In Dubai’s warm December breeze, where ambition and nostalgia often meet on the tennis court, few expected to witness a storyline quite like this. For most of 2025, Vera Zvonareva had slipped quietly out of the tennis conversation. Her last appearance came in May 2024, and months have passed with no updates from the former world number 2. 

Yet here she was in Dubai, racket in hand, entering the ITF W100 event with nothing more than a wildcard and a fire that many assumed had long dimmed. Zvonareva arrived without a ranking, without expectations, and without the spotlight that once followed her across the biggest stages in tennis.

But from the first point she played this week, it became clear that the 41-year-old wasn’t here to relive memories; she was here to compete. After beating Tara Wuth and Tereza Martincová in her opening matches, she defeated Sofya Lansere by 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 in 2 hours and 45 minutes. With this win, she has now reached the SF of any kind since 2021. Zvonareva will face 16-year-old British rising tennis star Mika Stojsavljevic in the next match.

For Zvonareva, this match is another chapter in a career that defied expectations again and again. For Stojsavljevic, it’s an invaluable chance to test herself against a living example of longevity, grit, and reinvention.  

If we take a look at Vera Zvonareva’s tennis career, she turned pro in September 2000, and over these 25 years, she won twelve singles titles, reached the finals of the 2008 WTA Tour Championships, the 2010 Wimbledon Championships, and the 2010 US Open. She also won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In doubles, she also had an extraordinary career, winning the Grand Slam title thrice (2006 US Open, 2012 AO, and 2020 US Open).

Her shoulder surgery in September last year derailed her career a bit, but she’s now happy to make a strong comeback. But what’s more fascinating is her hunger for success even at this age. After her incredible win against Wurth, she said:

“It was a tough match, and that’s to be expected against these younger players. Without a doubt, my experience was key, but in the end, I had to play and win in a quite physical match… For someone my age, you always have to live one day at a time, and that is exactly my mentality for this week.”

Zvonareva’s incredible comeback has stunned the tennis world. But according to Dimitry Tursunov, a tennis coach and former player, fans can now expect big things from her.

“Knowing Vera and her returns, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if she finishes the year in the top 150, or even higher.”

What did Vera Zvonareva say after securing her spot in the SF of this event in Dubai, though? Let’s find out.

Vera Zvonareva reflects on her thoughts about her upcoming battle against a rising tennis star

Waiting for her in the next round is a 16-year-old British tennis player who has already won the girls’ singles title at the 2024 US Open and also reached the QF of Wimbledon junior in 2023. Reflecting on her upcoming clash against Mika Stojsavljevic, Vera Zvonareva didn’t hide the challenge ahead. With a smile tinged with realism, she admitted: 

“It’s not going to get any easier now on. I have watched Mika [Stojsavljevic] play, and I can see why she has been so successful on the tour so far. This is going to be yet another challenge before me.”

The matchup encapsulates everything fans love about sport – contrast, drama, and symbolism. On one side stands Zvonareva, a warrior from another tennis era, powered by wisdom and grit. On the other is Stojsavljevic, armed with raw power, youth, and the wide-open horizon of potential. This semifinal is more than a match – it’s a bridge between eras.

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Stojsavljevic will be entering this match following her three-set win over Polina Iatcenko. What was her reaction after that match?

“There were far too many shifts in the match. But in the end, during the tie-break, I just went for my shots, and that paid off. I realize that every new day has its own challenges, and I am much wiser having played a match like this against a tough opponent.”

Both these players are in good form. Regardless of the result in the SF, the Dubai crowd is set for something special – a generational collision under the desert lights, where resilience meets possibility. Who do you think will win this duel?