Following a number of talented Russian tennis players over the last two decades, the latest hitting the WTA scene is from Moscow. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova turned 18 last summer and won her first WTA Tour title last night.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is currently ranked number 25 in the world, ahead of several fellow Russians including Elena Vesnina, Maria Kirilenko and Vera Dushevina. While neither of those have broke into the top 10 so far in their careers, Pavlyuchenkova looks destined to do so.

Only good enough to rank 7 amongst Russians, currently chasing experienced and successful players Nadia Petrova, Vera Zvonareva and Maria Sharapova within a dozen places before she can look at breaking into the top 10.

At 18 years of age, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has already beat both Venus Williams and Daniela Hantuchova twice in her career already. She also dumped Jelena Jankovic out in straight sets in last year’s Indian Wells on her way to the semi finals. Indian Wells starts this week as Pavlyuchenkova will face a stern test to repeat last year’s performance to save her ranking points. Heading into the competition on a 5 game winning streak she has every reason to be confident.

Confidence Pavlyuchenkova does not lack. She takes chances on second serve, she takes shots on her return early and is generally an aggressive, attacking player. She has her power game and enjoys attacking weak serves. Her risky style will see her upset favoured opposition in the future when she’s on the top of her game. It also leads her to a lot of unforced errors including double faults that will give opposition a chance to beat her. Still learning, she occasionally changes her game up to come into the net on occasion but her main weapon is the power in both her forehand and backhand.

Look out for Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova as early as this week’s Indian Wells tournament in California. She is one of a number of young talents in the women’s game currently and one with a lot of potential to live up to. Expect to see a lot more of this girl in the future as she plans on raiding the top 10 and going even further.  Be sure to get a glimpse of her finger nails too, with her superstition of not playing without making her nails look glam beforehand!