Katarina Srebotnik
A supremely consistent Slovenian doubles specialist who climbed to world number one, collecting Grand Slam titles with a quiet mastery of the net.
Born 1981 (age 45)·Slovenian tennis player·Birthday: March 12·Millennials
Biography
Katarina Srebotnik built a remarkable two-decade career on the tennis tour not with thunderous power, but with intelligent precision and steadfast reliability. While she cracked the top 20 in singles, it was in doubles where her artistry truly flourished. With a crisp volley and a keen tactical mind, she became one of the most sought-after partners on the WTA circuit. Srebotnik's game was versatile and adaptable, allowing her to win major mixed doubles titles with different partners and claim the world No. 1 ranking in women's doubles in 2011. Her resume is a globe-trotting collection of trophies, including multiple Grand Slam victories in mixed doubles at Wimbledon and the French Open. Never one for dramatic outbursts, Srebotnik's success was rooted in a quiet, professional demeanor and a flawless skill set at the net, making her a silent assassin who left with a cabinet full of the sport's biggest prizes.
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.
Katarina was born in 1981, 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 Katarina Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Katarina's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
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
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Achieved the world No. 1 ranking in women's doubles in July 2011.
- Won five Grand Slam titles in mixed doubles (three at Wimbledon, two at the French Open).
- Reached the women's doubles finals at the French Open (2010) and Wimbledon (2011).
- Earned a career-high singles ranking of world No. 20 in 2006.
Did You Know?
She is a left-handed player with a double-handed backhand.
She represented Slovenia in four consecutive Olympic Games from 2000 to 2012.
She won a WTA Tour singles title in 2005 at the Cellular World Cup in Slovenia.
She served as the captain of the Slovenia Billie Jean King Cup team after her retirement.
“A doubles court is a chessboard played at two hundred kilometers an hour.”
