Astra Sharma

Last updated

Astra Sharma
Sharma WMQ22 (18) (52191610935).jpg
Country (sports)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Residence Perth, Western Australia
Born (1995-09-11) 11 September 1995 (age 29)
Singapore [1]
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
PlaysRight (two-handed backhand)
CoachDavid Taylor
Prize moneyUS$ 1,953,612
Singles
Career record231–170
Career titles1
Highest rankingNo. 84 (21 February 2022)
Current rankingNo. 154 (5 May 2025)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open 2R (2019)
French Open 2R (2020, 2021)
Wimbledon 1R (2019, 2021, 2022)
US Open 1R (2019, 2020, 2021)
Doubles
Career record110–88
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 91 (21 February 2022)
Current rankingNo. 309 (5 May 2025)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open 1R (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
French Open 1R (2019, 2020, 2021)
Wimbledon 2R (2019)
US Open 1R (2021)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open F (2019)
Last updated on: 5 May 2025.

Astra Sharma (born 11 September 1995) is an Australian professional tennis player. She has career-high WTA rankings of 84 in singles and 91 in doubles. Sharma has won one singles title and three doubles titles on the WTA Tour. In addition, she has won one singles title on the WTA Challenger Tour as well as eight titles in singles and seven in doubles on the ITF Circuit.

Contents

In December 2017, she won the Australian Open Wildcard Playoff alongside Belinda Woolcock, their main-draw entry into the 2018 Australian Open.

At the 2019 Australian Open, she and fellow Australian John-Patrick Smith reached the final of the mixed-doubles competition after receiving a wildcard to enter the main draw.

Early life

Sharma's father, Devdutt Sharma, is a Singaporean Indian with roots from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Northern India. [2] He was a high jumper. [3] He attended Raffles Institution and National University of Singapore. [3] He worked as an acoustic engineer. [3] Astra's mother, Susan Tan, is a Singaporean Chinese. She was a sprinter from CHIJ Saint Theresa's Convent. [3] Astra, named after the Astras wielded by the Hindu gods, has a younger brother Astron who also went into a tennis career. [2]

Astra was born and raised in Singapore, before her parents emigrated to Perth, Western Australia in 2005, when she was ten years old. [4] She attended Applecross Senior High School. [5] As a junior, she did some training at Bull Creek Tennis Club, near Willetton.

Career

2011–2014: Career beginnings

Sharma made her ITF Circuit debut in October 2011, after qualifying in Kargoorlie. In 2012, Sharma played just four tournaments, without a win. In March 2013, she reached the quarterfinals in doubles at an ITF event in Sydney. In 2014, she competed in qualifying in three tournaments across the U.S., making the main draw in just one, where she lost in the first round.

In 2015, Sharma played just three tournaments on the ITF Circuit, reaching the quarterfinal or better in all three. She won her first title in July 2015 at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Sharma ended the season with a singles rank of 787. She also received a scholarship to Vanderbilt University, graduating in 2018, majoring in medicine, Health and Society, along the way helping the Commodores win their first NCAA team tournament in 2015, with various honors such as a selection to the 2014 SEC All Freshman team and being the 2017 SEC Player of the Year. [6] Originally intent on becoming an orthopedic surgeon, she decided not to continue in medical school as her professional tennis career took off. [7] Still in 2022, she used a partnership between the WTA and the University of Florida to earn a Master's degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology. [8]

2016–2018: ITF Circuit

In 2016, Sharma competed on the European ITF Circuit. She experienced little singles success but partnering Frances Altick, won two doubles titles in July.

She commenced the next season in June, qualifying and making the main draw in Sumter, USA. Across July and August 2017, Sharma won her second and third ITF titles in Târgu Jiu and Graz. She ended the year with a singles rank of 440.

In 2018, Sharma competed mostly on ITF events across North America. In March, she reached the final of the ITF Orlando. In June and July, she won her fourth and fifth singles titles in Baton Rouge and Gatineau, Canada. In October, she returned to Australia and reached the quarterfinals in three consecrative tournaments. Sharma ended 2018 with a singles rank of 225.

2019: First WTA Tour final

In January 2019, Sharma qualified for the Australian Open and won her first-round match over fellow Australian Priscilla Hon, before losing in the second round. [9] In mixed doubles, she and John-Patrick Smith made it through to the final, after they defeated the second seed team of Bruno Soares and Nicole Melichar in the semifinals, but lost to the third seeds, Barbora Krejčíková and Rajeev Ram. [10] In March, Sharma won the $25k singles and doubles at Irapuato, Mexico. In April, Sharma reached her first WTA Tour final, losing to Amanda Anisimova at the Copa Colsanitas. In May, she qualified for and reached the second round of the Strasbourg International, and later lost in the first round at the French Open. Sharma competed in qualifying events across the European grass-court season and lost in the first round of Wimbledon. In August, she travelled to North America and qualified for Cincinnati. At the US Open, Sharma lost in the first round. She ended the year with a singles rank of 108, and a doubles rank of 136.

2020: French Open match win

Sharma started 2020, losing in the singles and doubles first rounds of both Hobart International and Australian Open. For the mixed doubles, she partnered again with John-Patrick Smith, and they reached the semifinals in Melbourne. In March, Sharma reached the second round of the Monterrey Open and the quarterfinal of the ITF event in Irapuato, Mexico, before the tour was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [11]

At the US Open, Sharma lost in the first round to 19th seed Dayana Yastremska in a third set tie-breaker.

She qualified for the French Open and reached the second round of this year's much later held event.

2021: WTA Tour title, rank No. 98

Sharma defeated top seed Ons Jabeur to win the MUSC Health Women's Open (Charleston II), her first career title. [12]

In May, she made the second round of the French Open for a second consecutive year. In June, she entered Wimbledon as a lucky loser and was defeated by Kristýna Plíšková in the first round.[ citation needed ]

At the US Open, she qualified before losing to eighth seed Barbora Krejčíková in the first round.[ citation needed ] In October, she reached the second round at the Indian Wells Open.[ citation needed ]

Sharma ended 2021 with a singles ranking of 98, a career year-end high, and a doubles ranking of world No. 107.[ citation needed ]

2022–2024

In 2022, Sharma reached the second round at Indian Wells with a win over Magda Linette, [13] before losing to 13th seed Victoria Azarenka. [14]

In 2024, she entered the Charleston Open as a lucky loser and defeated compatriot Arina Rodionova [15] and 16th seed Lesia Tsurenko [16] to reach the round of 16 where she lost to third seed Maria Sakkari. [17]

Partnering Veronika Erjavec, Sharma was runner-up in the doubles at the WTA 125 2024 Canberra Tennis International, losing to Veronika Erjavec and Darja Semeņistaja in the final. [18]

Performance timelines

Key
W F SFQF#RRRQ#P#DNQAZ#POGSBNMSNTIPNH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Billie Jean King Cup, United Cup, Hopman Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records. [19]

Singles

Current through the 2025 Australian Open.

Tournament 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open 2R 1R 1R 1R Q2 Q2 Q2 0 / 41–420%
French Open 1R 2R 2R 1R A Q3 Q2 0 / 42–433%
Wimbledon 1R NH 1R 1R A Q1 Q1 0 / 30–30%
US Open 1R 1R 1R Q3 Q1 Q2 Q2 0 / 30–30%
Win–loss1–41–31–40–30–00–00–00 / 143–1418%
WTA 1000
Dubai / Qatar Open [a] AAA Q1 AAA0 / 00–0  
Indian Wells Open ANH 2R 2R AAA0 / 22–250%
Miami Open ANH Q1 1R AAA0 / 10–10%
Madrid Open ANHAAA Q2 A0 / 00–0  
Italian Open AAAAA Q1 0 / 00–0  
Canadian Open Q1 NH Q1 AAA0 / 00–0  
Cincinnati Open 1R Q2 Q1 AAA0 / 10–10%
Wuhan Open ANHAA0 / 00–0  
China Open Q1 NHAA0 / 00–0  
Guadalajara Open NHAAA0 / 00–0  
Career statistics
Tournaments1051211110Career total: 40
Titles0010000Career total: 1
Finals1010000Career total: 2
Overall win–loss7–102–512–113–110–11–10–01 / 4026–3940%
Year-end ranking10812896231120249$1,877,430

Doubles

Current through the 2024 US Open.

Tournament 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open 1R 1R 1R 1R A 1R 1R 0 / 60–60%
French Open A 1R 1R 1R AAA0 / 30–30%
Wimbledon A 2R NHA 1R AA0 / 21–233%
US Open AAA 1R AAA0 / 10–10%
Win–loss0–11–30–20–30–10–10–10 / 121–128%
Career statistics
Tournaments16513911Career total: 36
Titles0101100Career total: 3
Finals0102100Career total: 4
Overall win–loss0–14–52–511–128–80–10–13 / 3625–3344%
Year-end ranking327136109107117204

Mixed doubles

Tournament 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 SRW–LWin %
Australian Open F SF 1R 1R A0 / 47–464%
French Open ANHAAA0 / 00–0  
Wimbledon ANHAAA0 / 00–0  
US Open ANHAAA0 / 00–0  
Win–loss4–13–10–10–10–00 / 47–464%

Grand Slam tournament finals

Mixed doubles: 1 (runner-up)

ResultYearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss 2019 Australian Open Hard Flag of Australia (converted).svg John-Patrick Smith Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Barbora Krejčíková
Flag of the United States.svg Rajeev Ram
6–7(3–7), 1–6

WTA Tour finals

Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)

Legend
Grand Slam
WTA 1000
WTA 500
WTA 250 [b] (1–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (1–1)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1 Apr 2019 Copa Colsanitas, ColombiaInternationalClay Flag of the United States.svg Amanda Anisimova 6–4, 4–6, 1–6
Win1–1 Apr 2021 Charleston Open, United StatesWTA 250Clay Flag of Tunisia.svg Ons Jabeur 2–6, 7–5, 6–1

Doubles: 4 (3 titles, 1 runner-up)

Legend
Grand Slam
WTA 1000
WTA 500
WTA 250 (3–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (1–0)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (2–1)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0 Apr 2019 Copa Colsanitas, ColombiaInternationalClay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Zoe Hives Flag of the United States.svg Hayley Carter
Flag of the United States.svg Ena Shibahara
6–1, 6–2
Win2–0 Mar 2021 Abierto Zapopan, MexicoWTA 250Hard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ellen Perez Flag of the United States.svg Desirae Krawczyk
Flag of Mexico.svg Giuliana Olmos
6–4, 6–4
Loss2–1 Jul 2021 Hamburg European Open, GermanyWTA 250Clay Flag of the Netherlands.svg Rosalie van der Hoek Flag of Italy.svg Jasmine Paolini
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Jil Teichmann
0–6, 4–6
Win3–1 Apr 2022 Copa Colsanitas, Colombia (2)WTA 250Clay Flag of Indonesia.svg Aldila Sutjiadi Flag of the United States.svg Emina Bektas
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tara Moore
4–6, 6–4, [11–9]

WTA Challenger finals

Singles: 1 (title)

ResultW-L   Date   TournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0 Sep 2023 Open Romania Ladies, RomaniaClay Flag of Italy.svg Sara Errani 0–6, 7–5, 6–2

Doubles: 1 (runner-up)

ResultW–LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1 Jan 2024 Canberra International, AustraliaHard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kaylah McPhee Flag of Slovenia.svg Veronika Erjavec
Flag of Latvia.svg Darja Semeņistaja
2–6, 4–6

ITF Circuit finals

Singles: 15 (9 titles, 6 runner–ups)

Legend
W100 tournaments (1–0)
$60,000 tournaments (1–2)
$40,000 tournaments (0–1)
$25,000 tournaments (4–2)
$10/15,000 tournaments (3–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (6–2)
Clay (3–4)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Jul 2015ITF Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt10,000Hard Flag of Egypt.svg Ola Abou Zekry 6–3, 2–6, 6–0
Win2–0Jul 2017ITF Târgu Jiu, Romania15,000Clay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Belinda Woolcock 1–6, 6–2, 7–5
Win3–0Aug 2017ITF Graz, Austria15,000Clay Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Vendula Žovincová2–6, 6–3, 6–2
Loss3–1Oct 2017ITF Toowoomba, Australia25,000Hard Flag of Japan.svg Eri Hozumi 5–7, 2–6
Loss3–2Mar 2018ITF Orlando, United States15,000Clay Flag of the United States.svg Sophie Chang 3–6, 6–7(6–8)
Win4–2Jun 2018ITF Baton Rouge, United States25,000Hard Flag of the United States.svg Maria Mateas 6–2, 6–1
Win5–2Jul 2018 Challenger de Gatineau, Canada25,000Hard Flag of Mexico.svg Victoria Rodríguez 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win6–2Sep 2018ITF Cairns, Australia25,000Hard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Destanee Aiava 0–6, 7–6(7–5), 6–1
Win7–2Mar 2019ITF Irapuato, Mexico25,000Hard Flag of Paraguay.svg Verónica Cepede Royg 6–7(3–7), 6–4, 6–3
Loss7–3Jun 2023ITF Ystad, Sweden40,000Clay Flag of Turkey.svg İpek Öz 1–6, 3–6
Loss7–4Jul 2023 Open de Montpellier, France60,000Clay Flag of France.svg Clara Burel 3–6, 5–7
Win8–4 Oct 2023 Playford International, Australia60,000Hard Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg Joanna Garland 7–6(6), 6–0
Loss8–5 Oct 2023 Sydney Open, Australia60,000Hard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Destanee Aiava3–6, 4–6
Loss8–6Mar 2025ITF Sabadell, SpainW35Clay Flag of Spain.svg Guiomar Maristany 3–6, 3–6
Win9–6 Apr 2025 FineMark Women's Pro Tennis Championship, United StatesW100Clay Flag of the United States.svg Whitney Osuigwe 6–2, 6–2

Doubles: 12 (7 titles, 5 runner–ups)

Legend
$100,000 tournaments (0–1)
$80,000 tournaments (0–1)
$60,000 tournaments (1–1)
$40,000 tournaments (2–0)
$25,000 tournaments (2–2)
$10,000 tournaments (2–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–3)
Clay (5–2)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Jul 2016ITF Amstelveen, Netherlands10,000Clay Flag of the United States.svg Frances Altick Flag of the Netherlands.svg Erika Vogelsang
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Mandy Wagemaker
6–4, 6–2
Win2–0Jul 2016ITF Knokke, Belgium10,000Clay Flag of the United States.svg Frances Altick Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Déborah Kerfs
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Kelly Versteeg
6–4, 6–4
Loss2–1Oct 2017ITF Cairns, Australia25,000Hard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Belinda Woolcock Flag of Australia (converted).svg Naiktha Bains
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Abigail Tere-Apisah
6–4, 2–6, [6–10]
Win3–1Jun 2018ITF Sumter, United States25,000Hard Flag of Brazil.svg Luisa Stefani Flag of the United States.svg Julia Elbaba
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xu Shilin
2–6, 6–3, [10–5]
Loss3–2Jun 2018ITF Baton Rouge, United States25,000Hard Flag of Romania.svg Gabriela Talabă Flag of the United States.svg Hayley Carter
Flag of the United States.svg Ena Shibahara
3–6, 4–6
Win4–2Mar 2019ITF Irapuato, Mexico25,000Hard Flag of New Zealand.svg Paige Hourigan Flag of Paraguay.svg Verónica Cepede Royg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Renata Voráčová
6–1, 4–6, [12–10]
Loss4–3 Apr 2019 Dothan Pro Classic, United States80,000Clay Flag of Australia (converted).svg Destanee Aiava Flag of the United States.svg Usue Maitane Arconada
Flag of the United States.svg Caroline Dolehide
6–7(5), 4–6
Loss4–4 Nov 2020 ITF Charleston Pro, United States100,000Clay Flag of Egypt.svg Mayar Sherif Flag of Poland.svg Magdalena Fręch
Flag of Poland.svg Katarzyna Kawa
6–4, 4–6, [2–10]
Win5–4May 2023ITF Naples, United States60,000Clay Flag of the United States.svg Christina Rosca Flag of the United States.svg Sophie Chang
Flag of the United States.svg Angela Kulikov
6–1, 7–6(15-13)
Win6–4Jun 2023ITF Ystad, Sweden40,000Clay Flag of Ukraine.svg Valeriya Strakhova Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Jenny Dürst
Flag of Sweden.svg Fanny Östlund
4–6, 7–6(7–3), [11–9]
Win7–4Sep 2023ITF Kuršumlijska Banja, Serbia40,000Clay Flag of Ukraine.svg Valeriya StrakhovaFlag placeholder.svg Anastasia Gasanova
Flag placeholder.svg Ekaterina Makarova
6–1, 6–4
Loss7–5 Oct 2023 Playford International, Australia60,000Hard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kaylah McPhee Flag of Australia (converted).svg Talia Gibson
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Priscilla Hon
1–6, 2-6

Notes

  1. The first Premier 5 event of the year has switched back and forth between the Dubai Tennis Championships and the Qatar Ladies Open since 2009. Dubai was classified as a Premier 5 event from 2009 to 2011 before being succeeded by Doha for the 2012–2014 period. In 2015, Dubai regained its Premier 5 status while Doha was demoted to Premier status. The Premier 5 tournaments were reclassified as WTA 1000 tournaments in 2021.
  2. The WTA International tournaments were reclassified as WTA 250 tournaments in 2021.

References

  1. Tennis Australia. "Astra Sharma: "I'm super thrilled at my progress"".
  2. 1 2 Reddy, Vishnu (29 June 2019). "I chose the name 'Astra' which means the weapon of God and she has indeed lived up to that name!' – Mr Devdutt Sharma shares a brief perspective as a parent on the journey of Astra Sharma". Indian Tennis Daily.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Brijnath, Rohit (26 January 2019). "A Grand Slam finalist with Singapore links". The Straits Times.
  4. "Australian Open: Singapore-born Astra Sharma through to mixed doubles final". The Straits Times. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  5. "Specialist Tennis Program". Applecross Senior High School. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  6. Astra Sharma: From Currey Tennis Center to the Australian Open Finals
  7. Medical school? Vanderbilt star Astra Sharma is going pro in tennis after postseason
  8. GAME, SET, MATCH: WTA AND UF'S WINNING PARTNERSHIP
  9. "SHARMA, HIVES, BIRRELL OPEN WITH AO VICTORIES". Tennis Australia. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  10. "'Who's got my beers?': Australian doubles delight". The Age. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  11. "ITF ANNOUNCES POSTPONEMENT OF ALL ITF EVENTS UNTIL 20 APRIL". www.itftennis.com.
  12. "Sharma overcomes Jabeur in Charleston to claim first WTA singles title". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  13. "Magda Linette vs Astra Sharma". Tennis Majors. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  14. "Indian Wells: Two-time champ Azarenka advances past lucky loser Sharma". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  15. "Lucky loser Sharma prevails in all-Aussie Charleston first round". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  16. "Lucky loser Sharma books Round of 16 spot in Charleston". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  17. "Sakkari eases past Sharma, into Charleston quarterfinals". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  18. "Champions crowned at Workday Canberra International 2024". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  19. "Astra Sharma [AUS]| Australian Open". ausopen.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020.