Polona Hercog
A powerful Slovenian tennis player with a formidable serve and forehand who carved out a durable career on the WTA tour.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Slovenian tennis player·Birthday: January 20·Millennials
Biography
Polona Hercog announced herself as a force with a game built for clay and slow hard courts, leveraging a heavy serve and a sweeping forehand to dominate rallies. Turning professional in 2006, the Slovenian steadily climbed the rankings, breaking into the top 40 and claiming WTA titles in Bastad, Palermo, and Mexico. Her career has been defined by resilience, battling injuries and fluctuations in form but always fighting back to the main draw of Grand Slams, where she notched wins over several top-20 opponents. While a deep major run eluded her, Hercog's consistency made her a fixture on tour for over a decade, a respected competitor known for her professionalism and powerful baseline game. Beyond singles, she found success in doubles, adding two more WTA trophies to her collection.
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.
Polona was born in 1991, 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 Polona Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Polona's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
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
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
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 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won three WTA singles titles, at the Swedish Open (2011), the Palermo International (2012), and the Abierto Mexicano (2021).
- Achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 35 in 2012.
- Reached the third round of the French Open in 2010 and 2019, her best Grand Slam singles performances.
- Won two WTA doubles titles and 19 singles titles on the ITF Circuit.
Did You Know?
Her father, Boris Hercog, was a professional basketball player in Slovenia.
She is an ambassador for the WTA's 'Aces for Charity' program.
Hercog speaks four languages: Slovenian, English, Italian, and Spanish.
She was coached for a time by former Swedish top-10 player Joachim Nyström.
“My game is built on patience, constructing the point rather than rushing it.”
