Radio Bulgaria

Bulgarian tennis player Tsvetana Pironkova reached the Wimbledon semi-finals where she lost 1:2 to Russian Vera Zvonareva. Pironkova won 900 points, which will place her among the first 35 players in the WTA chart. Pironkova became the first Bulgarian tennis player to reach the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament.

On her road to the success, Tsvetana Pironkova had to overcome three Russian players. Sports commentators focused on Pironkova immediately after her victory over world number 11 Marion Bartoli in the round of 16th, while Pironkova’s outstanding victory at the quarter-finals against world’s number 2 Venus Williams, stunned sports journalists. Pironkova has been a professional tennis player since 2002 with a number of victories over top ten players. Her 82nd position in the world ranklist at the start of Wimbledon did not place Pironkova in the focus of attention. But reaching the semi-finals made Daily Mail write that people must get used to the thought that Tsvetana Pironkova would play many more years at Wimbledon.”

Tsvetana Pironkova was born on September 13, 1987 in the second biggest Bulgarian city of Plovdiv. Sport is in her blood. Her father Kiril is also her personal coach. He is a former Bulgarian canoeing champion. Her mother Radosveta Chinkova is a swimmer, while her sister Elisaveta is also a tennis player. Pironkova’s brother Encho is her sparring partner and accompanies her during most of the tournaments. Tsvetana is the granddaughter of the famous Bulgarian artist Encho Pironkov. She has been playing tennis since she was four. She is a major figure in the Bulgarian team at Fed Cup.

Could the 22-year-old Pironkova win at the semi-finals against Vera Zvonerava, who is 21st in the world’s chart. The Bulgarian has met Zvonareva before and Pironkova won. But this time the Bulgarian won the first set and then Zvonareva managed to win 1:2. Tsvetana said before the match she hadn’t expected such a success. But now she must get used to it, as everyone will expect more from her.

During the days of the Football World Cup, at which Bulgaria is not represented, Bulgarian sport fans felt enormously happy because of Pironkova’s success. Good luck, Tsveti, we wish you more victories!

English: Alexander Markov