Sharon Fichman

In 2005, Fichman won the gold medal in women's singles at the 17th Maccabiah Games in Israel, at the age of 14. She defeated 23-year-old Nicole Ptak of the United States in straight sets in the final. "I represented my religion and my country", she said after beating Ptak. "These Games are not just all about sports but meeting people, learning about culture and building friendship. Being the No. 1 Jewish female tennis player in the world is also not too shabby."[6] Fichman also won a bronze medal in the women's doubles, and wrapped up the event with silver medal in mixed doubles. She was also Canada's flag-bearer at the Games.[6]

In October 2006, while still 15, she beat world No. 114 Hana Šromová. In August 2007, at the age of 16, Fichman beat world No. 90 Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro of France in Toronto. She finished 2007 with a singles record for the year of 16–8. In October 2008, 17 years of age, Fichman beat world No. 137 Jelena Pandžić. She finished 2008 with a singles record for the year of 25–16. In January 2009, she won the singles title at the Ace Sports Group Tennis Classic tournament in Lutz, Florida dropping only one set, and also won the doubles title with Kimberly Couts.

In April 2009, she won the Osprey, Florida tournament. Fichman reached the 100K Biella Challenger singles final in September 2009, but lost to Petra Martić.[7] In February 2010 at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, Fichman defeated her first top-50 player when she beat world No. 40 Sorana Cîrstea in the first round. She also won two 100K doubles titles in July 2010 (in Biarritz and in Pétange).[8][9]

In January 2011, Sharon won her first tournament of the year, the 25K in Plantation, by defeating Alexandra Cadanțu in the final. At the Copa Colsanitas WTA tournament, she reached the second round but lost to Catalina Castaño, despite having two match points in the second set. In July, she won her second tournament of the year at the $50,000 event in Waterloo, where she defeated Julia Boserup.

In July 2012, Fichman won the 50K Cooper Challenger for the second straight year with a win over Julia Glushko in the championship match. She won in September the 25K in Mamaia, defeating Patricia Maria Ţig in the final.

Fichman at the 2013 US Open

At the end of January, Fichman won the eighth singles title of her career at the $25,000 event in Port St. Lucie, with a victory over Tadeja Majerič.[10] In August, she reached the final of the 100K in Vancouver, but was defeated by Johanna Konta. She won the doubles title alongside Maryna Zanevska.[11] A week later at the Rogers Cup, she reached the second round for the first time of her career in singles after defeating compatriot Stéphanie Dubois in her opening match. She also made it to the semi-finals in doubles with fellow Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski, after an upset over first seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. They were eliminated by Jelena Janković and Katarina Srebotnik.[12]

In August at the US Open, Fichman qualified for her first-ever Grand Slam main draw with a victory over Alexandra Panova.[13] She lost to world No. 22 Sorana Cîrstea in the first round.[14] In September, Fichman made it to the Premier Mandatory main draw in Beijing with wins over Paula Ormaechea and Yaroslava Shvedova in first and last round of qualifying respectively. She was eliminated by Galina Voskoboeva in the first round.[15]

Fichman at the 2014 Open GDF Suez de Cagnes-sur-Mer Alpes-Maritimes

At the first tournament of her season, the ASB Classic, Fichman qualified and upset world No. 22 Sorana Cîrstea in the first round to record the second top-50 win of her career (she also beat Cîrstea in 2010). The same week, she won her first WTA doubles title alongside Maria Sanchez with a victory over Lucie Hradecká and Michaëlla Krajicek in the final.[16] In February, at the 100K ITF in Midland, Fichman scored her third top-50 win when she beat world No. 45 Urszula Radwańska to reach the semi-finals. She was defeated by Ksenia Pervak in the next round.[17] At the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in late February, Fichman upset world No. 39 Yvonne Meusburger in her opening match to advance to the second round. She lost to Caroline Garcia in her next match.[18]

At the beginning of March, she qualified for the WTA Premier Mandatory in Indian Wells and defeated Shahar Pe'er in the first round. She was eliminated by world No. 10 Sara Errani in the second round.[19] In May, Fichman reached her first singles final of the season at the 100K in Cagnes-sur-Mer, where she won the biggest tournament of her career so far with a victory over Timea Bacsinszky.[20] At the French Open in May, Fichman earned direct entry in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, but was eliminated in the opening round by world No. 7 Jelena Janković in three sets.[21][22] At Wimbledon, Fichman was defeated by Timea Bacsinszky in the first round.[23] At the US Open, her first tournament after having knee surgery at the end of July, she lost to world No. 5 Agnieszka Radwańska in the opening round.[24][25]

In August 2015, at the Rogers Cup, Fichman reached the quarterfinals in doubles with compatriot Carol Zhao.[26]

She played a match at the 100K in Trnava in May 2016, losing in the qualifying second round to Ágnes Bukta, and was inactive for nearly two years thereafter.[27]

In April 2018, Fichman returned to the pro circuit at age 27 after nearly two years away, playing in doubles at the $60,000 event in Indian Harbour Beach. She reached the quarterfinals with partner Jamie Loeb.[3]