Lepchenko thrives after painful childhood exile
Penniless girl with big tennis dreams quits bleak, struggling Russia for the United States, leaves mother behind and makes a Grand Slam breakthrough.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: June 02, 2012 07:59 PM IST
Penniless girl with big tennis dreams quits bleak, struggling Russia for the United States, leaves mother behind and makes a Grand Slam breakthrough.
It may sound like the tale of how Maria Sharapova kissed her mother goodbye and, with her father, and just a suitcase and a few meagre possessions, left chilly Siberia for sun-kissed Florida, on the first stage to fame and fortune.
But the golden girl of women's tennis does not have a monopoly when it comes to rags to riches stories.
On Saturday, Varvara Lepchenko dumped 2010 champion Francesca Schiavone out of the French Open, to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time, and revealed a similar epic childhood journey.
In her case, the departure point was Uzbekistan and the destination Allentown, Pennsylvania, where the Liberty Bell was hidden from the British during the American Revolutionary War.
"I was born and raised in Tashkent. When I was 15 I went to play juniors in the United States. After we arrived, we didn't go back, because there was no future for me, no future for my career in Uzbekistan," said the 26-year-old.
In Pennsylvania, Lepchenko, travelling with her father Peter, who is also her coach, bumped into Shari Butz, who organised accommodation for players taking part in junior tournaments in the area.
They became firm friends as Butz helped the teenage Lepchenko find her feet in the United States.
It was a timely meeting as immigration rules meant Lepchenko didn't see her mother Larisa for four years.
"There was $25,000 Challenger tournament. I played that one, and there was a lady who was in charge of housing. She was super nice. Her name is Shari Butz," said the American.
"Me and my dad, we didn't have enough money to rent an apartment, so we were struggling, going from one place to another. She said, Listen, I know you guys are all the time on the road.
"If you ever need a place to stay, you can come and stay with me, because she had a huge house. So she became like my mom. She was with me at the time when my mom wasn't there."
Now the family, with the exception of a sister who lives in Washington, are installed in Allentown as Lepchenko travels to tournaments as well as training in New York.
Next up for Lepchenko at the French Open is a fourth round clash against Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.