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{{Short description|American tennis player (born 1974)}}
{{Infobox Tennis player
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
|image = ]
{{Infobox tennis biography
|playername = Jill Craybas
|image= Craybas WMQ13-010.jpg
|country = {{USA}}
|caption= Craybas at Wimbledon, 2013
|residence = ]
|name= Jill Craybas
|datebirth = {{birth date and age|1974|7|4}}
|country= {{USA}}
|placebirth = ], ]
|residence= ], California
|height = {{height|m=1.60}}
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1974|7|4|mf=y}}
|weight = {{convert|56|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on}}
|birth_place= ], Rhode Island
|turnedpro = 1996
|height= {{convert|1.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|plays = Right; Two-handed backhand
|college= ]
|careerprizemoney = $1,690,452
|turnedpro= 1996
|singlesrecord =322–303
|retired= 2013
|singlestitles = 1 WTA (4 ITF)
|plays= Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
|highestsinglesranking = No. 39 (April 17, 2006)
|careerprizemoney= US$ 2,552,154
|AustralianOpenresult = 3rd (2004)
|singlesrecord= {{tennis record|won=434|lost=452}}
|FrenchOpenresult = 2nd (2001, 2007)
|singlestitles= 1 WTA, 4 ITF
|Wimbledonresult = 4th (2005)
|USOpenresult = 2nd (2004, 2005, 2006) |highestsinglesranking= No. 39 (April 17, 2006)
|AustralianOpenresult= 3R (])
|doublesrecord = 90–148
|FrenchOpenresult= 2R (], ], ], ], ])
|doublestitles = 4 WTA
|Wimbledonresult= 4R (])
|highestdoublesranking = No. 41 (June 23, 2008)
|USOpenresult= 2R (], ], ], ])
|updated = October 6, 2008
|Othertournaments= yes
|Olympicsresult= 1R (])
|doublesrecord= {{tennis record|won=163|lost=244}}
|doublestitles= 5 WTA, 1 ITF
|highestdoublesranking= No. 41 (June 23, 2008)
|AustralianOpenDoublesresult= 2R (], ], ])
|FrenchOpenDoublesresult= QF (])
|WimbledonDoublesresult= 3R (])
|USOpenDoublesresult= 2R (], ], ], ])
|Mixed= yes
|mixedrecord= 9–10
|mixedtitles= 0
|WimbledonMixedresult= 2R (], ])
|USOpenMixedresult= SF (])
|Team= yes
|FedCupresult= 3–5
}} }}
'''Jill N. Craybas''' (born July 4, 1974) is an American former professional ] player.


From the 2000 US Open to the 2011 US Open, Craybas competed in 45 consecutive Grand Slam tournament main draws; her best result coming in the ] where she reached the fourth round, which included wins over ] and ]. By the time she retired in 2013, she was one of the oldest players on the ] at 39 years of age, as well as the longest serving, having turned pro in 1996.
'''Jill Craybas''' (born July 4, 1974, ]) is an American professional ] player.


==Career== ==Early years==
Craybas was born in ]. During commenting ], she said she is of Polish descent. She received an athletic scholarship to attend the ] in Gainesville, Florida, where she played for coach ]'s ] team in ] (NCAA) and ] (SEC) competition from 1993 to 1996. As a senior, she won the 1996 ]. She was the 1995–96 recipient of the ] for Tennis, recognizing her as the outstanding collegiate female tennis player of the year.<ref>Collegiate Women Sports Awards, . Retrieved December 21, 2014.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://floridagators.com/news/2017/6/9/womens-tennis-woolcock-named-honda-sport-award-winner-for-tennis.aspx|title=Woolcock Named Honda Sport Award winner for Tennis|website=Florida Gators|language=en|access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref>
Before entering the professional ranks in 1996, she attended and graduated from the ] in ], and was the 1996 ] Singles Champion. Her major was ] and she has said in interviews that she hopes to enter this field (film or TV production) when her playing days are over. She credits all her achievements to her longtime coach, ]. Michael has worked with her from the start of her tennis career.


Craybas graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications in 1996, and has said in interviews that she hopes to enter film or television production when her playing career ends. She was inducted into the ] as a "Gator Great" in 2008.<ref>F Club, Hall of Fame, . Retrieved December 19, 2014.</ref><ref>" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930194936/http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=13818 |date=2012-09-30 }}," GatorZone.com (April 11, 2008). Retrieved May 23, 2011.</ref>
Craybas has won one WTA title at the Tokyo Japan Open. She beat ] in the final after trailing 0–4 in the third set. In the 2006 season, Craybas had reached one quarterfinal at ] as the eighth seed, losing to unseeded Italian ] in three sets. She has also reached the semi-finals of a Tier III event in ], a fourth-round showing at the Tier I event in ] and a further quarter-final appearance at ] in late July.


Craybas credits her achievements to her long-time coach, Raja Chaudhuri who has worked with her from the start of her tennis career.
Craybas is best known for her 2005 defeat of ] in the 3rd round of Wimbledon. She beat Williams 6–3, 7–6, then lost to Serena's older sister, ] 6–0, 6–2.


==Professional career==
On March 25, 2006, Craybas once again served up an early round defeat of a top seeded player. This time it was No. 2 seed ] in the 2nd round of the ] tournament. After having lead in both the 1st and 3rd sets, Clijsters eventually lost by a score of 5–7, 6–3, 5–7. It was Clijsters earliest ever exit from the NASDAQ-100, and Clijsters was the defending champion.
Craybas turned professional in 1996. She won one title on the WTA Tour, at the ]. She beat ] in the final, after trailing 4–0 in the third set. In the 2006 season, Craybas reached one quarterfinal at ] as the eighth seed, losing to unseeded Italian ] in three sets. She also reached the semifinals of a Tier-III event in ], a fourth-round showing at the Tier-I event in ] and a further quarterfinal appearance at ] in late July.


Craybas is best known for her 2005 defeat of ] in the third round of ]. She beat Williams 6–3, 7–6, then lost to Serena's older sister, and eventual champion, ] 0–6, 2–6.
Craybas, who may be a veteran on the tour nowadays, is thought to be playing the best tennis of her life. However, after having a successful start to 2006, has fallen short of what was expected of her from her dramatically impressive start, losing to lower-ranked opponents in first rounds or having difficult first round draws against the top players in the world.


On March 25, 2006, Craybas once again served up an early round defeat of a top-seeded player. This time it was second-seeded ] in the second round of the ] WTA Tour tournament. After having led in both the first and third sets, Clijsters eventually lost by a score of 5–7, 6–3, 5–7. It was Clijsters earliest ever exit in Key Biscayne, and she was the defending champion.
She began her 2007 by reaching the semi-finals of a Tier IV event in ]. She beat all of her opponents in straight sets before bowing out to Russian ] 3–6 5–7. She next took part in the Tier II event in ], where she lost in the last round of qualifying to Russian Vera Dushevina in three sets, 1–6 6–3 1–6. At the first grand slam of the year at the Australian Open, she suffered a first-round loss to the number 10 seeded ] in three sets, 4–6 7–5 1–6. Jill bounced back into winning form at her next tournament in the USA, at an ITF tournament in ]. As the number one seed, she beat all of her opponents in straight sets until a hard-fought 2–6 6–3 6–3 victory over the number two seed and fellow American ]. Due to her lower ranking she has suffered in tough draws, not going further than the second round of any tournament since.

By that time Craybas, then a veteran on the tour, was thought to be playing the best tennis of her life. However, after having a successful start to 2006, she fell short of what was expected of her from her dramatically impressive start, losing to lower-ranked opponents in first rounds or having difficult first round draws against the top players in the world.

She began 2007 by reaching the semifinals of a Tier-IV event in New Zealand, the ]. She beat all of her opponents in straight sets before bowing out to ], 3–6, 5–7. She next took part in the Tier-II event in Sydney, where she lost in the last round of qualifying to ], 1–6, 6–3, 1–6. At the first ] tournament of the year at the ], she suffered a first-round loss to the tenth-seeded ]. Craybas bounced back into winning form at her next tournament in the U.S., at an ITF tournament in ], Michigan. As the top-seeded, she beat all of her opponents in straight sets until a hard-fought 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 victory over second-seeded and fellow American ]. Because of her lower ranking, she suffered in tough draws, not going further than the second round of any tournament since.


] ]
At the start of 2008, Jill Craybas entered the Pattaya Women's Open in ], ], where, as the 7th seed, she played some of the best tennis of her career and beat ] 6–1, 6–1 in the first round, ] 2–6, 6–1, 6–3 in the second round and ] 6–4, 6–4 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals she beat ] 6–4, 6–0 and lost to the top seed ] in a tie-break in the third set, 2–6, 6–1, 6–7. Craybas's ranking improved from 77 to 60 due to her results. At the start of 2008, Craybas entered the ], where, as the seventh seed, she played some of the best tennis of her career and beat ] 6–1, 6–1 in the first round, ] 2–6, 6–1, 6–3 in the second, and ] 6–4, 6–4 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, she beat ] 6–4, 6–0, and lost to the top seed ] in a tie-break in the third set. As a result, Craybas's ranking improved from world No. 77 to No. 60.


Jill Craybas was won the Istanbul Cup in doubles. Craybas won the ] in doubles.


Jill will represent the United States at the ] in the tennis singles event. She became the last qualifier for the event, replacing ] of Austria.<ref>http://www.itftennis.com/olympics/news/newsarticle.asp?articleid=19057</ref> The opening came available when fellow American ] elected to skip the games.<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2008-06-03-3513293212_x.htm</ref> She represented the United States at the ] in the women's singles tournament. She became the last qualifier for the event, replacing ] of Austria.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605030402/http://www.itftennis.com/olympics/news/newsarticle.asp?articleid=19057 |date=2011-06-05 }} ITF Tennis, 6 August 2008</ref> The opening came available when fellow American ] elected to skip the games after she became pregnant.<ref> USA Today, 3 June 2008</ref> At the US Open 2013, Craybas announced her retirement from tennis.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/jill-craybas-calls-time-career|title=Jill Craybas Calls Time On Career|last=admin|date=2013-09-19|work=WTA Tennis|access-date=2018-03-14|language=en}}</ref>


==WTA Titles== ==WTA Tour finals==
===Singles Titles=== ===Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)===
{| class="wikitable" {|class=wikitable style="font-size:90%"
!Legend
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|-
|'''Legend'''
|- bgcolor="#FFFF99" |bgcolor=f3e6d7|Grand Slam tournaments
|-
| Grand Slam (0)
|- bgcolor="#FF6666" |bgcolor=e9e9e9|Tier I
|-
| WTA Championships
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" |bgcolor=d4f1c5|Tier II
|-
| Tier I (0)
|Tier III, IV & V (1–1)
|- bgcolor="#ccccff"
| Tier II (0)
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| Tier III (1)
|- bgcolor="#66CCFF"
| Tier IV & V (0)
|- bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| ITF Tour (4)
|} |}
{| class="wikitable" {|class="sortable wikitable"
!width=40|Result
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|'''No.''' !width=20|No.
|'''Date''' !width=70|Date
|'''Tournament''' !width=160|Tournament
|'''Surface''' !width=60|Surface
|'''Opponent in the final''' !width=170|Opponent
!width=110 class="unsortable"|Score
|'''Score'''
|-
|- bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| bgcolor=98fb98| Win
| 1. | 1.
| ]
| March 15, 1998
| ]
| {{flagicon|MEX}} ]
| Hard | Hard
| {{flagicon|SCG}} ]
| 6–2 6–2
|- bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| 2.
| February 11, 2001
| {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| Hard (I)
| {{flagicon|ITA}} ]
| 6-4 6-3
|- bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 3.
| October 6, 2002
| {{flagicon|JPN}} ]
| Hard
| {{flagicon|CRO}} ] | {{flagicon|CRO}} ]
| 2–6, 6–4, 6–4
| 2-6 6-4 6-4
|-
|- bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| bgcolor=ffa07a| Loss
| 4.
| 1.
| February 15, 2004
| ]
| {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| ], Thailand
| Hard (I)
| Hard
| {{flagicon|CZE}} ]
| {{flagicon|POL}} ]
| 6-2 6-4
| 2–6, 6–1, 6–7<sup>(4)</sup>
|- bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| 5.
| February 11, 2007
| {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| Hard (I)
| {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| 2-6 6-3 6-3
|} |}

===Doubles: 14 (5 titles, 9 runner-ups)===
{|class=wikitable style="font-size:90%"
!Legend
|-
|bgcolor=f3e6d7|Grand Slam tournaments
|-
|bgcolor=e9e9e9|Tier I / Premier M & Premier 5
|-
|bgcolor=d4f1c5|Tier II / Premier
|-
|Tier III, IV & V / International (5–9)
|}

{|class="sortable wikitable"
!Result
!No.
!Date
!Tournament
!Surface
!Partner
!Opponents
!class="unsortable"|Score
|-
|bgcolor=98fb98| Win
|1.
|May 2003
|], Spain
|Clay
|{{flagicon|RSA}} ]
|{{flagicon|ITA}} ]<br />{{flagicon|INA}} ]
|6–4, 7–6<sup>(6)</sup>
|-
|bgcolor=98fb98| Win
|2.
|]
|], United States
|Hard
|{{flagicon|GER}} ]
|{{flagicon|SUI}} ]<br />{{flagicon|GER}} ]
|7–5, 7–6<sup>(2)</sup>
|-
|bgcolor=ffa07a| Loss
|1.
|]
|]
|Hard
|{{flagicon|GER}} Marlene Weingärtner
|{{flagicon|ESP}} ]<br />{{flagicon|ARG}} ]
|1–6, 7–6<sup>(1)</sup>, 3–6
|-
|bgcolor=ffa07a| Loss
|2.
|]
|]
|Hard
|{{flagicon|RSA}} ]
|{{flagicon|TPE}} ]<br />{{flagicon|TPE}} ]
|2–6, 4–6
|-
|bgcolor=ffa07a| Loss
|3.
|]
|], Australia
|Hard
|{{flagicon|CRO}} ]
|{{flagicon|FRA}} ]<br />{{flagicon|AUS}} ]
|2–6, 1–6
|-
|bgcolor=ffa07a| Loss
|4.
|]
|], UK
|Grass
|{{flagicon|RSA}} Liezel Huber
|{{flagicon|SRB}} ]<br />{{flagicon|CHN}} ]
|2–6, 4–6
|-
|bgcolor=ffa07a| Loss
|5.
|]
|], Canada
|Hard
|{{flagicon|RUS}} ]
|{{flagicon|USA}} ]<br />{{flagicon|USA}} ]
|3–6, 4–6
|-
|bgcolor=ffa07a| Loss
|6.
|]
|], Indonesia
|Hard
|{{flagicon|RSA}} Natalie Grandin
|{{flagicon|CHN}} ]<br />{{flagicon|CHN}} ]
|3–6, 2–6
|-
|bgcolor=ffa07a| Loss
|7.
|]
|], Czech Republic
|Clay
|{{flagicon|NED}} ]
|{{flagicon|CZE}} ]<br />{{flagicon|CZE}} ]
|6–1, 3–6,
|-
|bgcolor=98fb98| Win
|3.
|]
|], Turkey
|Clay
|{{flagicon|BLR}} ]
|{{flagicon|NZL}} ]<br />{{flagicon|SLO}} ]
|6–1, 6–2
|-
|bgcolor=98fb98| Win
|4.
|]
|]
|Hard
|{{flagicon|NZL}} Marina Erakovic
|{{flagicon|JPN}} ]<br />{{flagicon|JPN}} ]
|4–6, 7–5,
|-
|bgcolor=ffa07a| Loss
|8.
|]
|Tournoi de Québec, Canada
|Hard
|{{flagicon|THA}} ]
|{{flagicon|GER}} Anna-Lena Grönefeld<br />{{flagicon|USA}} ]
|6–7<sup>(3)</sup>, 4–6
|-
|bgcolor=ffa07a| Loss
|9.
|]
|], Italy
|Clay
|{{flagicon|GER}} ]
|{{flagicon|ITA}} ]<br />{{flagicon|ITA}} ]
|4–6, 1–6
|-
|bgcolor=98fb98| Win
|5.
|]
|], Austria
|Clay
|{{flagicon|GER}} Julia Görges
|{{flagicon|GER}} Anna-Lena Grönefeld<br />{{flagicon|CRO}} ]
|6–7<sup>(4)</sup>, 6–4,
|}

===Mixed doubles: 1 (runner-up)===
{|class="sortable wikitable"
!Result
!Date
!Tournament
!Tier
!Surface
!Partner
!Opponents
!Score
|-
| bgcolor=ffa07a| Loss
| ]
| ]
| Tier II
| Hard
| {{flagicon|USA}} ]
| {{flagicon|SUI}} ]<br />{{flagicon|USA}} ]
| 1–6, 2–6
|}

==Grand Slam performance timelines==
{{Performance key|short=yes|active=no}}

===Singles===
{|class=wikitable style=text-align:center;font-size:97%
!Tournament!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!{{Tooltip|W–L|Win–loss}}
|-
|align=left| ]
|A
|A
|A
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|]
|11–12
|-
|align=left| ]
|A
|A
|A
|]
|A
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|A
|5–11
|-
|align=left| ]
|A
|A
|A
|]
|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|]
|6–11
|-
|align=left| ]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|A
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|A
|10–15
|-
!style=text-align:left|Win–loss
!0–1
!0–0
!0–1
!0–2
!0–1
!1–4
!2–4
!0–4
!4–4
!4–4
!1–4
!1–4
!1–4
!3–4
!1–4
!2–4
!0–0
!32–49
|}

===Doubles===
{|class=wikitable style=text-align:center;font-size:97%
!Tournament!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!]!!{{Tooltip|W–L|Win–loss}}
|-
|align=left| ]
|A
|A
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|5–10
|-
|align=left| ]
|A
|A
|bgcolor=ffebcd|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|A
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|4–9
|-
|align=left| ]
|A
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|A
|3–10
|-
|align=left| ]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|A
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|bgcolor=afeeee|]
|5–11
|-
!style=text-align:left|Win–loss
!0–1
!1–2
!4–4
!1–4
!2–4
!3–4
!0–4
!1–4
!0–4
!1–3
!2–3
!2–3
!17–40
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Olympics|Tennis}}
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
{{clear}}

==References==
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824150217/http://www.tennispanorama.com/archives/41322 |date=August 24, 2013 }}
{{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
* {{wta|id=30294|name=Jill Craybas}} {{Commons category|Jill Craybas}}
* {{WTA}}
* {{ITF}}
* {{BJK Cup player}}
* {{ESPN Tennis}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|jill-craybas}}


{{Honda Sports Award}}
== References==
{{reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Craybas, Jill}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Craybas, Jill}}
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Latest revision as of 03:37, 19 October 2024

American tennis player (born 1974)

Jill Craybas
Craybas at Wimbledon, 2013
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceHuntington Beach, California
Born (1974-07-04) July 4, 1974 (age 50)
Providence, Rhode Island
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Turned pro1996
Retired2013
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
CollegeUniversity of Florida
Prize moneyUS$ 2,552,154
Singles
Career record434–452
Career titles1 WTA, 4 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 39 (April 17, 2006)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open3R (2004)
French Open2R (2001, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Wimbledon4R (2005)
US Open2R (2004, 2005, 2006, 2009)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games1R (2008)
Doubles
Career record163–244
Career titles5 WTA, 1 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 41 (June 23, 2008)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open2R (2006, 2007, 2011)
French OpenQF (2004)
Wimbledon3R (2007)
US Open2R (2004, 2005, 2006, 2012)
Mixed doubles
Career record9–10
Career titles0
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Wimbledon2R (2006, 2008)
US OpenSF (2008)
Team competitions
Fed Cup3–5

Jill N. Craybas (born July 4, 1974) is an American former professional tennis player.

From the 2000 US Open to the 2011 US Open, Craybas competed in 45 consecutive Grand Slam tournament main draws; her best result coming in the 2005 Wimbledon Championships where she reached the fourth round, which included wins over Marion Bartoli and Serena Williams. By the time she retired in 2013, she was one of the oldest players on the WTA Tour at 39 years of age, as well as the longest serving, having turned pro in 1996.

Early years

Craybas was born in Providence, Rhode Island. During commenting the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open women's singles final, she said she is of Polish descent. She received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where she played for coach Andy Brandi's Florida Gators women's tennis team in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and Southeastern Conference (SEC) competition from 1993 to 1996. As a senior, she won the 1996 NCAA women's singles tennis championship. She was the 1995–96 recipient of the Honda Sports Award for Tennis, recognizing her as the outstanding collegiate female tennis player of the year.

Craybas graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications in 1996, and has said in interviews that she hopes to enter film or television production when her playing career ends. She was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 2008.

Craybas credits her achievements to her long-time coach, Raja Chaudhuri who has worked with her from the start of her tennis career.

Professional career

Craybas turned professional in 1996. She won one title on the WTA Tour, at the Japan Open. She beat Silvija Talaja in the final, after trailing 4–0 in the third set. In the 2006 season, Craybas reached one quarterfinal at Hobart as the eighth seed, losing to unseeded Italian Mara Santangelo in three sets. She also reached the semifinals of a Tier-III event in Memphis, a fourth-round showing at the Tier-I event in Key Biscayne, Florida and a further quarterfinal appearance at Stanford in late July.

Craybas is best known for her 2005 defeat of Serena Williams in the third round of Wimbledon. She beat Williams 6–3, 7–6, then lost to Serena's older sister, and eventual champion, Venus Williams 0–6, 2–6.

On March 25, 2006, Craybas once again served up an early round defeat of a top-seeded player. This time it was second-seeded Kim Clijsters in the second round of the Key Biscayne WTA Tour tournament. After having led in both the first and third sets, Clijsters eventually lost by a score of 5–7, 6–3, 5–7. It was Clijsters earliest ever exit in Key Biscayne, and she was the defending champion.

By that time Craybas, then a veteran on the tour, was thought to be playing the best tennis of her life. However, after having a successful start to 2006, she fell short of what was expected of her from her dramatically impressive start, losing to lower-ranked opponents in first rounds or having difficult first round draws against the top players in the world.

She began 2007 by reaching the semifinals of a Tier-IV event in New Zealand, the Auckland Open. She beat all of her opponents in straight sets before bowing out to Vera Zvonareva, 3–6, 5–7. She next took part in the Tier-II event in Sydney, where she lost in the last round of qualifying to Vera Dushevina, 1–6, 6–3, 1–6. At the first Grand Slam tournament of the year at the Australian Open, she suffered a first-round loss to the tenth-seeded Nicole Vaidišová. Craybas bounced back into winning form at her next tournament in the U.S., at an ITF tournament in Midland, Michigan. As the top-seeded, she beat all of her opponents in straight sets until a hard-fought 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 victory over second-seeded and fellow American Laura Granville. Because of her lower ranking, she suffered in tough draws, not going further than the second round of any tournament since.

Jill Craybas at the 2008 US Open

At the start of 2008, Craybas entered the Pattaya Open, where, as the seventh seed, she played some of the best tennis of her career and beat Olga Savchuk 6–1, 6–1 in the first round, Renata Voráčová 2–6, 6–1, 6–3 in the second, and Andreja Klepač 6–4, 6–4 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, she beat Akgul Amanmuradova 6–4, 6–0, and lost to the top seed Agnieszka Radwańska in a tie-break in the third set. As a result, Craybas's ranking improved from world No. 77 to No. 60.

Craybas won the 2008 Istanbul Cup in doubles.

She represented the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the women's singles tournament. She became the last qualifier for the event, replacing Tamira Paszek of Austria. The opening came available when fellow American Ashley Harkleroad elected to skip the games after she became pregnant. At the US Open 2013, Craybas announced her retirement from tennis.

WTA Tour finals

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

Legend
Grand Slam tournaments
Tier I
Tier II
Tier III, IV & V (1–1)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1. Oct 2002 Japan Open Hard Croatia Silvija Talaja 2–6, 6–4, 6–4
Loss 1. Feb 2008 Pattaya Open, Thailand Hard Poland Agnieszka Radwańska 2–6, 6–1, 6–7

Doubles: 14 (5 titles, 9 runner-ups)

Legend
Grand Slam tournaments
Tier I / Premier M & Premier 5
Tier II / Premier
Tier III, IV & V / International (5–9)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1. May 2003 Madrid Open, Spain Clay South Africa Liezel Huber Italy Rita Grande
Indonesia Angelique Widjaja 		6–4, 7–6
Win 2. Aug 2004 Cincinnati Open, United States Hard Germany Marlene Weingärtner Switzerland Emmanuelle Gagliardi
Germany Anna-Lena Grönefeld 		7–5, 7–6
Loss 1. Oct 2004 Luxembourg Open Hard Germany Marlene Weingärtner Spain Virginia Ruano Pascual
Argentina Paola Suárez 		1–6, 7–6, 3–6
Loss 2. Sep 2005 Korea Open Hard South Africa Natalie Grandin Chinese Taipei Chan Yung-jan
Chinese Taipei Chuang Chia-jung 		2–6, 4–6
Loss 3. Jan 2006 Hobart International, Australia Hard Croatia Jelena Kostanić France Émilie Loit
Australia Nicole Pratt 		2–6, 1–6
Loss 4. Jun 2006 Birmingham Classic, UK Grass South Africa Liezel Huber Serbia Jelena Janković
China Li Na 		2–6, 4–6
Loss 5. Oct 2006 Tournoi de Québec, Canada Hard Russia Alina Jidkova United States Carly Gullickson
United States Laura Granville 		3–6, 4–6
Loss 6. Sep 2007 Bali Classic, Indonesia Hard South Africa Natalie Grandin China Ji Chunmei
China Sun Shengnan 		3–6, 2–6
Loss 7. Apr 2008 Prague Open, Czech Republic Clay Netherlands Michaëlla Krajicek Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková
Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká 		6–1, 3–6,
Win 3. May 2008 Istanbul Cup, Turkey Clay Belarus Olga Govortsova New Zealand Marina Erakovic
Slovenia Polona Hercog 		6–1, 6–2
Win 4. Oct 2008 Japan Open Hard New Zealand Marina Erakovic Japan Ayumi Morita
Japan Aiko Nakamura 		4–6, 7–5,
Loss 8. Nov 2008 Tournoi de Québec, Canada Hard Thailand Tamarine Tanasugarn Germany Anna-Lena Grönefeld
United States Vania King 		6–7, 4–6
Loss 9. Jul 2010 Palermo Ladies Open, Italy Clay Germany Julia Görges Italy Alberta Brianti
Italy Sara Errani 		4–6, 1–6
Win 5. Jun 2012 Gastein Ladies, Austria Clay Germany Julia Görges Germany Anna-Lena Grönefeld
Croatia Petra Martić 		6–7, 6–4,

Mixed doubles: 1 (runner-up)

Result Date Tournament Tier Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss Sep 2004 China Open Tier II Hard United States Justin Gimelstob Switzerland Emmanuelle Gagliardi
United States Tripp Phillips 		1–6, 2–6

Grand Slam performance timelines

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(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.

Singles

Tournament 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 W–L
Australian Open A A A 1R LQ 1R 2R 1R 3R 1R 1R 1R 2R 1R 1R 2R LQ 11–12
French Open A A A LQ A 2R 1R 1R 1R 1R 1R 2R 1R 2R 2R 2R A 5–11
Wimbledon A A A LQ LQ 1R 2R 1R 2R 4R 1R 1R 1R 2R 1R 1R LQ 6–11
US Open 1R A 1R 1R 1R 1R 1R 1R 2R 2R 2R 1R 1R 2R 1R 1R A 10–15
Win–loss 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–2 0–1 1–4 2–4 0–4 4–4 4–4 1–4 1–4 1–4 3–4 1–4 2–4 0–0 32–49

Doubles

Tournament 1998 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 W–L
Australian Open A A 1R 1R 2R 2R 1R 1R 1R 2R 2R 2R 5–10
French Open A A QF 1R 1R 1R 1R 2R 1R 1R A 1R 4–9
Wimbledon A 2R 1R 1R 1R 3R 1R 1R 1R 1R 1R A 3–10
US Open 1R 1R 2R 2R 2R 1R 1R 1R 1R A 2R 2R 5–11
Win–loss 0–1 1–2 4–4 1–4 2–4 3–4 0–4 1–4 0–4 1–3 2–3 2–3 17–40

See also

References

  1. Collegiate Women Sports Awards, Past Honda Sports Award Winners for Tennis. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  2. "Woolcock Named Honda Sport Award winner for Tennis". Florida Gators. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  3. F Club, Hall of Fame, Gator Greats. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  4. "Nine Members Inducted Into University of Florida Athletics Hall of Fame Archived 2012-09-30 at the Wayback Machine," GatorZone.com (April 11, 2008). Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  5. Olympic Tennis Event – Acceptance lists Archived 2011-06-05 at the Wayback Machine ITF Tennis, 6 August 2008
  6. Ashley Harkleroad to skip Olympics USA Today, 3 June 2008
  7. admin (September 19, 2013). "Jill Craybas Calls Time On Career". WTA Tennis. Retrieved March 14, 2018.

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