Karen Cross (born 19 February 1974) is a left-handed British former tennis player who competed at eight Wimbledon Championships during the 1990s and early 2000s, as well as for the Great Britain Fed Cup team in both 1994 and 1998.[1] During the course of her career Cross managed to win six titles on the ITF circuit (3 in singles and 3 in doubles) and she achieved her highest Women's Tennis Association singles ranking of world number 134 on 22 June 1998.[2][3] She is currently a part-time tennis coach at the Roehampton Club and since retirement from the professional circuit she has regularly competed on the ITF senior circuit, reaching a career-high ranking of world no.4 in the women's over-35's age group.[4][5]

Karen Cross

Country (sports)	Great Britain
Born	(1974-02-19) 19 February 1974 (age 48) Exeter, Devon
Turned pro	1993
Retired	2001
Prize money	US$196,033
Singles
Career record	156–184
Career titles	0 WTA, 3 ITF
Highest ranking	No. 134 (22 June 1998)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	Q1 (1999)
French Open	Q3 (1998)
Wimbledon	3R (1997)
US Open	Q1 (1997, 1998, 1999)
Doubles
Career record	76–102
Career titles	0 WTA, 3 ITF
Highest ranking	No. 196 (5 October 1998)
Grand Slam doubles results
Wimbledon	1R (1998, 1999)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Wimbledon	1R (1999)

At the Grand Slams, Cross's best result came at Wimbledon in 1997 when she won three matches to qualify before defeating Linda Wild and María Sánchez Lorenzo to reach the third round where she was defeated by the reigning French Open champion, Iva Majoli, in three close sets.[6]

Cross managed to gain victories over a number of players who would go on to achieve (or had already experienced) great success on the WTA tour, the most notable being future two-time Australian Open champion and world number 2 Li Na (in December 1999)[7] and future multiple Grand Slam doubles champion and doubles world number 1, Roberta Vinci (in July 2000).[8] Other notable defeated opponents included future two-time WTA titlist and world number 19 Sybille Bammer,[9] future world number 32 Jelena Kostanić,[10] future one-time WTA titlist and world number 48 Milagros Sequera[11] and former one-time WTA titlist and world number 56, Monique Javer.[12]

ITF circuit finals

Singles (3–0)

Result	Date	Category	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Winner	26 July 1993	ITF $10,000	Istanbul, Turkey	Clay	Gülberk Gültekin	4–6, 7–5, 7–6(7–4)
Winner	8 May 1995	ITF $10,000	Lee-on-Solent, Great Britain	Clay	Jo Durie	6–4, 6–4
Winner	8 July 1997	ITF $10,000	Felixstowe, Great Britain	Grass	Surina De Beer	6–1, 7–5

Doubles (3–3)

Result	Date	Category	Tournament	Surface	Partnering	Opponents	Score
Runner-up	24 April 1995	ITF $10,000	Edinburgh, United Kingdom	Clay	Lizzie Jelfs	Robyn Mawdsley Lorna Woodroffe	3–6, 1–6
Winner	8 May 1995	ITF $10,000	Edinburgh, United Kingdom	Clay	Lizzie Jelfs	Kaye Hand Claire Taylor	3–6, 6–3, 6–0
Winner	7 August 1995	ITF $10,000	Southsea, United Kingdom	Grass	Jane Wood	Nataly Cahana Oshri Shashua	6–4, 7–5
Runner-up	14 July 1997	ITF $10,000	Frinton, United Kingdom	Grass	Natalia Egorova	Joanne Ward Lorna Woodroffe	4–6, 6–2, 0–6
Runner-up	29 September 1997	ITF $10,000	Nottingham, United Kingdom	Hard (i)	Lizzie Jelfs	Lucie Ahl Joanne Ward	6–7(8–6), 2–6
Winner	12 April 1999	ITF $25,000	Cagnes-sur-Mer, France	Hard	Amanda Grahame	Louise Pleming Catherine Tanvier	6–4, 3–6, 7–6(8–6)

Performance timelines

Singles

Doubles

Mixed doubles

Fed Cup

1994 Federation Cup Europe/Africa Zone
Date	Venue	Surface	Round	Opponents	Final match score	Match	Opponent	Rubber score
20 Apr 1994	Bad Waltersdorf	Clay	RR	Russia	2–1	Doubles(with Julie Pullin)	Lutrova/Panova	5–7, 5–7 (L)
1998 Federation Cup Europe/Africa Zone
14–16 Apr 1998	Murcia	Clay	RR	Portugal	1–2	Singles	Sofia Prazeres	6–2, 2–6, 4–6 (L)
				Poland	1–2	Singles	Magdalena Grzybowska	1–6, 2–6 (L)
				Madagascar	3–0	Singles	Faratiana Rasoarilalao	6–1, 6–3 (W)

References

External links

• Karen Cross at the Women's Tennis Association
• Karen Cross at the Billie Jean King Cup
• Karen Cross at the International Tennis Federation