Daria Saville Bio
Daria Saville (née Gavrilova; born 5 March 1994) is a Russian-born Australian professional tennis player. She competed under her maiden name until her marriage to Luke Saville in 2021. On 28 August 2017, she reached her best singles ranking of world No. 20, and on 25 September 2017, she peaked at No. 45 in the doubles rankings. Saville has won one singles title and three doubles titles on the WTA Tour, along with four singles and two doubles titles on the ITF Circuit.
Early Life and Background
Daria Saville was born on 5 March 1994 in Moscow, Russia. Growing up in the Russian capital, she was introduced to tennis at a young age and quickly developed a passion for the sport. Her first coach was Marina Marenko, the mother of fellow professional Andrey Rublev, who helped shape her early game and competitive mindset.
As a teenager, Saville rose through the junior ranks with impressive speed. She captured the gold medal at the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and later that year won the junior title at the US Open. By August 2010, she had reached the combined career-high junior ranking of world No. 1, establishing herself as one of the most promising talents in her age group.
Path to Professional Tennis
Following her junior success, Saville began competing on the ITF Women’s Circuit and later earned wildcards into WTA Tour events. In 2011, she claimed her first professional title at a 10k event in Antalya, and by 2012 she had qualified for the main draw of a WTA event for the first time at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships, where she recorded her first career win over a top-50 player in Yanina Wickmayer.
By 2013, Saville had earned her Grand Slam main-draw debut at the Australian Open, coming through qualifying and defeating Lauren Davis in the first round. A knee reconstruction in October 2013 temporarily slowed her progress, but she returned determined and ended 2015 with two 50k ITF titles in Australia and her first WTA Tour semifinal at the Italian Open in Rome.
Daria Saville Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
In 2015, Saville secured the biggest win of her career to date at the Burnie International in Australia, defeating top seed Irina Falconi in the final. A week later she added the Launceston International title, completing back-to-back 50k trophies. Later in the season, she defeated second seed Maria Sharapova at the Miami Open for her first top-10 victory, and followed it with a second top-10 win over Ana Ivanovic in Rome before reaching her first WTA Tour semifinal.
The 2016 season brought new milestones. Saville partnered with Nick Kyrgios to win the Hopman Cup for Australia, the country’s second title in the event after 1999. She also reached her first WTA Premier final later that year in Moscow, competing in both singles and doubles draws.
Hopman Cup and WTA Tour Breakthrough (2017–2018)
Saville opened 2017 by partnering with Kyrgios at the Hopman Cup, where Australia reached the semifinals. She then advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open for the second straight year. In August 2017, Saville captured her maiden WTA Tour singles title at the Connecticut Open, defeating Dominika Cibulková in three sets. By the end of that month, she had climbed to a career-best world ranking of No. 20.
Across her career, Saville has recorded victories against several Grand Slam champions, including Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Angelique Kerber, and Petra Kvitová, with her first win over a reigning world No. 1 coming against Kerber. These performances cemented her status as one of Australia’s leading players during that period.
Comebacks and Current Form (2022–Present)
After battling injuries through 2019 and 2021, including Achilles tendon surgery, Saville mounted a remarkable comeback in 2022. Ranked No. 249 at the Miami Open, she reached the quarterfinals, becoming the lowest ranked Miami quarterfinalist in tournament history. Later that year she suffered a second ACL tear at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and underwent surgery again.
Saville returned to the WTA Tour at Wimbledon in 2023 and steadily rebuilt her form. She reached the semifinals of the Hamburg European Open and later qualified for the US Open main draw, where she defeated Clervie Ngounoue in the first round. By September 2024, however, she had fallen out of the top 100, and she has continued working to regain her previous ranking.
Driving Style and Strengths
Saville is known for her aggressive baseline game, combining powerful groundstrokes with sharp court coverage. She performs particularly well on hard courts, where her flat hitting and quick footwork allow her to dictate rallies. Her competitive temperament has helped her produce upsets against top-ranked opponents throughout her career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature achievements, Saville won gold at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and the 2010 US Open junior title, both at age 16. Her first WTA Tour title came at the 2017 Connecticut Open, and her 2022 Miami Open run as the lowest ranked quarterfinalist in tournament history remains a defining comeback moment.
Daria Saville Career Wins
Across all levels of professional tennis, Daria Saville has compiled a versatile résumé that includes one WTA Tour singles title, three WTA Tour doubles titles, four ITF Circuit singles titles, and two ITF Circuit doubles titles. She has also lifted the Hopman Cup trophy representing Australia.
WTA Tour Highlights
Saville won her sole WTA Tour singles title at the 2017 Connecticut Open, defeating Dominika Cibulková in the final. In doubles, she has captured three WTA Tour titles. Her deepest singles run at a Premier-level event came in 2022 at the Miami Open, where she advanced to the quarterfinals as a wildcard entrant ranked No. 249.
Other Wins and Performances
At the junior level, Saville won the 2010 US Open girls’ singles title and the 2010 Youth Olympic Games gold medal. She has also reached a WTA Premier final in Moscow and added two 50k ITF titles during her 2015 Australian season, marking her arrival as a consistent contender on the professional circuit.
Daria Saville Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Daria Saville is not from a motorsport family; her background is rooted in tennis. Her first coach, Marina Marenko, is the mother of professional player Andrey Rublev, and played an influential role in her early development on the court.
Personal Life
Saville’s relationship with Australian tennis player Luke Saville influenced her decision to become an Australian citizen. The couple became engaged on 6 December 2018 and married on 4 December 2021, after which she adopted his surname. In September 2025, she announced that she was pregnant with the couple’s first child. The pair are based in Melbourne, Australia.
2025 Season Performance
Daria Saville entered the 2025 season looking to rebuild her ranking after falling outside the top 100 in late 2024. Her early-season focus has been on qualifying for main-draw events at WTA tournaments and steadily collecting wins to climb back up the rankings.
Off the court, Saville announced in September 2025 that she is expecting her first child with husband Luke Saville. The news marks a personal milestone for the couple, who married in 2021 and have continued to share their journey publicly.
Looking ahead, Saville remains focused on a balanced return to competitive tennis following the announcement. With her experience at the WTA level and a history of strong comeback performances, her objective for the remainder of 2025 will be to regain match fitness and return to her best form when she resumes play.