US Open, falling 1r (l. to Benesova) then reached another QF at Guangzhou (d. No.8 seed Koryttseva en route; l. to top seed and eventual champion Zvonareva) but fell in qualifying at last four events of year, dipping to No.80 by November 10 year-end rankings; had also withdrawn from Strasbourg earlier in season w/left foot injury; member of Italian Fed Cup team that d. Ukraine 3-2 in World Group Play-off (went 0-2).
SINGLES
Winner: 2006 - ITF/Monteroni d'Arbia-ITA.
Finalist (1): 2008 - Antwerp.
Semifinalist (3): 2007 - Budapest, Palermo, Bad Gastein.
Quarterfinalist (3): 2008 - Estoril, Guangzhou; 2006 - Palermo.

DOUBLES
Winner: 2006 - ITF/Cuneo-ITA (w/Errani); 2004 - ITF/Benevento-ITA (w/Gabba).
Finalist (1): 2007 - Palermo (w/Canepa).

ADDITIONAL
Italian Fed Cup Team, 2008.
Coached by Marco Boesso ... Father, Alois, is a fabric manufacturer; mother, Marianne, is a retired teacher; two brothers are Stefan and Michael (both students) ... Began playing tennis when introduced by parents at age 7 ... Favorite surface is hard; favorite shot is forehand ... Speaks German, Italian and English ... Favorite things include good pasta, the movie Gladiator, pop music, skiing, watching TV, traveling ... Admires Kim Clijsters.