Svetlana Parkhomenko
# Svetlana Parkhomenko

Svetlana Germanovna Parkhomenko (Russian: Светлана Германовна Пархоменко, née Cherneva, Чернева; born October 8, 1962) is a retired Soviet and Russian tennis player and tennis coach. She was the winner of the Soviet singles tennis championships in 1985 and nine times Soviet champion in women's doubles and mixed doubles. On the international level, she was the winner of the 1983 European amateur championships in women's and mixed doubles, bronze medalist of the 1983 Universiade in women's and mixed doubles, and winner of eight WTA Tour doubles tournaments.

Parkhomenko also was the recipient of 1988 WTA Sportsmanship Award.

## Biography

In 1978, Svetlana won the singles and doubles title at European Junior Championships (she also won doubles titles in the next two years). In 1978, she also won the Soviet youth championships in singles, girls' and mixed doubles, and in 1980 in singles and girls' doubles. In 1980, she advanced with the Soviet girls team to the finals of Princess Sofia Cup.

Starting in 1981, Svetlana (from 1984 playing under her marriage name Parkhomenko) won the senior Soviet doubles championships eight times (twice in 1987). In addition, she became the singles champion in 1985 and mixed doubles champion in 1983. From 1981, she also played for the Soviet Union Federation Cup team. In total, between 1981 and 1988, she played 28 rubbers for the Soviet team, mostly in doubles with Larisa Savchenko.

In 1983, Cherneva won the European amateur championships in women's and mixed doubles and took bronze in the same disciplines at the 1983 Summer Universiade. From the same year, she started playing in international professional tennis tournaments. In 1984, she won her first ITF titles in San Antonio and Delray Beach, and at the Wimbledon Championships advanced with Savchenko to quarterfinals, after defeating third seed Kathy Horvath and Virginia Ruzici, as well as Chris Evert and Catherine Tanvier. In the next three years, Parkhomenko and Savchenko won seven Virginia Slims tournaments including four in 1987. They played three times in a row at the Virginia Slims Championships, and in March 1986 advanced there to semifinals. In 1987, they reached semifinals at Wimbledon, after defeating world's best pair, recent Grand Slam winners Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver.

At the start of 1988 season, Parkhomenko was ranked as high as eighth in the WTA doubles rankings. But in 1988, Savchenko broke with her to play doubles with young Natasha Zvereva. Without Savchenko, Parkhomenko struggled to retain her best shape, playing with other partners. She won one WTA tournament with Natalia Bykova and twice reached finals with Leila Meskhi, and at the end of the season, she received the WTA Sportsmanship Award.

After having completely missed 1989 season, Parkhomenko returned to play at the end 1990. In 1991, she was awarded the title of Honoured Master of Sports. In 1992, she returned to the top 10 of the Russian tennis and remained there for two more years. In 1993, she played three ties for the Russia Fed Cup team, winning her doubles games against Ukrainians and Lithuanians. After finishing her playing career in 1995, she coaches at the Moscow CSKA tennis club.

## Virginia Slims and WTA career finals

### Doubles: 14 (8 titles, 6 runner-ups)

* Legend
* Grand Slam (0)
* Tier IV-V (1)
* Virginia Slims/VS (7)

| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Loss | 0–1 | Jan 1985 | Key Biscayne, U.S. | Hard | Larisa Savchenko | Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Smylie | 4–6, 6–7 |
| Loss | 0–2 | Apr 1985 | Hilton Head, U.S. | Clay | Larisa Savchenko | Rosalyn Fairbank Pam Shriver | 4–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 1–2 | Apr 1985 | Seabrook Island, U.S. | Clay | Larisa Savchenko | Elise Burgin Lori McNeil | 6–1, 6–3 |
| Win | 2–2 | Sep 1985 | Salt Lake City, U.S. | Hard | Larisa Savchenko | Beverly Mould Rosalyn Fairbank | 7–5, 6–2 |
| Loss | 2–3 | Sep 1986 | Tulsa, U.S. | Hard | Larisa Savchenko | Camille Benjamin Dinky Van Rensburg | 6–7, 5–7 |
| Loss | 2–4 | Sep 1986 | New Orleans, U.S. | Hard | Larisa Savchenko | Candy Reynolds Anne Smith | 3–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
| Win | 3–4 | Nov 1986 | Little Rock, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Larisa Savchenko | Iva Budařová Beth Herr | 6–2, 1–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 4–4 | Jan 1987 | Wichita, U.S. | Carpet (i) | Larisa Savchenko | Barbara Potter Wendy White | 6–2, 6–4 |
| Win | 5–4 | Feb 1987 | Oklahoma City, U.S. | Hard | Larisa Savchenko | Lori McNeil Kim Sands | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 6–4 | Feb 1987 | Boca Raton, U.S. | Hard | Larisa Savchenko | Chris Evert Pam Shriver | 6–0, 3–6, 6–2 |
| Win | 7–4 | Jun 1987 | Eastbourne, UK | Grass | Larisa Savchenko | Rosalyn Fairbank Elizabeth Smylie | $7–6^{(7–5)},$ 4–6, 7–5 |
| Win | 8–4 | Feb 1988 | Wichita, U.S. | Hard (i) | Natalia Bykova | Jana Novotná Catherine Suire | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 8–5 | Apr 1988 | Singapore | Hard | Leila Meskhi | Natalia Bykova Natalia Medvedeva | 6–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 8–6 | Jun 1988 | Birmingham, UK | Grass | Leila Meskhi | Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva | 4–6, 1–6 |

## ITF finals

* $100,000 tournaments
* $75,000 tournaments
* $50,000 tournaments
* $25,000 tournaments
* $10,000 tournaments

### Singles: 8 (3–5)

| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Loss | 1. | 16 January 1984 | ITF Delray Beach, United States | Hard | Anna Ivan | 3–6, 3–6 |
| Winner | 2. | 27 April 1992 | ITF Sheffield, UK | Hard | Angie Woolcock | 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 3. | 19 October 1992 | ITF Moscow, Russia | Clay | Elena Makarova | 5–7, 2–6 |
| Loss | 4. | 8 February 1993 | ITF Sunderland, UK | Carpet (i) | Gaby Coorengel | 6–3, $6–7^{(3–7)},$ 3–6 |
| Loss | 5. | 3 May 1993 | ITF Bracknell, UK | Hard | Marianne Vallin | $7–6^{(7–3)},$ 3–6, 1–6 |
| Winner | 6. | 27 September 1993 | ITF Bracknell, UK | Hard | Julie Pullin | 7–5, 6–2 |
| Winner | 7. | 4 October 1993 | ITF Basingstoke, UK | Hard (i) | Emily Bond | 2–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
| Loss | 8. | 8 November 1993 | ITF Swindon, UK | Carpet (i) | Emily Bond | 5–7, 3–6 |

### Doubles: 23 (17–6)

| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Loss | 1. | 31 June 1982 | ITF Fayetteville, United States | Hard | Elena Eliseenko | Pam Whytcross Emily Newton | 4–6, 6–1, 6–7 |
| Loss | 2. | 2 January 1984 | ITF Chicago, United States | Hard (i) | Larisa Neiland | Csilla Bartos-Cserepy Marianne van der Torre | w/o |
| Win | 3. | 9 January 1984 | ITF San Antonio, United States | Hard | Elena Eliseenko | Carol Christian Jaime Kaplan | 6–1, 6–1 |
| Win | 4. | 16 January 1984 | ITF Delray Beach, United States | Hard | Jaime Kaplan | Carol Christian Jamie Golder | 6–3, 6–1 |
| Loss | 5. | 23 March 1992 | ITF Santander, Spain | Clay | Amanda Evans | Agata Werblińska Katarzyna Teodorowicz | 3–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 6. | 27 April 1992 | ITF Sheffield, UK | Clay | Amanda Evans | Lisa McShea Amy deLone | 4–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 7. | 11 May 1992 | ITF Bournemouth, UK | Hard | Amanda Evans | Amy deLone Tamsin Wainwright | 6–3, 2–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 8. | 19 October 1992 | ITF Moscow, Russia | Hard (i) | Natalia Egorova | Elena Likhovtseva Julia Lutrova | 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
| Win | 9. | 1 February 1993 | ITF Newcastle, UK | Carpet (i) | Natalia Egorova | Pavlína Rajzlová Helena Vildová | 6–4, 4–6, 6–0 |
| Win | 10. | 8 February 1993 | ITF Sunderland, UK | Carpet (i) | Natalia Egorova | Pavlína Rajzlová Helena Vildová | 2–6, 6–1, $7–6^{(7–5)}$ |
| Win | 11. | 19 April 1993 | ITF Nottingham, UK | Hard | Natalia Egorova | Julie Salmon Lorna Woodroffe | 5–1 ret. |
| Win | 12. | 3 May 1993 | ITF Bracknell, UK | Hard | Natalia Egorova | Claire Taylor Lorna Woodroffe | 7–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 13. | 12 July 1993 | ITF Frinton-on-Sea, UK | Grass | Natalia Egorova | Maija Avotins Lisa McShea | 4–6, 6–2, $7–6^{(7–5)}$ |
| Loss | 14. | 20 September 1993 | ITF Sheffield, UK | Hard | Natalia Egorova | Caroline Hunt Shirli-Ann Siddall | 4–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 15. | 4 October 1993 | ITF Basingstoke, UK | Hard (i) | Natalia Egorova | Caroline Stassen Lorna Woodroffe | 6–2, 6–1 |
| Win | 16. | 8 November 1993 | ITF Swindon, UK | Carpet (i) | Natalia Egorova | Alison Smith Caroline Stassen | 6–0, 6–4 |
| Win | 17. | 15 November 1993 | ITF Swansea, UK | Hard (i) | Natalia Egorova | Alison Smith Caroline Stassen | 6–1, 6–3 |
| Win | 18. | 29 November 1993 | ITF Ramat HaSharon, Israel | Hard | Natalia Egorova | Angela Kerek Olga Lugina | 6–2, 6–3 |
| Win | 19. | 4 July 1994 | ITF Felixstowe, UK | Grass | Natalia Egorova | Caroline Stassen Lorna Woodroffe | 6–3, 7–5 |
| Loss | 20. | 11 July 1994 | ITF Frinton-on-Sea, UK | Grass | Natalia Egorova | Helen Crook Victoria Davies | 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 21. | 14 November 1994 | ITF Eastbourne, UK | Carpet (i) | Natalia Egorova | Shirli-Ann Siddall Amanda Wainwright | $7–6^{(10–8)},$ $7–6^{(8–6)}$ |
| Win | 22. | 6 February 1995 | ITF Sheffield, UK | Hard (i) | Natalia Egorova | Amanda Wainwright Lorna Woodroffe | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 23. | 13 February 1995 | ITF Sunderland, UK | Hard (i) | Natalia Egorova | Michele Mair Karen Nugent | 7–5, 6–0 |

## Other finals

### Singles (1–1)

| Outcome | No. | Year | Tournament | Location | Opponent | Score |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Runner-up | 1. | 1983 | USSR Tennis National Championship | Jūrmala, Latvian SSR | Elena Eliseenko | 4–6, 5–7 |
| Winner | 2. | 1985 | USSR Tennis National Championship | Tbilisi, Georgian SSR | Julia Salnikova | 6–7, 6–4, 6–2 |

### Doubles (8–2)

| Outcome | No. | Year | Tournament | Location | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Winner | 1. | 1981 | USSR Tennis National Championship | Moscow, Russian SFSR | Olga Zaitseva | Natasha Chmyreva Marina Kroschina | 6–1, 6–1 |
| Winner | 2. | 1982 | USSR Tennis National Championship | Kharkiv, Ukrainian SSR | Yuliya Kasheverova | Olga Avdeeva Elena Eliseenko | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Winner | 3. | 1983 | USSR Tennis National Championship | Jūrmala, Latvian SSR | Larisa Savchenko | Natasha Reva Julia Salnikova | 6–2, 6–0 |
| Winner | 4. | 1984 | USSR Tennis National Championship | Tashkent, Uzbek SSR | Larisa Savchenko | Elena Eliseenko Julia Salnikova | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Winner | 5. | 1985 | USSR Tennis National Championship | Tbilisi, Georgian SSR | Larisa Savchenko | Natalia Egorova Elena Eliseenko | 7–5, 7–5 |
| Winner | 6. | 1986 | USSR Tennis National Championship | Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR | Larisa Savchenko | Natasha Zvereva Leila Meskhi | 6–2, 6–4 |
| Winner | 7. | 1987 | USSR Tennis National Championship | Tallinn, Soviet-occupied Estonia | Larisa Savchenko | Eugenia Maniokova Aida Khalatian | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Winner | 8. | 1987 | USSR Winter Tennis National Championship | Moscow, Russian SFSR | Larisa Savchenko | Natalia Egorova Leila Meskhi | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Runner-up | 9. | 1988 | USSR Winter Tennis National Championship | Moscow, Russian SFSR | Natalia Egorova | Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva | 6–7, 6–0, 4–6 |
| Runner-up | 10. | 1991 | USSR Tennis National Championship | Moscow, Russian SFSR | Natalia Egorova | Karina Kuregian Aida Khalatian | 4–6, 3–6 |

### Mixed (1–0)

| Outcome | Year | Tournament | Location | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Winner | 1983 | USSR Tennis National Championship | Jūrmala, Latvian SSR | Konstantin Pugaev | Vladimir Kurda Larisa Savchenko | 6–4, 6–3 |
