At 41 years old, Vera Zvonareva made a striking comeback to the professional tour at the W100 Dubai, her first tournament since April 2024. The former world No. 2 demonstrated that she still possesses the power, drive, and motivation that defined her career. Although she did not capture a title, her run to the finals in both singles and doubles was a remarkable achievement.
Singles journey to the final
Zvonareva advanced to the singles final after defeating 16-year-old Mika Stojsavljevic in the semifinals. In the championship match, she faced Croatia’s Petra Marcinko, the fourth seed, who prevailed 6–3, 6–3. The 20-year-old champion represents a new generation of talent, highlighting the longevity of Zvonareva’s career, which began in 2000.
In the opening set, Zvonareva recovered from an early break but lost her serve again in the eighth game, allowing Marcinko to close out the set. The second set saw Zvonareva fall behind 0–2 before leveling at 2–2. However, persistent struggles on serve gave Marcinko the opportunity to secure two more breaks and seal the straight-sets victory.
Doubles final defeat
Later in the doubles final, Zvonareva partnered with Rada Zolotareva against Gao Xinyu and Mananchaya Sawangkaew. Despite a spirited effort, the pair fell 4–6, 7–5, 10–7 in a closely contested match.
A lasting impact
Zvonareva’s performance in Dubai underscored her enduring competitiveness and resilience. Her ability to reach two finals after such a long absence reaffirmed her place as one of the sport’s most respected veterans. Even without a trophy, her return was a powerful reminder of her lasting influence on the game.
Vera Zvonareva in 2025
Currently ranked no.745, Vera played her last match on the 7th of December when she capitulated to world no.103 Petra Marcinko 6-3 6-3 in the final of the W100 Dubai (draw).
At present, during this year the Russian has a 4-1 record. Vera Zvonareva’s latest run in the W100 Dubai was the best achievement of her season.
