Iveta Benešová () (formerly Melzer, ; born 1 February 1983) is a Czech former tennis player. She began playing tennis aged seven and turned professional in 1998. She won two WTA Tour singles and 14 doubles tournaments, and one Grand Slam title in mixed doubles at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships. She announced her retirement from tennis on 13 August 2014.
Career 2004–2008 Benešová won her first WTA Tour title at the 2004 Mexican Open, defeating.Flavia Pennetta in the final.
At the 2006 Australian Open, for the first time, she reached the third round of a Grand Slam championship by beating fifth seed Mary Pierce. She lost in the next round to former world No. 1, Martina Hingis.
Entering as a qualifier in the 2008 French Open, she reached the third round, beating 15th seed and compatriate Nicole Vaidišová in the first round, but lost to Petra Cetkovská.
2009
Benešová started the year by playing the first edition of the Brisbane International. She lost in the first round to qualifier Sesil Karatantcheva. A week later, Benešová lost the final of the Hobart International to fellow-Czech Petra Kvitová. At the Australian Open, she lost in the second round to eventual semifinalist and fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva.
Immediately after Australian, Benešová played in front of her home crowd in the Fed Cup tie against Spain. Despite losing her singles rubber to Nuria Llagostera Vives, the Czech team advanced to the semifinals after winning the tie 4–1.
At the Open GdF Suez in Paris, she lost in the first round to world No. 1, Serena Williams. Benešová then reached the semifinals of the tournament in Acapulco, a clay-court event. In the quarterfinals, she beat Mathilde Johansson, before losing to defending champion Flavia Pennetta.
On 6 April 2009, Benešová achieved her career-high singles ranking of world No. 25.
Seeded 6th at the first edition of the Monterrey Open, she beat fellow Czech Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová in the quarterfinals, before losing in the semifinals to unseeded Li Na.
Benešová fell to Ana Ivanovic in the third round of the French Open.
At Wimbledon, she beat Katie O'Brien, before falling to Jelena Janković in the second round.
2010 In singles, she defeated Simona Halep in the final of the Morocco Open to win her first WTA Tour trophy since 2004.
In doubles, she won three tournaments. Along with Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová, she grabbed the titles in Paris as their opponents Cara Black and Liezel Huber withdrew and Monterrey defeating Anna-Lena Grönefeld and Vania King. Partnering with Anabel Medina Garrigues, Benešová won in Fes, making her winning both singles and doubles there.
2011 Benešová reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, but was defeated by second seed Vera Zvonareva.
Along with Záhlavová-Strýcová, she won four titles in doubles.
At Wimbledon, she won the mixed doubles title with partner and later husband, Jürgen Melzer.
2012 Benešová once again reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, being defeated by eventual champion Victoria Azarenka in straight sets. On 29 April 2012 she won her last title at the Stuttgart doubles, again with Záhlavová-Strýcová.
She paused from playing tournaments until February 2014, mainly due to shoulder problems.
2014 In her first tournament as Iveta Melzer, she and her partner Petra Cetkovská reached the final of the Acapulco doubles which they lost in three sets.
At the French Open, she played the mixed doubles with her then husband Jürgen, they lost in the first round against top seeded Alexander Peya and Abigail Spears. It was their last Grand Slam mixed appearance together; at Wimbledon, Jürgen Melzer partnered Anabel Medina Garrigues.
Iveta Melzer ended her career on 15 August 2014, as shoulder problems prevented her from playing her best tennis.
Personal life On 14 September 2012, Benešová married Austrian tennis player Jürgen Melzer at Laxenburg castles in Austria. The relationship ended in 2015 and Iveta changed her name back to Benešová.
Performance timelines
Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Fed Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records.
Singles Tournament2002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014SRW–LWin%Grand Slam tournaments Australian OpenQ21RQ31R3R2RQ22R2R4R4Rabsent0 / 811–8 French Open2R1R1R2R2R1R3R3R1R1R1RA1R0 / 127–12 Wimbledon1R1R1R1R1R2R1R2R1R2R1Rabsent0 / 113–11 US Open1R1R2R1R1R1R2R1R2R1R1Rabsent0 / 113–11Win–loss1–30–41–31–43–42–43–34–42–44–43–40–00–10 / 4224–42National representation Summer Olympicsnot held1Rnot held2Rnot heldANH0 / 21–2Premier Mandatory & 5 + former tournamentsDubai / Qatar Opennot held / not Masters seriesabsent1R1R2Rabsent0 / 31–3Indian Wells OpenA2R3R3R2R2R1R2R1R2R1RA1R0 / 116–11Miami OpenA1RA1R2R2RAQF1R3R3RA1R0 / 99–9German / Madrid Openabsent1R1Rabsent1R1R2R1Rabsent0 / 61–6Italian OpenAQ2Q2absentQ12Rabsent2R2Rabsent0 / 33–3Canadian OpenabsentQ2A1R3R2RQ3absent0 / 33–3Cincinnati Opennot held / not Masters series1RA1RQ1absent0 / 20–2Pan Pacific OpenabsentQFQ2absentQF1R3Rabsent0 / 47–4China Opennot Masters series1RA1Rabsent0 / 20–2Charleston Open (former)absent3R1Rabsentnot Masters series0 / 22–2San Diego Open (former)NMS2R2Rabsentnot held0 / 22–2Kremlin Cup (former)Q2Q2Q21R2RQ1Anot Masters series0 / 21–2Zurich Open (former)AQ1Q2Q2absentnot held / not Masters series0 / 00–0Win–loss0–01–23–26–72–52–21–26–72–68–94–50–00–20 / 4935–49Career statistics2002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014SRW–LWin%Tournaments91922272115182525241705Career total: 227Titles0010000010000Career total: 2Finals1030101110000Career total: 8Hard win–loss4–24–711–1313–1611–124–79–816–1510–1412–1510–90–00–30 / 118104–121Clay win–loss3–64–1014–66–74–71–913–811–88–82–71–50–00–22 / 8167–83Grass win–loss0–10–20–10–21–21–10–22–20–11–10–30–00–00 / 185–18Carpet win–loss1–11–20–02–31–10–00–00–20–10–10–00–00–00 / 10 5–11Overall win–loss8–109–2125–2021–2817–226–1722–1829–2718–2415–2411–170–00–52 / 227181–233Win %Career total: Year-end ranking811403654601194339605481$3,329,488
Doubles Tournament2002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014SRW–LWin%Grand Slam tournaments Australian Openabsent1R1R1R1R3R2R2R3R2Rabsent0 / 97–9 French Openabsent1R3R3R1R1R2R3R1R1RA1R0 / 107–10 Wimbledonabsent1R1R2R1R2R3R3R3R2Rabsent0 / 99–9 US Openabsent2R1R1R2R2R2R3RQF2Rabsent0 / 910–9Win–loss0–00–01–42–43–41–44–45–47–47–43–40–00–10 / 3733–37National representationSummer Olympicsnot heldAnot held1Rnot heldANH0 / 10–1WTA Premier Mandatory & 5 + formerDubai / Qatar Open not Masters seriesabsent1R1R2Rabsent0 / 31–3Indian Wells Openabsent1R1RSF2RQFQFQF2RSFA1R0 / 1013–10Miami Openabsent1R2Rabsent1R1R2R1RA2R0 / 73–7Berlin / Madrid Openabsent1R1RQFabsent1R1R1Rabsent0 / 62–6Italian OpenabsentQFFabsent2R2Rabsent0 / 48–4Canadian Openabsent2RAQFQF1R1Rabsent0 / 55–5Cincinnati Open not Masters series1RA1R1Rabsent0 / 30–3Pan Pacific OpenabsentQFabsentW1Rabsent1 / 35–2China Open not Masters series1RA2Rabsent0 / 21–2Charleston Open (former)absentF1Rabsent not Masters series0 / 24–2San Diego Open (former)absent1R1Rabsent not Masters series0 / 20–2Kremlin Cup (former)A2R1R1RFSFA not Masters series0 / 56–5Zurich Open (former)absentQ11RAnot held / not Masters series0 / 10–1Win–loss0–01–10–44–710–66–45–24–58–54–95–70–01–21 / 5348–52Career statisticsTournaments5820261717202021221804Career total: 198Titles0001012144100Career total: 14Finals0013124454101Career total: 26Overall win–loss2–65–814–2022–2518–1820–1624–1829–1932–1732–1718–170–04–414 / 198220–185Year-end ranking190130633835343534212936n/a
Grand Slam tournament finals Mixed doubles: 1 (title) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 2011Wimbledon Grass Jürgen Melzer Mahesh Bhupathi Elena Vesnina 6–3, 6–2
WTA Tour finals Singles: 8 (2 titles, 6 runner-ups) LegendTier III, IV & V / International (2–6)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss0–1Oct 2002WTA Bratislava, SlovakiaTier VHard (i) Maja Matevžič0–6, 1–6Win1–1Mar 2004Mexican Open, MexicoTier IIIClay Flavia Pennetta7–6(7–5), 6–4Loss1–2Apr 2004Portugal Open, PortugalTier IVClay Émilie Loit5–7, 6–7(1–7)Loss1–3Aug 2004Forest Hills Classic, United StatesTier VHard Elena Likhovtseva3–6, 2–6Loss1–4Jan 2006Hobart International, AustraliaTier IVHard Michaëlla Krajicek1–6, 2–6Loss1–5May 2008Portugal OpenTier IVClay Maria Kirilenko4–6, 2–6Loss1–6Jan 2009Hobart International, AustraliaInternationalHard Petra Kvitová5–7, 1–6Win2–6May 2010Rabat Grand Prix, MoroccoInternationalClay Simona Halep6–4, 6–2
Doubles: 26 (14 titles, 12 runner-ups) LegendTier I / Premier M & Premier 5 (1–3)Tier II / Premier (5–2)Tier III & IV / International (8–7)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss0–1Jul 2004Silicon Valley Classic, United StatesTier IIHard Claudine Schaul Eleni Daniilidou Nicole Pratt2–6, 4–6Win1–1Feb 2005Open GDF Suez, FranceTier IICarpet (i) Květa Peschke Anabel Medina Garrigues Dinara Safina6–2, 2–6, 6–2Loss1–2Apr 2005Charleston Open, United StatesTier IClay (green) Květa Peschke Conchita Martínez Virginia Ruano Pascual1–6, 4–6Loss1–3Jun 2005Rosmalen Championships, NetherlandsTier IIIGrass Nuria Llagostera Vives Anabel Medina Garrigues Dinara Safina6–4, 2–6, 7–6(11–9)Loss1–4Oct 2006Kremlin Cup, RussiaTier ICarpet (i) Galina Voskoboeva Francesca Schiavone Květa Peschke4–6, 7–6(7–4), 1–6Loss1–5Jan 2007Hardcourt Championships, Australia Tier IIIHard Galina Voskoboeva Dinara Safina Katarina Srebotnik3–6, 4–6Win2–5Sep 2007Luxembourg OpenTier IIHard (i) Janette Husárová Victoria Azarenka Shahar Pe'er6–4, 6–2Win3–5Feb 2008Copa Colsanitas, ColombiaTier IIIClay Bethanie Mattek Jelena Kostanić Tošić Martina Müller6–3, 6–3Loss3–6Mar 2008Mexican Open, MexicoTier IIIClay Petra Cetkovská Nuria Llagostera Vives María José Martínez Sánchez2–6, 4–6Loss3–7May 2008Italian Open, ItalyTier IClay Janette Husárová Chuang Chia-jung Chan Yung-jan6–7(5–7), 3–6Win4–7Aug 2008Nordic Light Open, SwedenTier IVHard Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Petra Cetkovská Lucie Šafářová7–5, 6–4Loss4–8Mar 2009Monterrey Open, MexicoInternationalHard Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Mara Santangelo Nathalie Dechy3–6, 4–6Loss4–9Jul 2009Prague Open, Czech RepublicInternationalClay Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Kateryna Bondarenko Alona Bondarenko1–6, 2–6Loss4–10Aug 2009Connecticut Open, United StatesPremierHard Lucie Hradecká Nuria Llagostera Vives María José Martínez Sánchez2–6, 6–7Win5–10Oct 2009Luxembourg Open (2)InternationalHard (i) Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Vladimíra Uhlířová Renata Voráčová6–1, 0–6, [10–7]Win6–10Feb 2010Open GDF Suez, France (2)PremierHard (i) Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Cara Black Liezel HuberwalkoverWin7–10Mar 2010Monterrey Open, MexicoInternationalHard Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Anna-Lena Grönefeld Vania King3–6, 6–4, [10–8]Win8–10May 2010Rabat Grand Prix, MoroccoInternationalClay Anabel Medina Garrigues Lucie Hradecká Renata Voráčová6–3, 6–1Win9–10Oct 2010Pan Pacific Open, JapanPremier 5Hard Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Shahar Pe'er Peng Shuai6–4, 4–6, [10–8]Loss9–11Oct 2010Luxembourg OpenInternationalHard (i) Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Timea Bacsinszky Tathiana Garbin4–6, 4–6Win10–11Jan 2011Sydney International, AustraliaPremierHard Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Květa Peschke Katarina Srebotnik4–6, 6–4, [10–7]Win11–11Mar 2011Monterrey Open, Mexico (2)InternationalHard Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Anna-Lena Grönefeld Vania King6–7(8–10), 6–2, [10–6]Win12–11May 2011Barcelona Open, SpainInternationalClay Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Natalie Grandin Vladimíra Uhlířová5–7, 6–4, [11–9]Win13–11Oct 2011Luxembourg Open (3)InternationalHard (i) Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Lucie Hradecká Ekaterina Makarova7–5, 6–3Win14–11Apr 2012Stuttgart Open, GermanyPremierClay (i) Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová Julia Görges Anna-Lena Grönefeld6–4, 7–5Loss14–12Mar 2014Mexican Open, MexicoInternationalHard Petra Cetkovská Kristina Mladenovic Galina Voskoboeva3–6, 6–2, [5–10]
ITF Circuit finals Singles: 5 (4 titles, 1 runner-up)