Meet Lera: "The Diamond"

Born in Saratov, Russia, on 3 November, 1992 to athletic parents (father, Alexander, a 100-meter swimmer and mother Oxanna, former Olympic gymnast), Lera began playing tennis at four years old.  Drawing inspiration from her role model at the time, Anna Kournikova, Lera won her first tournament at age six.  In the winter of 2003, impressed with what he’d heard from various sources, Norman Canter invited Lera and Alexander to South Florida to help her pursue her dreams of becoming a champion.  Lera currently trains in Miami with Tarik Benhabiles and his staff of coaches.

The petite, 14-year-old is shy, that is until she steps onto a tennis court.  She has earned many nicknames including "Killer" and "The Little Tiger" because of her tenacity and spirit when she plays the game. Simply put, she is a fighter. Lera’s latest nickname "The Diamond" was given to her while all of the leading athletic apparel, racquet, and equipment companies pursued her to endorse their brands. An executive of one of those companies said "she's a diamond" and it stuck with her.

Early in 2006, one of Lera’s greatest dreams came true when Nike signed her to a major endorsement contract for six years, coveting her as their next major international superstar in ladies tennis.  She was then invited to Nike headquarters and toured the facilities with Riccardo Colombini, global director of tennis for Nike and his staff. She was in awe at the John McEnroe building and her first meeting was with Mark Parker, CEO of Nike in his private office on the top of that building. Lera said, "He was so cool, he even let me use his computer so I could email my Mom and tell her I was at Nike…in his office. I loved all the people at Nike and I am so happy to join their team of champions."

Later in 2006, Babolat's Director of Sports Marketing, Luca Appino who had been watching Lera play for years, signed Lera to a long term contract to play with and endorse Babolat racquets and strings. "Now I have the two best companies in tennis behind me…Nike and Babolat. I have the best coaches, the best management team, so all I have to do is play my game, and win", said The Diamond.

The entire tennis world is watching Lera, who attributes her championship wins to hard work, conditioning, and great coaching, all instilled in her by "Poppa" who is Lera's physical and mental coach besides being her inspiration and idol. Her favorite tennis player is Roger Federer and seeing Lera play you can understand why.  Coaches from all over the world who have seen her play, are amazed at how advanced she is in her game.

Between her on-court routine and daily fitness regimen, Lera trains 4-6 hours per day, but still finds time for her schoolwork (she is home schooled on line). Her favorite foods are lobster, pasta, hamburgers and her hobbies include chess, badminton, table-tennis, swimming and listening to music on her video IPOD.

"Truly Lera is a pleasure to work with on the court", says Willie Aubone, who works with Lera every day in Miami and on the road at tournaments. "She's fast, intelligent, and has incredible physical skills and techniques."  Aubone, who coached Mary Jo Fernandez, feels that Lera and Mary Jo are the only two girls he has ever worked with in 25 years who learn something the first time he teaches it to them.

Benhabiles adds "Lera will dominate ladies tennis as did Agassi and Connors did in men's tennis. She has the work habits, the confidence, and most importantly, the shots, to win a Grand Slam as early on in her career as Hingis. The first day I saw her I said here is a future world champion, I have never seen a girl like this in all of my tennis years."  In fact, many compare Lera's style and intelligence on the court to Hingis.

Lera says tennis is her job, her career and she loves her job. Her plans are to play the events that she is permitted to play on the WTA Tour this year at 14, and work to do whatever it takes to become number one. She is certainly a special talent, determined, polished, and a bright star of the future in ladies tennis. She shines . . . The Diamond.