Sonja Molnar

Sonja Molnar-Palmer (born April 29, 1990) is a Canadian former professional tennis player. She reached a career- high singles ranking of 488 by the WTA in January 2014. She played for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2009 to 2012 and turned professional after. Molnar played her last match in August 2015 at the Challenger de Gatineau.[1]

Sonja Molnar-Palmer
Country (sports) Canada
ResidenceGuelph, Ontario, Canada
Born (1990-04-29) April 29, 1990 (age 34)
Brampton, Ontario
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Turned pro2012
Retired2015
PlaysRight (two-handed backhand)
CollegeIowa Hawkeyes
Prize money$28,639
Singles
Career record68–62 (52.3%)
Career titles3 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 488 (January 6, 2014)
Doubles
Career record44–48 (47.8%)
Career titles1 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 274 (October 27, 2014)

Tennis career

2008–12

Molnar made her debut in July 2008 at the $25k event in Waterloo, reaching the second round in singles and the quarterfinals in doubles.[2] Molnar decided to go to College instead of turning professional in 2009 and was a four-time All-Big Ten performer for the Iowa Hawkeyes until 2012. She was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2009 and finished her career with 100 singles victories for only 32 losses, the third highest total in program history.[3] She also amassed a 69–44 record in doubles.[4] In August 2012, Molnar was awarded a wildcard to play qualifying at the WTA tournament in Montreal, but lost to Mirjana Lučić-Baroni in the first round.[5]

2013

Molnar won her first professional singles title at the beginning of January at the $10k event in Fort-de-France with a victory over Shérazad Reix.[3] She also reached a week later her first professional doubles final at the $10k tournament in Saint Martin.[6] In October, Molnar made it to semifinals in doubles of the $25k event in Tampico.[7] Molnar reached at the end of October the semifinals in doubles of the $50k Toronto Challenger.[8]

2014–15

In mid-January 2014 at the $10k event in Saint Martin, Molnar made it to the second professional singles final of her career, but was defeated by Hsu Ching-wen.[9] At the Sumter $10k event in May 2014, she reached the second professional doubles final of her career, but lost to Sophie Chang and Andie Daniell.[10] A week later at the $10k event in Hilton Head, Molnar won her first pro doubles title with a straight-sets win over Lauren Albanese and Macall Harkins.[11] At the end of June 2014, Molnar won the second singles title of her career with a victory over Tori Kinard at the $10k event in Victoria.[12] In September 2014 at the Coupe Banque Nationale, she was awarded a wildcard in doubles which was her first WTA Tour main draw. She lost in the quarterfinals to Barbora Krejčíková and Tatjana Maria.[13] In late October 2014, Molnar reached her biggest doubles final to date at the $50k Saguenay Challenger where she was eliminated by Ysaline Bonaventure and Nicola Slater.[14] In late January 2015, Molnar reached the doubles final of the $10k event in Saint Martin but lost in straight sets to Alexa Guarachi and Ayaka Okuno.[15] In June 2015, she won her third pro singles title after defeating Alexa Graham at the $10k event in Bethany Beach.[16] She played her last match in August 2015 at the Challenger de Gatineau[1]

ITF Circuit finals

Legend
$100,000 tournaments
$75,000 tournaments
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments
$10,000 tournaments

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

ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Jan 2013Fort-de-France, France10,000Hard Shérazad Reix6–2, 6–0
Loss1–1Jan 2014Saint Martin, France10,000Hard Hsu Ching-wen6–4, 4–6, 0–6
Win2–1Jun 2014Victoria, Canada10,000Hard (i) Tori Kinard6–4, 7–5
Win3–1Jun 2015Bethany Beach, United States10,000Clay Alexa Graham6–1, 7–5

Doubles: 5 (1 title, 4 runner-ups)

ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Jan 2013ITF Saint Martin, France10,000Hard Erin Clark Estelle Cascino
Léa Tholey
3–6, 3–6
Loss0–2May 2014ITF Sumter, United States10,000Hard Caitlin Whoriskey Sophie Chang
Andie Daniell
1–6, 3–6
Win1–2Jun 2014ITF Hilton Head, United States10,000Hard Caitlin Whoriskey Lauren Albanese
Macall Harkins
6–3, 6–4
Loss1–3Oct 2014Challenger de Saguenay, Canada50,000Hard (i) Caitlin Whoriskey Ysaline Bonaventure
Nicola Slater
4–6, 4–6
Loss1–4Jan 2015ITF Saint Martin, France10,000Hard Lena Litvak Alexa Guarachi
Ayaka Okuno
5–7, 3–6

Record against top 100 players

Molnar's win–loss record against players who were ranked world No. 100 or higher when played is as follows:[17]

References