WTA: What does “wunderkind” Ana Konjuh actually do?

Ana Konjuh was praised some years ago as the new star of the WTA tour. Injuries and bitter defeats kept throwing the Croatian back, but what about the 20-year-old and her career today?

Almost a year ago Ana Konjuh was in the top 20 of the world rankings. Today, the 20-year-old is ranked 421 again. But how did it come to the crash of the highly praised Croatian?

The child prodigy’s injury began on the big stage at the Wimbledon tournament, when the then 18-year-old delivered a mad match against Agnieszka Radwanska and twisted her ankle while leading – and lost the match in pain.

Konjuh nevertheless made an impression and was hyped as the hottest stock for the future ladies’ tennis throne. In the following months Konjuh confirmed her tennis talent, recovered from the ankle injury and continued to cause a sensation.

In 2016, the Croatian finished on position 48 and celebrated her premiere as a player in the top 50 at the end of the year. The calendar year 2017 should start again with good results and the hopes for the second WTA title (first title in Nottingham 2015) grew with fans and the Konjuh team.

In the middle of the year, the then 19-year-old seemed to establish herself among the world’s best with a bright forehand and good service. In August 2017 Konjuh reached her personal career high and was ranked 20th in the world ranking.

The second setback in the still young career of the Croatian followed after the US Open. An elbow operation ended Konjuh’s season prematurely and was the beginning of a difficult and protracted regeneration phase. Croatia’s tennis hopeful should not take the tennis racket into his hands for the time being.

Only four tournament participations and seven matches are booked for Konjuh in the current tennis year. The elbow surgery resulted in a much longer break and the 20-year-old doesn’t seem to be getting into the tour rhythm.

Konjuh celebrated his last appearance in Wimbledon and Claire Liu had to admit defeat in three sets. The elbow injury broke open again and another break is currently on the agenda. A next appearance this year is uncertain.