1987: Born April 19 in Nyagan, Siberia.

Starts playing tennis at four.

1997: Begins training at Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy in Florida, which meant a two-year separation from her mother because of visa restrictions and finances.

2001: Turns professional.

2002: Handed a wild-card into Indian Wells at age of 14 years 10 months, and went on to beat Brie Rippner in first round.

March: Debuts on WTA rankings at 532.

Reaches the final at five consecutive ITF Circuit events, winning the first three.

Ends the year ranked at 186.

2003: Qualifies for first Grand Slams at Australian Open and Roland Garros, but loses in the opening round at both events.

June - reaches first WTA Tour semi-final in Birmingham and breaks into the top 100 of the world at number 88.

After being handed a wild-card for Wimbledon, reaches the fourth round in her full singles debut at the All England Club.

September - Makes it to the second round of the US Open.

October - Becomes youngest winner on the WTA Tour in 2003, at 16 years five months 16 days, with singles and doubles title at Japan Open in Tokyo.

November - Claims Quebec City title when Milagros Sequera retires in final with an ankle injury.

Singles ranking goes up to 31.

2004: January - Reaches third round at Australian Open.

February - Breaks into world's top 25.

April - World ranking goes up to number 19

May - Seeded 18 in the French Open, where she reaches her first Grand Slam quarter-final.

June - Claims both the singles and doubles titles at the DFS Classic in Birmingham. World ranking reaches 15.

July - Wins first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon after a stunning straight-sets defeat of defending champion and number one seed Serena Williams at the All England Club.