#0008 hsieh su-wei

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Hsieh Su-wei — Compact Overview

Basic Information

  • Full name: Hsieh Su-wei
  • Nationality: Taiwanese
  • Born: 4 January 1986, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • Height: 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
  • Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand on both sides)
  • Turned professional: 2001
  • Preferred surfaces: Hard court and grass

Career Highlights

  • Career-high singles ranking: World No. 23 (25 February 2013).
  • Career-high doubles ranking: World No. 1 (24 February 2014; regained in 2023).
  • Career prize money: More than US$14 million.
  • WTA singles titles: 3.
  • WTA doubles titles: More than 35.
  • Grand Slam doubles titles: 9.
  • Grand Slam mixed doubles title: 1.

Grand Slam Results

  • Australian Open (Singles): Quarterfinal (2021).
  • French Open (Singles): Fourth Round (2018).
  • Wimbledon (Singles): Fourth Round (2018).
  • US Open (Singles): Fourth Round (2018).

Although successful in singles, Hsieh achieved legendary status through her doubles career. She has won women's doubles titles at Wimbledon, the French Open, the Australian Open and the US Open, completing a career Grand Slam in women's doubles. She also won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2024 with Jan Zieliński.

Playing Style

Hsieh is regarded as one of the most unconventional and creative players in tennis history. Rather than relying on power, she uses disguise, exceptional touch, angles, slices, drop shots and remarkable anticipation. Uniquely, she is comfortable striking two-handed forehands and backhands, making her game highly unpredictable.

  • Exceptional variety and creativity.
  • Outstanding touch and feel.
  • Brilliant use of slices and drop shots.
  • Excellent anticipation and court awareness.
  • Two-handed strokes on both sides.
  • One of the greatest doubles tacticians of the Open Era.

Career Development

Hsieh became one of Asia's leading juniors before turning professional in 2001. She first established herself in singles, winning WTA titles and reaching the Top 25. During the second half of her career she increasingly focused on doubles, where she developed into one of the greatest specialists in the history of the sport.

Her partnerships with Peng Shuai, Barbora Strýcová, Elise Mertens and others produced numerous major titles and multiple periods as World No. 1. Following a temporary break from the tour in 2022, she returned in 2023 and immediately won both the French Open and Wimbledon doubles titles, demonstrating remarkable longevity.

Major Titles

  • Winner of 3 WTA singles titles.
  • Winner of 35+ WTA doubles titles.
  • 9 Grand Slam women's doubles titles.
  • 1 Grand Slam mixed doubles title.
  • Multiple WTA Finals doubles champion.

Doubles Success

Hsieh is widely regarded as one of the finest doubles players of all time.

  • Former World No. 1 in doubles.
  • Career Grand Slam in women's doubles.
  • Nine Grand Slam women's doubles championships.
  • Winner of prestigious WTA 1000 and WTA Finals titles.
  • One of the most successful doubles players of the 21st century.

International Representation

Hsieh has represented Chinese Taipei throughout her career in the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup), the Olympic Games and the Asian Games. She has won multiple medals at the Asian Games and has been one of the country's most successful international athletes.

Strengths

  • Exceptional creativity.
  • World-class doubles instincts.
  • Outstanding touch and finesse.
  • Ability to disguise shots.
  • Excellent movement and anticipation.
  • Remarkable longevity and adaptability.

Areas for Improvement

  • Singles consistency occasionally affected by her unconventional style.
  • Lack of overwhelming power against elite hitters.
  • Focused increasingly on doubles later in her career.

Personal Background

Raised in a tennis family, Hsieh developed an imaginative style encouraged by her father from an early age. She has long been admired for refusing to conform to conventional coaching methods, instead creating one of the most distinctive playing styles in professional tennis. Quiet away from the court but endlessly inventive on it, she has become a fan favorite around the world.

Legacy

Hsieh Su-wei is widely regarded as one of the greatest doubles players in tennis history and one of the most creative players ever to compete on the WTA Tour. A former World No. 1 in doubles, Grand Slam champion across all four major tournaments and successful singles player, she has demonstrated that intelligence, variety and artistry can consistently overcome raw power. Her influence on doubles strategy and her unique style have made her one of the sport's most admired competitors.

Career Snapshot

  • Taiwanese professional tennis player.
  • Career-high singles ranking: World No. 23.
  • Former World No. 1 in doubles.
  • Winner of 3 WTA singles titles.
  • Winner of 35+ WTA doubles titles.
  • Nine-time Grand Slam women's doubles champion.
  • Winner of a Grand Slam mixed doubles title.
  • Career Grand Slam in women's doubles.
  • Known for her extraordinary creativity, unmatched variety, tactical brilliance and one of the most distinctive playing styles in tennis history.

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