Alisa Kleybanova
A Russian tennis player whose powerful game and courageous comeback from cancer inspired far beyond her ranking.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Russian tennis player·Birthday: July 15·Millennials
Biography
Alisa Kleybanova announced herself on the WTA Tour with a game built on formidable, flat-hitting power from the baseline. The Moscow-born right-hander turned professional in 2003 and ground her way up the rankings, breaking into the top 50 by 2009 with wins over several top-10 players. Her aggressive style earned her two WTA singles titles, in Seoul and Kuala Lumpur, and she reached a career-high ranking of World No. 20 in 2011. At that peak, her career was abruptly derailed by a diagnosis of Stage II Hodgkin's lymphoma. What followed was a grueling year of treatment and a comeback that transcended tennis. She returned to the tour in 2013, not just to play but to win matches, a testament to her physical and mental resilience. While she never fully regained her pre-illness ranking, her return became a powerful narrative of perseverance. Kleybanova's legacy is dual: the promise of a fierce competitor and the profound example of an athlete facing down a life-threatening challenge with public grace and determination.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alisa was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alisa Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Alisa's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- She achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 20 in February 2011.
- Kleybanova won two WTA singles titles, at the 2010 Korea Open and the 2011 Malaysian Open.
- She defeated then-World No. 1 Dinara Safina in the third round of the 2009 US Open.
- She made a successful return to professional tennis in 2013 after undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Did You Know?
She is a lifelong fan of the NBA and particularly admires former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.
Kleybanova speaks four languages: Russian, English, Italian, and Spanish.
She was a talented junior, winning the prestigious Orange Bowl tournament in 2003.
After her playing career, she has worked as a coach and commentator for Russian television.
“My game is built on taking the ball early and hitting through the court.”
