Monica Niculescu

Monica Niculescu
Country (sports)  Romania
Residence Bucharest, Romania
Born (1987-09-25) 25 September 1987
Slatina, Romania
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Turned pro May 2002
Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coach Călin Stelian Ciorbagiu
Prize money US$5,525,717
Singles
Career record 481–329 (59.38%)
Career titles 3 WTA, 1 WTA 125K, 18 ITF
Highest ranking No. 28 (27 February 2012)
Current ranking No. 82 (24 September 2018)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open 3R (2011, 2012, 2014)
French Open 2R (2014)
Wimbledon 4R (2015)
US Open 4R (2011)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games 2R (2016)
Doubles
Career record 418–242 (63.33%)
Career titles 8 WTA, 22 ITF
Highest ranking No. 11 (2 April 2018)
Current ranking No. 51 (24 September 2018)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open SF (2018)
French Open QF (2010)
Wimbledon F (2017)
US Open 3R (2009, 2010, 2016, 2017)
Team competitions
Fed Cup 30–20 (60%)
Last updated on: 25 September 2018.

Monica Niculescu (born 25 September 1987) is a Romanian professional tennis player. She reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 28 in February 2012, and has four singles titles to her credit on the WTA Tour since she turned pro in May 2002, the last one coming at the end of 2017, at the Open de Limoges. Although she was a steady top 30 player for several years and enjoyed relative success in singles, she is also a doubles specialist, where she achieved a career-high ranking of no.11, in April 2018, after partnering with Grand Slam winner and Olympic medalist Andrea Sestini Hlaváčková at Indian Wells. Her biggest doubles result up to date is reaching her first grand slam doubles final at Wimbledon, in 2017, alongside Chan Hao-ching. She was also runner-up at three Premier Mandatory events: the 2015 Wuhan Open, with fellow Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu, the 2016 Rogers Cup, with current world no.1 Simona Halep, and the 2017 Cincinnati Open, partnering former world no.1 in doubles, Su-wei Hsieh.

She is popular among spectators and other players alike for her unconventional style of play, employing an extreme grip as well as two hands for both her forehand and backhand. She is also best known for her trademark forehand-slice, her winning deamenour and her exceptional shot-making abilities at the net. Niculescu currently holds the Open Era record of highest first serve percentage in a year (91%-in 2011, tied with Sara Errani).[1]

Niculescu has defeated many top 10 opponents throughout her career, having 25 wins against top 10 opponents to date.[1]

Niculescu was born in Slatina, Romania, but moved to Bucharest when she was four. She is currently coached by Călin Stelian Ciorbagiu.[1]

Tennis career

2002–2005: Junior years

As a junior, Niculescu had the remarkable gift to win quite easily every final she reached. Thus, before reaching the age of 18, she won 11 ITF singles finals, losing only one set:

  • in Bucharest (August 2002), 6-1, 7-6 to Tsvetana Pironkova
  • in Cavtat (April 2003) 6-4, 6-1 to Darija Jurak
  • in Timişoara (August 2003) 6-2, 6-3 to Veronika Rizhik
  • in Albufeira (February 2004) 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 to Irina Kotkina
  • in Portimão (February 2004) 6-4, 7-6 to Nadja Pavić
  • in Bucharest (May 2004) 6-2, 6-2 to Simona Matei
  • in Iași (August 2004) 7-6, 6-0 to Raluca Olaru
  • in Cairo (March 2005) 6-4, 6-2 to Galina Fokina
  • in Ain Alsoukhna (March 2005) 6-3, 6-4 to Magdaléna Rybáriková
  • in Antalya (May 2005) 6-2, 6-2 to Ekaterina Dzehalevich
  • and in Coimbra (August 2005) 6-3, 6-1 against Aravane Rezaï

She also won 8 out of 14 ITF finals played in doubles, as a junior, in most of them having as a partner her older sister, Gabriela Niculescu. She played finals in girls' doubles in Roland Garros (2004, paired with Madalinea Gojnea) and twice in Wimbledon (2004 and 2005, paired with Marina Erakovic).

By the end of 2005, now already a senior player, she was No. 271 in the WTA rankings and No. 4 in Romania.

2006–2008: Constant progress as a senior, top 50

Niculescu made her WTA debut in 2006 Istanbul, where she won to then junior Sabine Lisicki but could not pass the 3rd qualification round. In 2007, she continued to play many ITF tournaments, and she also played in qualifications in all four Grand Slams and three other WTA tournaments, but only in Dubai she reached the main draw. Still, winning several ITF tournaments and gathering many small points, she finished the year 2007 in Top 200.

In 2008, she reached the quarterfinals in Tashkent, and in all four Grand Slams she reached the first round, with round 2 reached in Wimbledon. Gathering points constantly on WTA Tour, and also including some smaller successes in ITF tournaments, Niculescu was ranked 48th in the World, and 2nd in Romania, at the end of 2008.

2009: Setback and out of top 100

Niculescu opened the season at the Brisbane International, where she lost to Tsvetana Pironkova in the first round in three sets.[1] She also lost in the first round of the Moorilla Hobart International to Alona Bondarenko. At the 2009 Australian Open, Niculescu beat Katie O'Brien in the first round, 6–4, 6–4, before losing to Sara Errani in the second, 2–6, 3–6. Alongside Sorana Cîrstea, Niculescu was the 14th seed in women's doubles; they lost to Nathalie Dechy and Mara Santangelo in the second round, 3–6, 3–6.

In the other three Grand Slams, she did not go past round 1 of the main draw. Her best results of the year were quarterfinals in Tashkent and Strasbourg.

At the Open GDF Suez held in Paris, Niculescu defeated Timea Bacsinszky in the first round, before losing to eventual champion Amélie Mauresmo in the second. She then took part in the Dubai Tennis Championships. She beat Peng Shuai in the first round in three sets, 3–6, 7–5, 6–2, and then lost to world No. 3, Jelena Janković, 3–6, 2–6. Niculescu also partnered Elena Vesnina in doubles, and the two reached the quarterfinals in women's doubles; they lost to Anabel Medina Garrigues and Francesca Schiavone. Niculescu had two consecutive first-round losses, at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells (fell to Anna-Lena Grönefeld) and Sony Ericsson Open in Miami (fell to Tamira Paszek). Partnering Alisa Kleybanova, she reached the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open, where they lost to Maria Kirilenko and Flavia Pennetta. At the Sony Ericsson Open she partnered Kleybanova again, but they lost to second seeds Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual.

Niculescu withdrew from the Andalucía Tennis Experience and Barcelona Ladies Open due to a forearm injury.[1]

At the end of the year, she had slipped out of top 100.

2010: Comeback to top 100, first WTA semifinal

Monica Niculescu at the 2010 US Open

In 2010, Monica started the season in Auckland, coming from qualifying. In the first round, she lost to fifth seed Virginie Razzano, 5–7, 4–6. In doubles, she partnered Ioana Raluca Olaru, and they defeated Anabel Medina Garrigues and Carla Suárez Navarro, 7–5, 7–5. In the second round, they lost to Cara Black and Liezel Huber, 3–6, 2–6.

At the Australian Open, she lost in the first round to Jelena Janković, 4–6, 0–6. In doubles, she partnered Chan Yung-jan and defeated Monique Adamczak and Nicole Kriz, 6–3, 6–1. The pair defeated Alla Kudryavtseva and Ekaterina Makarova in the second round, 6–4, 6–4. In the third round, they lost to sixth seeds Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs, 5–7, 3–6.

Niculescu then played an ITF tournament in Midland, but lost in the first round to Eleni Daniilidou 4–6, 2–6.

In Memphis, she lost in the first round qualifying to Valérie Tétreault. In doubles, she reached the semifinals along with Riza Zalameda, losing to Vania King and Michaëlla Krajicek, 1–6, 4–6.

At Indian Wells, she lost in qualifying to Tamarine Tanasugarn. In doubles, together with Michaëlla Krajicek, she lost in first round to Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Yan Zi, 6–7, 2–6.

In Marbella failed to qualify in singles, but in doubles she partnered Sophie Lefèvre. They defeated Kristina Barrois and Ioana Raluca Olaru in the first round, 6–3, 4–6, [10–7]. However, in the second round, they lost to Virginia Ruano Pascual and Meghann Shaughnessy, 2–6, 4–6.

She made again her best in Tashkent, where she reached her first WTA semifinals but lost to Elena Vesnina.

Although in the first half of the year she was struggling between ranks 100 and 150, by the middle of the year she reached top 100 again and ended the year as No. 82 in the world, and No. 2 in Romania.

2011: Consistent game, advance to top 30

At the Australian Open, Niculescu defeated Timea Bacsinszky in straight sets, 6–0, 6–3. Facing off against the 32nd seed, Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria, Niculescu cruised through the match winning 6–4, 6–1. In the third round, she lost to the 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, 0–6, 6–7.

Niculescu defeated Patricia Mayr-Achleitner in the first round and compatriot Alexandra Dulgheru in the second round, 6–3, 6–0, to advance to the third round of the US Open. In defeating Lucie Šafářová, 6–0, 6–1, Niculescu advanced to the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles competition for the first time in her career, where she lost 4–6, 3–6 to unseeded Angelique Kerber.

At the Tier-1 China Open, she shocked the world with a dominating victory over fourth seed Li Na, 6–4, 6–0 in the first round and advanced to the semifinals, where she lost to eventual runner-up, Andrea Petkovic.

She advanced to her first WTA final at the International tournament in Luxembourg, losing to Victoria Azarenka, 2–6, 2–6. En route to the final, she spent many hours on court with a 6–7, 7–5, 7–6 first-round victory over Karin Knapp, a second-round 7–6, 3–6, 6–1 win over Anabel Medina Garrigues, and a 7–5, 4–6, 6–3 win in three hours over 2010 finalist Anne Keothavong in the semifinals.

The end of the year found her as No. 30 in the world and No. 1 in Romania.

2012: Career high, small setback, still top 60

At the Australian Open, Niculescu made it to the third round by defeating Alizé Cornet and Pauline Parmentier, but she was defeated by then–world No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki, 2–6, 2–6.

She reached quarterfinals in Doha, where she lost to Samantha Stosur.

Her best result was again the WTA final in Luxembourg, lost to Venus Williams.

Although in February Niculescu had reached rank No. 28, her career high so far, the inconsistent results during the season made her go down to world No. 58 by the end of the year.

2013: Steady position, first WTA title

Aside two WTA semifinals in Shenzhen and Monterrey, Niculescu won her first singles WTA title in Florianópolis.

She played in round 1 of all the Grand Slams, but lost the games constantly.

Yet, winning enough games and points in WTA tournaments, she kept her Top 60 position, finishing the season as No. 59 in the WTA rankings.

2014: Second WTA title, top 50 again

In all, Niculescu had an improving season, reaching round 3 at Australian Open, round 2 at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, quarterfinals in Shenzhen, Hobart and Florianópolis, and semifinals in Bucharest. The best result was her winning the WTA tournament in Guangzhou, as her second WTA title.

Thus she entered top 50 again by the end of the year.

2015: Tough matches, steady game

Much of early 2015 was particularly difficult for Niculescu, as she often faced difficult draws. For instance she drew world No. 1, Serena Williams, twice in a row in the second round of Indian Wells and Miami. While she managed to test Williams with a 5–7, 5–7 score, she was not able to win a set against her in either match. She also suffered first round losses at Shenzen, Hobart, the Australian Open, Dubai, Prague, and the French Open.[1]

Niculescu won the Marseille clay 100K ITF tournament in June. Shortly thereafter, she defeated first-seeded Agnieszka Radwańska 5–7, 6–4, 6–0 at the Aegon Open Nottingham WTA grass tournament to earn a place in the final where she lost to teenager Ana Konjuh 6–1, 4–6, 2–6. All five matches she played went to three sets. She then lost in the first round at Birmingham to the 10th seed, Barbora Strýcová.[1]

Niculescu earned a spot in the fourth round at the Wimbledon Championships for the first time, defeating Monica Puig 5–7, 6–3, 6–1, Jana Čepelová 6–3, 6–3, and Kristýna Plíšková 6–3, 7–5. This is the second time she has made it past the third round at a major. Despite winning the first set of her fourth-round match 6-1 and having a positive head-to-head record against the player, she was defeated by 15th-seeded Timea Bacsinszky, who took the next two sets. Bacsinszky has seen a dramatic improvement of her results, having recently also made the semifinals at the French Open.[2]

2016: Doubles success

Niculescu reached a career high ranking of 16 in doubles in July. She partnered with Sania Mirza to win in New Haven.[3]

2017: Wimbledon doubles final and first WTA 125 Series crown

Monica Niculescu started her season at Shenzhen Open with a victory, defeating Kai-Lin Zhang, but she lost her second match to Wang Qiang.

Next week, Niculescu played at Hobart International where she made it to the final where she lost to Elise Mertens 3–6, 1–6.

At the Australian Open, Monica lost to Anna Blinkova in the first round. Then, Niculescu played doubles with Abigail Spears, but they lost in the first round to Andrea Petkovic and Mirjana Lučić-Baroni. She won the WTA 125 Series Open at Limoges on November 12.

Playing style

Nicolescu plays right-handed, with powerful topspin backhand and unpredictable forehand slice. She has great volleying ability and great footwork.

Personal life

Her mother, Cristiana Silvia Niculescu is a pharmaceutical sales representative; her father Mihai Niculescu is an engineer.[1] Niculescu has an older sister, Gabriela, who was a professional tennis player and attended University of Idaho, after transferring from USC after her junior year.[1]

Monica Niculescu cited Martina Hingis and Andre Agassi as her tennis idols.[1] She enjoys shopping, movies, reading, and spending time with her family.[1] Niculescu listed her favourite movie as The Butterfly Effect with Ashton Kutcher.[1]

Significant finals

Doubles: 1 (1 runner-up)

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 2017 Wimbledon Grass Chinese Taipei Chan Hao-ching Russia Ekaterina Makarova
Russia Elena Vesnina
0–6, 0–6

Premier-Mandatory/Premier-5 finals

Doubles: 3 (3 runner-ups)

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 2015 Wuhan Hard Romania Irina-Camelia Begu Switzerland Martina Hingis
India Sania Mirza
2−6, 3−6
Loss 2016 Canada Hard Romania Simona Halep Russia Ekaterina Makarova
Russia Elena Vesnina
3–6, 6–7(5–7)
Loss 2017 Cincinnati Open Hard Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei Chinese Taipei Chan Yung-jan
Switzerland Martina Hingis
6–4, 4–6, [7–10]

WTA career finals

Singles: 8 (3 titles, 5 runners-up)

Legend (pre/post 2009)
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Tier I / Premier Mandatory & Premier 5 (0–0)
Tier II / Premier (0–0)
Tier III, IV & V / International (3–5)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Oct 2011 Luxembourg Open, Luxembourg International Hard (i) Belarus Victoria Azarenka 2–6, 2–6
Loss 0–2 Oct 2012 Luxembourg Open, Luxembourg International Hard (i) United States Venus Williams 2–6, 3–6
Win 1–2 Mar 2013 Brasil Tennis Cup, Brasil International Hard Russia Olga Puchkova 6–2, 4–6, 6–4
Win 2–2 Sep 2014 Guangzhou Open, China International Hard France Alizé Cornet 6–4, 6–0
Loss 2–3 Jun 2015 Nottingham Open, UK International Grass Croatia Ana Konjuh 6–1, 4–6, 2–6
Loss 2–4 Sep 2016 Korea Open, South Korea International Hard Spain Lara Arruabarrena 0–6, 6–2, 0–6
Win 3–4 Oct 2016 Luxembourg Open, Luxembourg International Hard (i) Czech Republic Petra Kvitová 6–4, 6–0
Loss 3–5 Jan 2017 Hobart International, Australia International Hard Belgium Elise Mertens 3–6, 1–6

Doubles: 24 (8 titles, 16 runners-up)

Legend (pre/post 2009)
Grand Slam tournaments (0–1)
WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
Tier I / Premier Mandatory & Premier 5 (0–3)
Tier II / Premier (1–4)
Tier III, IV & V / International (7–8)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 Aug 2008 Connecticut Open, United States Tier II Hard Romania Sorana Cîrstea Czech Republic Květa Peschke
United States Lisa Raymond
6–4, 5–7, [7–10]
Win 1–1 Jul 2009 Hungarian Ladies Open, Hungary International Clay Russia Alisa Kleybanova Ukraine Alona Bondarenko
Ukraine Kateryna Bondarenko
6–4, 7–6(7–5)
Loss 1–2 Aug 2009 Bank of the West Classic, United States Premier Hard Chinese Taipei Chan Yung-jan United States Serena Williams
United States Venus Williams
1–6, 4–6
Loss 1–3 Jan 2010 Hobart International, Australia International Hard Chinese Taipei Chan Yung-jan Czech Republic Květa Peschke
Chinese Taipei Chuang Chia-jung
6–3, 3–6, [7–10]
Loss 1–4 Jul 2010 Prague Open, Czech Republic International Clay Hungary Ágnes Szávay Switzerland Timea Bacsinszky
Italy Tathiana Garbin
5–7, 6–7(4–7)
Loss 1–5 Jul 2011 Baku Cup, Azerbaijan International Hard Kazakhstan Galina Voskoboeva Ukraine Mariya Koryttseva
Belarus Tatiana Poutchek
3–6, 6–2, [8–10]
Win 2–5 Jan 2012 Hobart International, Australia International Hard Romania Irina-Camelia Begu Chinese Taipei Chuang Chia-jung
New Zealand Marina Erakovic
6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–4), [10–5]
Loss 2–6 Sep 2012 Guangzhou Open, China International Hard Australia Jarmila Gajdošová Thailand Tamarine Tanasugarn
China Zhang Shuai
6–2, 2–6, [8–10]
Loss 2–7 Oct 2012 Luxembourg Open, Luxembourg International Hard (i) Romania Irina-Camelia Begu Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
3–6, 4–6
Loss 2–8 Jun 2013 Eastbourne International, United Kingdom Premier Grass Czech Republic Klára Koukalová Russia Nadia Petrova
Slovenia Katarina Srebotnik
3-6, 3-6
Win 3–8 Jan 2014 Shenzhen Open, China International Hard Czech Republic Klára Koukalová Ukraine Lyudmyla Kichenok
Ukraine Nadiia Kichenok
6–3, 6–4
Win 4–8 Jan 2014 Hobart International, Australia (2) International Hard Czech Republic Klára Koukalová United States Lisa Raymond
China Zhang Shuai
6–2, 6–7(5–7), [10–8]
Loss 4–9 Apr 2014 Katowice Open, Poland International Hard (i) Czech Republic Klára Koukalová Ukraine Yuliya Beygelzimer
Ukraine Olga Savchuk
4–6, 7–5, [7–10]
Loss 4–10 Jan 2015 Hobart International, Australia International Hard Russia Vitalia Diatchenko Netherlands Kiki Bertens
Sweden Johanna Larsson
5–7, 3–6
Loss 4–11 Oct 2015 Wuhan Open, China Premier 5 Hard Romania Irina-Camelia Begu Switzerland Martina Hingis
India Sania Mirza
2−6, 3−6
Loss 4–12 Oct 2015 Kremlin Cup, Russia Premier Hard (i) Romania Irina-Camelia Begu Russia Daria Kasatkina
Russia Elena Vesnina
3–6, 7–6(9–7), [5–10]
Win 5–12 Jan 2016 Shenzhen Open, China (2) International Hard United States Vania King China Xu Yifan
China Zheng Saisai
6−1, 6−4
Win 6–12 Jul 2016 Citi Open, United States International Hard Belgium Yanina Wickmayer Japan Shuko Aoyama
Japan Risa Ozaki
6–4, 6–3
Loss 6–13 Jul 2016 Rogers Cup, Canada Premier 5 Hard Romania Simona Halep Russia Ekaterina Makarova
Russia Elena Vesnina
3–6, 6–7(5–7)
Win 7–13 Aug 2016 Connecticut Open, United States Premier Hard India Sania Mirza Ukraine Kateryna Bondarenko
Chinese Taipei Chuang Chia-jung
7–5, 6–4
Loss 7–14 Oct 2016 Luxembourg Open, Luxembourg International Hard (i) Romania Patricia Maria Țig Netherlands Kiki Bertens
Sweden Johanna Larsson
6–4, 5–7, [9–11]
Win 8–14 Apr 2017 Ladies Open Biel Bienne, Switzerland International Hard (i) Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei Switzerland Timea Bacsinszky
Switzerland Martina Hingis
5–7, 6–3, [10–7]
Loss 8–15 Jul 2017 Wimbledon, United Kingdom Grand Slam Grass Chinese Taipei Chan Hao-ching Russia Ekaterina Makarova
Russia Elena Vesnina
0–6, 0–6
Loss 8–16 Aug 2017 Cincinnati Open, United States Premier 5 Hard Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei Chinese Taipei Chan Yung-jan
Switzerland Martina Hingis
6–4, 4–6, [7–10]

WTA 125 Series finals

Singles: 1 (1 title)

Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Nov 2017 Open de Limoges, France 125K Hard (i) Germany Antonia Lottner 6–4, 6–2

ITF finals (39 titles, 21 runner–up)

Singles (18 titles, 5 runner–up)

Legend
$100,000 tournaments
$75,000 tournaments
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments
$15,000 tournaments
$10,000 tournaments
Finals by surface
Hard (9–2)
Clay (9–3)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Outcome No. Datexf Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Winner 1. 12 August 2002 Bucharest, Romania Clay Bulgaria Tsvetana Pironkova 6–1, 7–6(7–4)
Winner 2. 9 April 2003 Cavtat, Croatia Clay Croatia Darija Jurak 6–4, 6–1
Winner 3. 25 August 2003 Timișoara, Romania Clay Spain Veronica Rizhik 6–2, 6–3
Winner 4. 9 February 2004 Albufeira, Portugal Hard Russia Irina Kotkina 6–1, 3–6, 6–0
Winner 5. 16 February 2004 Portimao, Portugal Hard Croatia Nadja Pavic 6–4, 7–6(7–4)
Winner 6. 17 May 2004 Bucharest, Romania Clay Romania Simona Matei 6–2, 6–2
Winner 7. 16 August 2004 Iași, Romania Clay Romania Raluca Olaru 7–6(7–5), 6–0
Winner 8. 15 March 2005 Cairo, Egypt Clay Russia Galina Fokina 6–4, 6–2
Winner 9. 21 March 2005 Ain Alsoukhna, Egypt Clay Slovakia Magdaléna Rybáriková 6–3, 6–4
Winner 10. 9 May 2005 Antalya, Turkey Clay Belarus Ekaterina Dzehalevich 6–2, 6–2
Winner 11. 15 August 2005 Coimbra, Portugal Hard France Aravane Rezaï 6–3, 6–1
Runner-up 1. 3 July 2006 Stuttgart, Germany Clay Ukraine Yevgenia Savranska 6-7(4–7), 5–7
Runner-up 2. 17 July 2006 Darmstadt, Germany Clay Romania Magda Mihalache 0–6, 1–6
Runner-up 3. 8 August 2006 Coimbra, Portugal Hard Republic of Ireland Kelly Liggan 0–6, 6-7(7–9)
Winner 12. 24 September 2007 Granada, Spain Hard Spain María José Martínez Sánchez 6–3, 6–4
Winner 13. 22 October 2007 Istanbul, Turkey Hard (i) Ukraine Oxana Lyubtsova 6–2, 6–0
Winner 14. 5 November 2007 Port Pirie, Australia Hard Chinese Taipei Hwang I-hsuan 6–1, 6–2
Winner 15. 19 November 2007 Mount Gambier, Australia Hard South Korea Ye-Ra Lee 6–3, 6–1
Runner-up 4. 3 November 2008 Krakow, Poland Hard (i) United Kingdom Anne Keothavong 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 3–6
Runner-up 5. 19 July 2010 Petange, Luxembourg Clay France Mathilde Johansson 3–6, 3–6
Winner 16. 19 November 2012 Nantes, France Hard (i) Kazakhstan Yulia Putintseva 6–2, 6–3
Winner 17. 1 June 2015 Marseille, France Clay France Pauline Parmentier 6–2, 7–5
Winner 18. 26 October 2015 Poitiers, France Hard (i) France Pauline Parmentier 7–5, 6–2

Doubles (21–16)

Legend
$100,000 tournaments
$75,000 tournaments
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments
$15,000 tournaments
$10,000 tournaments
Finals by surface
Hard (4–3)
Clay (17–13)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up 1. 12 August 2002 Bucharest, Romania Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Bulgaria Radoslava Topalova
Bulgaria Virginia Trifonova
4–6, 6–3, 3–6
Winner 1. 26 August 2002 Bucharest, Romania Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Czech Republic Iveta Gerlová
Germany Nina Nittinger
6–2, 6–2
Runner-up 2. 10 March 2003 Makarska, Croatia Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Austria Stefanie Haidner
Austria Daniela Klemenschits
6–3, 6–7(7–9), 4–6
Winner 2. 31 March 2003 Makarska, Croatia Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Croatia Darija Jurak
Slovakia Maria Jedlickova
6–2, 6–2
Runner-up 3. 14 April 2003 Dubrovnik, Croatia Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Bosnia and Herzegovina Mervana Jugic-Salkic
Croatia Darija Jurak
2–6, 6–4, 2–6
Runner-up 4. 11 August 2003 Bucharest, Romania Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Russia Anna Bastrikova
Russia Elena Vesnina
4–6, 4–6
Runner-up 5. 11 August 2003 Timișoara, Romania Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Hungary Julia Acs
Russia Vasilisa Davydova
4–6, 3–6
Winner 3. 17 May 2004 Bucharest, Romania Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Romania Lenore Lazaroiu
Romania Andra Savu
6–4, 6–2
Winner 4. 13 July 2004 Bucharest, Romania Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Romania Liana Ungur
United States Iris Ichim
6–4, 6–1
Winner 5. 9 August 2004 Târgu Mureș, Romania Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Romania Simona Matei
Hungary Barbara Pocza
7–5, 6–1
Winner 6. 16 August 2004 Iași, Romania Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Austria Nadine Schlotterer
Czech Republic Eva Valkova
7–5, 6–1
Winner 7. 15 March 2005 Cairo, Egypt Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Ukraine Hanna Andreyeva
Ukraine Valeria Bondarenko
6–2, 6–3
Winner 8. 15 March 2005 Ain El Soukhna, Egypt Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Romania Laura-Ramona Husaru
Germany Sarah Raab
6–1, 6–1
Runner-up 6. 11 April 2005 Civitavecchia, Italy Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Czech Republic Lucie Hradecka
Czech Republic Sandra Zahlavova
4–6, 3–6
Winner 9. 2 May 2005 Antalya, Turkey Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Ukraine Irina Buryachok
Russia Olga Panova
6–3, 6–4
Winner 9. 9 May 2005 Antalya, Turkey Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Czech Republic Renata Kucerkova
Germany Kathrin Woerle-Scheller
6–7, 6–0, 6–0
Runner-up 7. 15 October 2005 Sevilla, Spain Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Italy Sara Errani
Spain María José Martínez Sánchez
2–6, 6–7(5-7)
Runner-up 8. 3 April 2006 Athens, Greece Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Poland Olga Brozda
Estonia Margit Ruutel
6–2, 4–6, 2–6
Winner 10. 9 May 2006 Bucharest, Romania Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Romania Sorana Cirstea
Romania Diana Buzean
6–3, 6–0
Winner 11. 20 June 2006 Bucharest, Romania Clay Romania Gabriela Niculescu Romania Raluca Ciulei
Serbia Neda Kozic
6–2, 6–1
Winner 12. 3 July 2006 Stuttgart, Germany Clay Czech Republic Renata Voráčová Slovakia Eva Fislova
Slovakia Stanislava Hrozenska
6–2, 6–7(4-7), 7–5
Winner 13. 17 July 2006 Darmstadt, Germany Clay Ukraine Yevgenia Savranska Austria Daniela Klemenschits
Austria Sandra Klemenschits
1–6, 6–0, 6–1
Winner 14. 4 September 2006 Mestre, Italy Clay Czech Republic Renata Voráčová Georgia (country) Margalita Chakhnashvili-Ranzinger
Germany Tatjana Maria
6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Winner 14. 2 April 2007 Putignano, Italy Hard Slovenia Andreja Klepač United States Jessica Kirkland
Germany Carmen Klaschka
6–2, 7–5
Runners-up 9. 17 July 2006 Jounieh, Lebanon Clay Romania Madalina Gojnea Belarus Tatiana Poutchek
Belarus Anastasiya Yakimova
7–5, 6–0
Winner 15. 10 July 2007 Darmstadt, Germany Clay Belarus Ekaterina Dzehalevich United States Hilary Barte
Germany Tatjana Priachin
6–4, 7–5
Runners-up 10. 31 July 2007 Bucharest, Romania Clay Belarus Ekaterina Dzehalevich Romania Sorana Cirstea
Romania Ágnes Szatmári
6–0, 4–6, ret.
Runners-up 11. 17 September 2007 Madrid, Spain Clay Ukraine Yevgenia Savranska Spain María José Martínez Sánchez
Spain Arantxa Parra Santonja
6–1, 6–7(4–7)
Runners-up 12. 10 July 2007 Granada, Spain Clay Romania Alexandra Dulgheru Spain Marta Marrero
Spain María José Martínez Sánchez
4–6, 1–6
Winner 16. 19 November 2007 Mount Gambier, Australia Hard Germany Antonia Matic Australia Sophie Ferguson
Australia Trudi Musgrave
5–7, 6–3, [10-8]
Winner 17. 10 December 2007 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Hard New Zealand Marina Eraković Ukraine Yuliana Fedak
Russia Anna Lapushchenkova
7–6(7–1), 6–4
Runners-up 13. 20 October 2008 Poitiers, France Hard (i) Uzbekistan Akgul Amanmuradova Czech Republic Petra Cetkovská
Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová
4–6, 4–6
Runners-up 14. 27 October 2008 Bratislava, Slovakia Hard (i) Uzbekistan Akgul Amanmuradova Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
6–7(1–7), 1–6
Runners-up 15. 5 July 2010 Biarritz, France Clay Spain Lourdes Domínguez Lino Canada Sharon Fichman
Germany Julia Görges
5–7, 4–6
Winner 18. 19 July 2010 Petange, Luxembourg Clay Canada Sharon Fichman France Sophie Lefèvre
France Laura Thorpe
6–4, 6–2
Runners-up 16. 5 July 2013 Poitiers, France Hard (i) United States Christina McHale Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
Netherlands Michaëlla Krajicek
6–7(5–7), 6–2
Winner 19. 31 October 2015 Poitiers, France Hard (i) Romania Cristina-Andreea Mitu France Stéphanie Foretz
France Amandine Hesse
6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–2), [10–8]

Singles performance timeline

Current up to 2018 Miami Open.

Tournament2006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018W-L
Grand Slam Tournaments
Australian Open A A 1R 2R 1R 3R 3R 1R 3R 1R 2R 1R 1R 8–11
French Open A A 1R 1R Q3 1R 1R 1R 2R 1R 1R 1R A 1–9
Wimbledon A A 2R 1R 2R 2R 1R 1R 1R 4R 2R 1R 1R 7–11
US Open A A 1R 1R 1R 4R 1R 1R 2R 2R 3R 3R 1R 9–11
Win–Loss 0–0 0–0 1–4 1–4 1–3 6–4 2–4 0–4 4−4 4−4 4−4 2–4 0–3 25–42
Year-End Championship
WTA Tour Championships Did Not Qualify !0–0
Olympic Games
Summer Olympics Not Held A Not Held A Not Held 2R NH 1–0
WTA Premier Mandatory Tournaments
Indian Wells A A A 1R LQ 2R 2R 2R 2R 2R 3R 2R 1R 6–9
Miami A A A 1R A 2R 2R 1R 1R 2R 4R 1R 3R 6–9
Madrid Not Held 1R A 1R 1R Q1 1R LQ 1R 1R A 0–6
Beijing Not Tier I A Q1 SF 2R 2R 1R 1R LQ 2R 7–6
WTA Premier 5 Tournaments
Doha Not Tier I 2R Not Held NP5 QF 2R 3R NP5 3R NP5 3R 11–6
Rome A A 2R 1R A A 1R 1R LQ LQ 1R 1R A 1–6
Canada A A 2R 1R 1R LQ Absent 2R A 1R 2–5
Cincinnati Not Tier I A 2R 1R A 2R LQ Q1 Q1 Q1 Q1 2–3
Wuhan Not Held 2R A 1R 1-2
Dubai Not Tier I 2R A LQ Not Premier 5 1R NP5 A 1–2
Tokyo Absent 1R A NP5 0–1
Year-End ranking 222 179 47 101 83 30 58 60 47 39 39 79

Doubles performance timeline

Updated up to 2016 Internazionali BNL d'Italia

Tournament20062007200820092010201120122013201420152016W-L
Grand Slam Tournaments
Australian Open A 2R 3R 2R QF 3R 2R 2R 1R 11–8
French Open A 2R 3R QF 3R 2R 3R 2R 1R A 12–8
Wimbledon A 2R 3R 2R 2R 2R 1R 2R 2R 1R 8–9
US Open A 2R 3R 3R 1R 1R 1R 2R 2R 3R 9–9
Win–Loss 0-0 0-0 3–3 7–4 8–4 4–4 5–4 4–4 4-4 3–4 2–3 40–34
Year-End Championship
WTA Tour Championships Did Not Qualify 0–0
Olympic Games
Summer Olympics NH A NH A NH 0–0
WTA Premier Mandatory Tournaments
Indian Wells A QF 1R 1R 2R 1R 1R 2R 2R 5–8
Miami A 1R 2R 2R SF 1R 2R QF SF 12–8
Madrid NH NH NH 2R A 1R 2R A 2R 1R 3–5
Beijing Tier Tier Tier A 1R 1R A 1R 0–3
WTA Premier-5 Tournaments
Dubai not Premier 5 QF A 2R NP5 QF NP5 5–3
Doha A QF NH NP5 1R A NP5 2R 3–3
Rome A 1R QF 2R 2R SF 7–5
Cincinnati A 1R SF QF 1R A 1R 1R 1R 5–7
Montreal/Toronto A 1R 1R SF 2R A F 4–4
Tokyo A 1R A NP5 0–1
Wuhan NH 1R F 3-2
Year-End ranking 159 131 35 30 30 50 27 70 38 33

WTA Tour career earnings

YearGrand Slam
singles titles
WTA
singles titles
Total
singles titles
Earnings ($)Money list rank
2003 0 0 0 6,343 493
2004 0 0 0 9,073 433
2005 0 0 0 ? ?
2006 0 0 0 ? ?
2007 0 0 0 ? ?
2008 0 0 0 249,035 67
2009 0 0 0 315,414 67
2010 0 0 0 251,188 77
2011 0 0 0 549,493 38
2012 0 0 0 450,393 45
2013 0 1 1 406,372 62
2014 0 1 1 582,694 44
2015 0 0 0 667,180 ?
2016* 0 0 0 335,909 37
Career* 0 2 2 3,480,360 97

*as of 23 May 2016

Record against other players

Niculescu's win-loss record against certain players who have been ranked world No. 10 or higher is as follows:

Player Record Win % Hard Clay Grass Last Match
No. 1 ranked players
Russia Maria Sharapova 1–0 100% 1–0 0–0 0–0 Won (4–6, 6–4, 6–3) at Doha 2018
Belarus Victoria Azarenka 0–5 0% 0–4 0–1 0–0 Loss (1–6, 4–6) at 2013 Australian Open
Germany Angelique Kerber 1–3 25% 1–3 0–0 0–0 Loss (6–0, 1–6, 2-6) at 2013 Linz
Belgium Kim Clijsters 0–1 0% 0–0 0–0 0–1 Loss (5–7, 5–7) at 2011 's-Hertogenbosch
Serbia Ana Ivanovic 0–2 0% 0–1 0–1 0–0 Loss (5–7, 3–6) at 2012 Linz
Serbia Jelena Janković 2–5 29% 2–4 0–1 0–0 Win (3-6, 6–4, 7-5) at 2016 Doha
France Amélie Mauresmo 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 Loss (1–6, 2–6) at 2009 Paris
United States Serena Williams 0–2 0% 0–2 0–0 0–0 Loss (4–6, 1–6) at 2015 Miami
United States Venus Williams 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 Loss (2–6, 3–6) at 2012 Luxembourg
Denmark Caroline Wozniacki 0–6 0% 0–6 0–0 0–0 Loss (3–6, 1–6) at 2013 Luxembourg
No. 2 ranked players
Romania Simona Halep 0–2 0% 0–0 0–2 0–0 Loss (2–6, 6–4, 1–6) at 2014 Bucharest
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová 1–2 33% 1–0 0–1 0–1 Loss (6–2, 6–7(5–7), 2-6) at 2016 Stuttgart
China Na Li 1–1 50% 1–1 0–0 0–0 Loss (5–7, 6–4, 4–6 ) at 2012 Shenzhen
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska 1–4 20% 0–4 0–0 1–0 Loss (1–6, 5–7) at 2016 Montréal
Russia Vera Zvonareva 1–1 50% 1–1 0–0 0–0 Win (7–5, 3–2 ret.) at 2012 Doha
No. 3 ranked players
No. 4 ranked players
Japan Kimiko Date-Krumm 1–1 50% 1–1 0–0 0–0 Win (6–2, 2–1 ret.) at 2013 Monterrey
Italy Francesca Schiavone 0–4 0% 0–3 0–1 0–0 Loss (3–6, 5–7) at 2012 Stuttgart
Australia Samantha Stosur 0–7 0% 0–7 0–0 0–0 Loss (3–6, 2–6) at 2015 Beijing
No. 5 ranked players
Russia Anna Chakvetadze 1–1 50% 1–1 0–0 0–0 Loss (0–6, 4–6) at 2012 Hobart
Italy Sara Errani 1–4 20% 1–2 0–2 0–0 Loss (7–5, 1–6, 2-6) at 2015 Bucharest
Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová 1–0 100% 1–0 0–0 0–0 Win (6–1, 6–3) at 2012 Luxembourg
Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová 2–0 100% 2–0 0–0 0–0 Win (6–2, 6–0) at 2012 Beijing
No. 6 ranked players
Italy Flavia Pennetta 0–3 0% 0–2 0–0 0–1 Loss (1–6, 4–6) at 2015 US Open
Spain Carla Suárez Navarro 0–5 0% 0–4 0–1 0–0 Loss (7-5, 3-6, 4–6) at 2015 Wuhan
No. 7 ranked players
France Marion Bartoli 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 Loss (6-2, 3–6, 2–6) at 2011 Indian Wells
Czech Republic Karolína Plíšková 2–1 67% 2–1 0–0 0–0 Loss (4-6, 6–4, 3–6) at 2016 Fed Cup
Switzerland Patty Schnyder 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 Loss (1-6, 5–7) at 2008 Montréal
Italy Roberta Vinci 0–1 0% 0–0 0–0 0–1 Loss (3–6, 7–6(7–4), 0-6) at 2012 's-Hertogenbosch
No. 8 ranked players
Russia Ekaterina Makarova 1–4 20% 0–3 1–1 0–0 Loss (7-5, 6-7(3–7), 3-6) at 2014 Indian Wells
Australia Alicia Molik 0–1 0% 0–0 0–1 0–0 Loss (6-4, 6-7(5–7), 0-6) at 2010 Barcelona
No. 9 ranked players
Switzerland Timea Bacsinszky 4–3 57% 2–0 2–1 0–2 Loss (6-4, 2-6, 1-6) at 2016 Wimbledon
United States Madison Keys 1–0 100% 1–0 0–0 0–0 Win (6–1, 2–6, 7-6(8–6)) at 2013 Washington
Germany Andrea Petkovic 2–3 40% 0–2 2–1 0–0 Loss (6-0, 6-7(1–7), 3-6) at 2016 Fed Cup
No. 10 ranked players
Slovakia Dominika Cibulková 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 Loss (4–6, 3-6) at 2008 Los Angeles
Russia Maria Kirilenko 2–2 50% 2–2 0–0 0–0 Loss (3-6, 0-6) at 2012 Dubai
Total 25–79 24.04% 19–59 5–14 1–6

Top-10 wins per season

Season200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017Total
Wins0000011000114
# Player Rank Event Surface Round Score
2011
1. China Li Na No. 5 Beijing, China Hard 1st round 6–4, 6–0
2012
2. Russia Vera Zvonareva No. 8 Doha, Qatar Hard 2nd round 7–5, 3–2 ret.
2016
3. Czech Republic Petra Kvitová No. 9 Fed Cup, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Hard (i) RR 6–3, 6–4
2017
4. United Kingdom Johanna Konta No. 7 Beijing, China Hard 1st round 6–1, 6–2

References

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