Mona Barthel
A German tennis talent with a powerful serve and forehand who carved out a top-25 career marked by flashes of brilliant, title-winning form.
Born 1990 (age 36)·German tennis player·Birthday: July 11·Millennials
Biography
Mona Barthel's tennis story is one of potent talent and persistent challenge. The German, who stands at six feet tall, announced herself with a game built around a formidable serve and flat, aggressive groundstrokes. Her breakthrough came in 2012 with a WTA title in Hobart, a victory she defended successfully the very next year, a rare feat that signaled her capability on her day. She climbed to a career-high ranking of World No. 23 in 2013, a period where she notched wins over several top-10 opponents. While consistency at the very highest level proved elusive, Barthel remained a dangerous floater in any draw for over a decade, a player whose best tennis could dismantle higher-ranked foes and light up smaller tournaments with champion's poise.
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.
Mona was born in 1990, 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 Mona Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Mona's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
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
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won three WTA singles titles, including back-to-back Hobart International championships in 2012 and 2013.
- Achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 23 in March 2013.
- Reached the fourth round of the French Open in 2017, her best Grand Slam singles result.
- Won the 2018 Luxembourg Open singles title without dropping a set throughout the tournament.
Did You Know?
She was a talented junior skier before focusing fully on tennis.
Barthel is an accomplished pianist and has said music helps her relax away from the court.
She has a black belt in taekwondo.
Her coach for much of her career was former German player Julia Görges's father, Klaus Görges.
“My serve is my biggest weapon, and I have to use it.”
