Olivia Nicholls

Last updated

Olivia Nicholls
Olivia Nicholls (2024 DC Open) 01.jpg
Nicholls at the 2024 Washington Open
Full nameOlivia Ann Nicholls
Country (sports)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Born (1994-10-26) 26 October 1994 (age 30)
Norwich, England
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) [1]
Turned pro2017
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize moneyUS$ 631,829
Singles
Career record32–39
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 943 (18 September 2017)
Doubles
Career record245–145
Career titles2
Highest rankingNo. 31 (17 March 2025)
Current rankingNo. 31 (17 March 2025)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open 1R (2023, 2025)
French Open 1R (2023, 2024)
Wimbledon 3R (2024)
US Open 3R (2024)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open SF (2025)
Wimbledon SF (2023)
Team competitions
BJK Cup SF (2022, 2024), record 3–2
Last updated on: 17 March 2025.
Olivia Nicholls
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Women's Tennis
Summer Universiade
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2017 Taipei Doubles

Olivia Ann Nicholls (born 26 October 1994) is a British tennis player who specializes in doubles. On 17 March 2025, she peaked at world No. 31 in the WTA doubles rankings.

Contents

Nicholls has won two doubles titles on the WTA Tour, one doubles title on the WTA Challenger Tour and 19 doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. [2]

Early life and education

Nicholls was born at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, the daughter of Ian and Ann Nicholls.[ citation needed ] She grew up in the Norfolk village of Acle.[ citation needed ] She completed a BSc in Sports Science with Management at Loughborough University. [3]

Career

At the 2017 Summer Universiade held in Taipei, Taiwan, she won the bronze medal in women's doubles, along with Emily Arbuthnott. [4]

2022: WTA Tour debut and first title

She made her WTA Tour debut at 2022 Lyon Open in the doubles draw, partnering with Alicia Barnett. The duo finished runners-up, [5] losing to Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva in straight sets. [6] Nicholls and Barnett won the doubles title at the Championnats Banque Nationale de Granby, defeating Harriet Dart and Rosalie van der Hoek in the final which went to a deciding champions tiebreak. [7]

2023: Wimbledon mixed doubles semifinal

At the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, partnering with Jonny O'Mara, Nicholls reached the semifinals in the mixed doubles, losing out to eventual champions Mate Pavić and Lyudmyla Kichenok. [8]

2024: Second WTA doubles title, top 60, British No. 1

Alongside Olivia Gadecki, Nicholls won the doubles title at the ATX Open, defeating Katarzyna Kawa and Bibiane Schoofs in the final. [9]

Prior to the 2024 US Open, where she reached the third round for the first time with new partner Tereza Mihalikova, Nicolls reached a ranking of No. 57 on 19 August, making her the No. 1 British female doubles player. [10]

Nicholls and Mihalikova reached back-to-back quarterfinals at the China Open [11] and at the next WTA 1000, the Wuhan Open. [12]

At the Billie Jean King Cup finals in November, Nicholls and Heather Watson lost to Mihalikova and Viktória Hrunčáková in the decivisve doubles match as Great Britain were eliminated in the semifinals by Slovakia. [13]

2025: Australian Open mixed doubles semifinal

Partnering Henry Patten, Nicholls reached the mixed doubles semifinals at the Australian Open, defeating top seeds Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani in the second round [14] and then Jackson Withrow and Irina Khromacheva in the quarterfinals. [15] [16] They lost to John-Patrick Smith and Kimberly Birrell in the last four. [17]

In March, alongside Tereza Mihalíková, Nicholls made it through to her first WTA 1000 final at Indian Wells, overcoming fifth seeds Hsieh Su-wei and Zhang Shuai in the semifinals. [18] Despite losing the championship match to Asia Muhammad and Demi Schuurs, [19] she moved up to a career-high number 31 in the WTA rankings. [20]

Performance timelines

Key
W F SFQF#RRRQ#DNQANH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (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.

Doubles

Current through the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup finals.

Tournament 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 SRW–LWin %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open AAAAA 1R A0 / 10–10%
French Open AAAAA 1R 1R 0 / 20–20%
Wimbledon Q1 ANHA 2R 1R 3R 0 / 33–350%
US Open AAAA 1R A 3R 0 / 22–250%
Win–loss0–00–00–00–01–20–34–30 / 85–838%
National representation
Billie Jean King Cup AAAA SF QR SF 0 / 23–260%
WTA 1000 tournaments
Canadian Open AANHAAA 1R 0 / 10–10%
Cincinnati Open AAAAAA QF 0 / 12–167%
China Open AANHA QF 0 / 12–167%
Wuhan Open AANH QF 0 / 12–167%
Guadalajara Open NHA 1R NTI0 / 10–10%
Win–loss0–00–00–00–00–00–16–40 / 56–555%
Career statistics
Tournaments0000151520Career total: 50
Titles0000101Career total: 2
Finals0000201Career total: 3
Overall win–loss0–00–00–00–014–154–1525–192 / 5043–4947%
Win %48%21%57%Career total: 47%
Year-end ranking27336232418763107

Mixed doubles

Tournament 2022 2023 2024 2025 SRW–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open AAA SF 0 / 13–1
French Open AAA0 / 00–0
Wimbledon 1R SF 2R 0 / 34–3
US Open AAA0 / 00–0
Win–loss0–13–11–13-14–3

WTA Tour finals

Doubles: 4 (2 titles, 2 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam (0–0)
WTA 1000 (0–0)
WTA 500 (0–0)
WTA 250 (2–2)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–1)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–1)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1 Mar 2022 Lyon Open,
France
WTA 250Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Germany.svg Laura Siegemund
Flag placeholder.svg Vera Zvonareva
5–7, 1–6
Win1–1 Aug 2022 Championnats de Granby,
Canada
WTA 250Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Harriet Dart
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Rosalie van der Hoek
5–7, 6–3, [10–1]
Win2–1 Mar 2024 ATX Open,
United States
WTA 250Hard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Olivia Gadecki Flag of Poland.svg Katarzyna Kawa
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Bibiane Schoofs
6–2, 6–4
Loss2–2 Jun 2024 Rosmalen Championships,
Netherlands
WTA 250Grass Flag of Slovakia.svg Tereza Mihalíková Flag of Estonia.svg Ingrid Neel
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Bibiane Schoofs
6–7(6–8), 3–6

WTA Challenger finals

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

ResultW–L   Date   TournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1 Dec 2022 Open de Limoges,
France
Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Georgia.svg Oksana Kalashnikova
Flag of Ukraine.svg Marta Kostyuk
5–7, 1–6
Win1–1 Mar 2024 Charleston Pro,
United States
Hard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Olivia Gadecki Flag of Italy.svg Sara Errani
Flag of Slovakia.svg Tereza Mihalíková
6–2, 6–1

ITF Circuit finals

Doubles: 39 (19 titles, 20 runner–ups)

Legend
W100 tournaments (2–3)
W60/75 tournaments (3–6)
W25 tournaments (6–7)
W10/15 tournaments (8–4)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0Nov 2015 GB Pro-Series Bath,
United Kingdom
W25Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Freya Christie
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lisa Whybourn
1–6, 6–4, [10–2]
Win2–0Feb 2016ITF Wirral,
United Kingdom
W10Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of the United States.svg Veronica Corning
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Harriet Dart
6–2, 1–6, [10–8]
Win3–0Sep 2016ITF Nottingham,
United Kingdom
W10Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of the United States.svg Dasha Ivanova
Flag of France.svg Margot Yerolymos
6–2, 1–6, [10–8]
Loss3–1Oct 2016ITF Loughborough,
United Kingdom
W10Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of the United States.svg Dasha Ivanova
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Petra Krejsová
6–7(2–7), 6–7(2–7)
Win4–1Nov 2016ITF Sheffield,
United Kingdom
W10Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of Finland.svg Mia Eklund
Flag of Belarus.svg Nika Shytkouskaya
7–6(7–3), 7–5
Win5–1Nov 2016 GB Pro-Series Shrewsbury,
United Kingdom
W10Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lauren McMinn
6–3, 6–3
Win6–1Feb 2017ITF Birmingham,
United Kingdom
W15Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of Norway.svg Melanie Stokke
Flag of Germany.svg Julia Wachaczyk
6–3, 5–7, [10–7]
Loss6–2Apr 2017ITF Óbidos,
Portugal
W15Carpet Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Laura Sainsbury Flag of Germany.svg Anna Klasen
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Erika Vogelsang
4–6, 1–6
Loss6–3May 2017ITF Hammamet,
Tunisia
W15Clay Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of Italy.svg Gaia Sanesi
Flag of Italy.svg Martina Spigarelli
0–6, 2–6
Win7–3Sep 2017ITF Madrid,
Spain
W15Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Spain.svg Marina Bassols Ribera
Flag of Spain.svg Júlia Payola
6–1, 6–2
Loss7–4Sep 2017ITF Clermont-Ferrand,
France
W25Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of Sweden.svg Cornelia Lister
Flag of Belarus.svg Vera Lapko
4–6, 3–6
Win8–4Mar 2018ITF Ramat Hasharon,
Israel
W15Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Ecuador.svg Charlotte Römer
Flag of Germany.svg Caroline Werner
6–4, 7–6
Win9–4Mar 2018ITF Tel Aviv,
Israel
W15Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of France.svg Mathilde Armitano
Flag of France.svg Elixane Lechemia
7–6, 6–3
Win10–4Apr 2018ITF Óbidos,
Portugal
W25Carpet Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of Belgium (civil).svg An-Sophie Mestach
Flag of Serbia.svg Nina Stojanović
4–6, 7–6(7–4), [10–6]
Win11–4Apr 2018ITF Óbidos,
Portugal
W25Carpet Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of France.svg Jessika Ponchet
Flag of Ukraine.svg Ganna Poznikhirenko
6–2, 6–1
Loss11–5May 2018ITF Monzón,
Spain
W25Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of Spain.svg Cristina Bucșa
Flag of Russia.svg Yana Sizikova
2–6, 7–5, [8–10]
Loss11–6Aug 2018ITF Chiswick,
United Kingdom
W25Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Freya Christie
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Samantha Murray
6–3, 5–7, [8–10]
Loss11–7Nov 2018ITF Wirral,
United Kingdom
W25Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Freya Christie
Flag of Russia.svg Valeria Savinykh
4–6, 5–7
Win12–7Nov 2018GB Pro-Series Shrewsbury,
United Kingdom
2W25Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of Germany.svg Tayisiya Morderger
Flag of Germany.svg Yana Morderger
0–6, 6–3, [10–4]
Loss12–8 Mar 2019 Torneig Els Gorchs,
Spain
W60Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jodie Burrage Flag of France.svg Jessika Ponchet
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Eden Silva
3–6, 4–6
Win13–8Mar 2020ITF Sunderland,
United Kingdom
W25Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Spain.svg Celia Cervino Ruiz
Flag of Spain.svg Maria Gutierrez Carrasco
6–4, 7–6
Loss13–9Sep 2020ITF Montemor-o-Novo,
Portugal
W25Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jodie Burrage Flag of Spain.svg Marina Bassols Ribera
Flag of Romania.svg Ioana Loredana Roșca
6–7(5–7), 6–4, [6–10]
Loss13–10May 2021ITF Santa Margarida,
Spain
W15Hard Flag of Spain.svg Celia Cerviño Ruiz Flag of Argentina.svg Victoria Bosio
Flag of Lithuania.svg Justina Mikulskytė
6–4, 1–6, [7–10]
Win14–10Jun 2021ITF Figueira da Foz,
Portugal
W25Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Turkey.svg Berfu Cengiz
Flag of Russia.svg Anastasia Tikhonova
6–3, 7–6
Loss14–11 Jul 2021 Open Araba en Femenino,
Spain
W60Hard Flag of Spain.svg Celia Cerviño Ruiz Flag of Australia (converted).svg Olivia Gadecki
Flag of Spain.svg Rebeka Masarova
3–6, 3–6
Loss14–12 Sep 2021 Caldas da Rainha Open,
Portugal
W60Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Japan.svg Momoko Kobori
Flag of Japan.svg Hiroko Kuwata
6–7, 6–7
Loss14–13Sep 2021ITF Santarem,
Portugal
W25Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Marie Benoît
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Eden Silva
5–7, 1–6
Loss14–14 Nov 2021 Open Nantes Atlantique,
France
W60Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Samantha Murray
Flag of France.svg Jessika Ponchet
4–6, 2–6
Loss14–15Dec 2021ITF Selva Gardena,
Italy
W25Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Hong Kong.svg Eudice Chong
Flag of Japan.svg Moyuka Uchijima
2–6, 1–6
Loss14–16 Jan 2022 Open Andrézieux-Bouthéon,
France
W60Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of France.svg Estelle Cascino
Flag of France.svg Jessika Ponchet
4–6, 1–6
Loss14–17 Feb 2022 Open de l'Isère,
France
W60Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of India.svg Prarthana Thombare
Flag of Japan.svg Yuriko Miyazaki
3–6, 3–6
Win15–17 Apr 2022 Bellinzona Ladies Open,
Switzerland
W60Clay Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Xenia Knoll
Flag placeholder.svg Oksana Selekhmeteva
6–7(7–9), 6–4, [10–7]
Loss15–18 May 2022 Torneig Solgironès,
Spain
W100Clay Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Andorra.svg Victoria Jiménez Kasintseva
Flag of Mexico.svg Renata Zarazúa
4–6, 6–2, [8–10]
Win16–18 Aug 2022 Kozerki Open,
Poland
W100Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Poland.svg Katarzyna Kawa
Flag of Germany.svg Vivian Heisen
6–1, 7–6(7–3)
Win17–18Mar 2023 Trnava Indoor,
Slovakia
W60Hard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia BarnettFlag placeholder.svg Amina Anshba
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Anastasia Dețiuc
6–3, 6–3
Loss17–19Jun 2023 Surbiton Trophy,
United Kingdom
W100Grass Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Yanina Wickmayer
Flag of the United States.svg Sophie Chang
4–6, 1–6
Win18–19 Jul 2023 Open Araba en Femenino,
Spain
W100Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of France.svg Estelle Cascino
Flag of Latvia.svg Diāna Marcinkēviča
6–3, 6–4
Loss18–20 Sep 2023 Tokyo Open,
Japan
W100Hard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alicia Barnett Flag of France.svg Jessika Ponchet
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Bibiane Schoofs
6–4, 1–6, [7–10]
Win19–20Jan 2024 Porto Indoor,
Portugal
W75+HHard (i) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sarah Beth Grey Flag of Portugal.svg Francisca Jorge
Flag of Portugal.svg Matilde Jorge
4–6, 6–3, [10–6]

References

  1. "Olivia Nicholls Tennis Player Profile & Rankings". LTA.
  2. "Olivia Nicholls". www.wtatennis.com.
  3. "Olivia Nicholls". www.lboro.ac.uk.
  4. "Taipei Universiade: Golden day for Chans, silver for others". www.taipeitimes.com.
  5. "Incredible semi-final comeback helps Team Bath Tennis player Alicia Barnett and Olivia Nicholls reach first WTA final at Lyon Open". 22 March 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  6. "Open 6e Sens Métropole de Lyon 2022 Scores | Latest Scores & Live Updates – WTA Official". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  7. "Kasatkina beats Saville in Granby, wins second title of 2022". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  8. "Wimbledon 2023: O'Mara and Nicholls miss out on a spot in the mixed doubles final". LTA. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  9. "Yuan battles past Wang Xiyu in Austin to capture first career title". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  10. "Olivia-Nicholls takes hold of British No.1 doubles spot". LTA. 21 August 2024.
  11. "China Open 2024: Results & updates". Lawn Tennis Association. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  12. "Wuhan Open: Results & updates". Lawn Tennis Association. 10 October 2024.
  13. "Great Britain suffer Billie Jean King Cup semi-final heartbreak against Slovakia". The Independent. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  14. "GB's Nicholls & Patten beat mixed doubles top seeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  15. "British duo Nicholls and Patten reach first grand slam semi-final". STV. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  16. "GB's Patten & Nicholls reach mixed doubles semi-finals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  17. "All-Aussie mixed doubles final locked in at Open". Yahoo News. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  18. "Hsieh, Zhang ousted from BNP Paribas Open women's doubles". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  19. "Muhammad and Schuurs capture WTA 1000 Indian Wells doubles title". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  20. "BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells 2025: Olivia Nicholls & Tereza Mihalikova finish as runners-up in first WTA 1000 final". Lawn Tennis Association. Retrieved 16 March 2025.