Polona Hercog Bio
Polona Hercog (born 20 January 1991) is a Slovenian professional tennis player. She has reached a career-high WTA ranking of No. 35 in singles and No. 56 in doubles, and she has won five titles on the WTA Tour: three in singles and two in doubles. She has also claimed 19 singles and five doubles titles on the ITF Women’s Circuit, and she is widely respected for her competitive resilience and her formidable two-handed backhand.
Early Life and Background
Polona Hercog was born on 20 January 1991 in Maribor, Slovenia. She grew up in a sporting family as the daughter of Romana, a florist, and Vojko, a bar owner. The tennis courts of Maribor became her second home when, at the age of four, she joined a local tennis clinic opened by former Yugoslav Fed Cup standout Mima Jaušovec.
That early exposure shaped her future. By her early teens, Hercog was already competing in regional and national events, and at age 14 she made the bold decision to leave Slovenia and move to Italy to train professionally. The years in Italy refined her game and prepared her for the demands of the international circuit. She remains multilingual, fluent in Slovenian, English, and Italian, and has long cited Belgian great Justine Henin as her role model.
Path to Professional Tennis
Polona Hercog made her WTA Tour debut in September 2007 at the Slovenia Open, where she received a wildcard and faced Elena Vesnina in the first round. The following year proved pivotal: in 2008, she reached the singles quarterfinals at both the junior French Open and junior Wimbledon, and partnered with Australia’s Jessica Moore to capture Grand Slam doubles titles at both junior events, with Wimbledon marking the end of her junior career.
In early 2008, she also lifted two ITF titles at the $10,000 level and reached the final of a $25,000 event. Hercog turned professional in 2006, steadily building her ranking through ITF events before breaking through on the main WTA Tour.
Polona Hercog Career
Early Career (2009-2010)
Hercog announced herself on the WTA Tour in 2009. At the Morocco Open in Fez, she qualified and stunned seventh seed Roberta Vinci to reach the quarterfinals. She then upset 23rd seed Alisa Kleybanova at the French Open after qualifying for the main draw. On 5 July 2009, she broke into the WTA top 100 for the first time at No. 89.
Her breakthrough came in 2010 at the Mexican Open in Acapulco, where she reached her first WTA Tour singles final, losing to former world No. 1 Venus Williams despite winning the opening set. At the same tournament, partnering with Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová, she captured her first WTA Tour doubles title. She also produced one of her best Grand Slam results that season, upsetting 24th seed Lucie Šafářová at the French Open.
WTA Tour Breakthrough (2011-2013)
Between 2011 and 2013, Hercog cemented her place in the top 100. In 2011, she defeated Angelique Kerber in straight sets at the Monterrey Open and reached the semifinals at that event. In 2012, she produced one of her finest seasons, lifting her first WTA singles title at the Swedish Open in Bastad by defeating Mathilde Johansson in the final. At the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, she upset third seed Marion Bartoli and 13th seed Nadia Petrova to reach the semifinals.
In 2013, Hercog continued to compete on both the WTA Tour and the ITF Circuit, winning the ITS Cup in Olomouc and a $25,000 event in Maribor. She also upset former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic at the China Open before finishing the year ranked No. 66.
WTA Singles Title Run (2019)
Hercog’s persistent work paid off in 2019 when she captured her third WTA singles title at the Ladies Open Lugano, defeating a young Iga Świątek in the final. Earlier that season, she had pushed her way into several main draws as a lucky loser, including the Miami Open, where she reached the third round before falling to second seed Simona Halep.
Final Competitive Years (2020-2021)
The 2020 season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted the WTA Tour from March through July. Hercog resumed at the Palermo Ladies Open and produced one of her best wins of the year when she upset fifth seed Kiki Bertens at the Italian Open in Rome. She finished 2020 ranked No. 52. In 2021, she won the Oeiras Ladies Open as the top seed, defeating Clara Burel via retirement, and produced a strong Grand Slam showing at the French Open by upsetting 16th seed Kiki Bertens before exiting in the third round to 2019 finalist Markéta Vondroušová. Her 2021 record of 4-14 marked the worst season of her 15-year professional career, and she ended the year ranked No. 135.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hercog is recognized for her formidable two-handed backhand, one of the most dependable weapons on the WTA Tour during her prime. A natural counter-puncher, she excels from the baseline and has historically performed well on clay, where her heavy topspin and patience pay dividends. Her competitive resilience has been a hallmark throughout her career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature career moments are her 2008 junior Grand Slam doubles titles at the French Open and Wimbledon, her first WTA singles title at the 2012 Swedish Open, and her win over the young Iga Świątek to claim the 2019 Ladies Open Lugano. She also represented Slovenia at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Polona Hercog Career Wins
Across her career, Polona Hercog has accumulated five WTA Tour titles (three singles, two doubles), along with 19 ITF singles titles and five ITF doubles titles. Her most notable wins include Grand Slam-level upsets of Lucie Šafářová, Ana Ivanovic, and Kiki Bertens.
WTA Tour Highlights
Hercog’s three WTA singles titles came at the 2012 Swedish Open, the 2019 Ladies Open Lugano, and the 2021 Oeiras Ladies Open. Her two WTA doubles titles include the 2010 Mexican Open, partnering with Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová, and the 2008 junior Grand Slam doubles titles at the French Open and Wimbledon with Jessica Moore.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the WTA Tour, Hercog captured 19 ITF singles titles and five ITF doubles titles, establishing herself on the lower tiers of the professional game before her rise. She reached a career-high ITF junior ranking of No. 8 in July 2008, and achieved her career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 35 during her time on tour.
Polona Hercog Family
Family Background and Tennis Lineage
Hercog was raised in Maribor, Slovenia, by her mother Romana, a florist, and her father Vojko, a bar owner. She began playing tennis as a four-year-old at a local clinic opened by former Yugoslav Fed Cup player Mima Jaušovec, who played a formative role in her early development.
Personal Life
Polona Hercog currently resides in Doha, Qatar, and trains in Budapest, Hungary. She is fluent in Slovenian, English, and Italian, reflecting her years of training in Italy during her teenage years. She has cited Belgian great Justine Henin as her role model throughout her career.
2025 Season Performance
Polona Hercog’s 2025 season outlook remains uncertain given her ranking of No. 135 at the end of 2021 and her subsequent absence from regular WTA Tour competition. Any return to the main tour in 2025 would mark a significant comeback attempt from a player whose career has spanned more than 15 years at the professional level.
Should she return to competitive tennis in 2025, her path back to the top 100 would likely begin on the ITF Circuit and through qualifying draws at WTA events. Her extensive experience and her signature backhand remain valuable assets, and her previous wins over top-20 players such as Ana Ivanovic, Kiki Bertens, and Angelique Kerber demonstrate the level she is capable of reaching on her day.
At 34 years old, Hercog would bring veteran leadership and match toughness to any tournament she enters. Whether 2025 brings a full campaign or limited appearances, her career resume, including three WTA singles titles, two WTA doubles titles, and a pair of junior Grand Slam doubles crowns, ensures her place among the most accomplished Slovenian tennis players of her generation.