Alina Vladimirovna Jidkova (Алина Владимировна Жидкова; born 18 January 1977) is a former professional tennis player from Russia, known for her resilience and competitive spirit on the WTA Tour.
Notably, she defeated several high-ranked opponents, including Serena Williams at Generali Linz in 2004, and also claimed wins over Mary Pierce, Jelena Janković, and Samantha Stosur, showcasing her skill in high-stakes matches.
[5] Aside from Williams, she has career victories against Jelena Janković, Mary Pierce, Samantha Stosur, Alicia Molik, Chanda Rubin, Amanda Coetzer, Brenda Schultz-McCarthy, Amy Frazier, Petra Martić, Mirjana Lučić-Baroni, Vera Dushevina and other notable players.
In 2005, she won her single WTA Tour event, the Mexican Open doubles title in Acapulco, partnering with Tatiana Perebiynis.
Alongside her work with established athletes, she is passionate about mentoring young, aspiring players, helping them reach the skill level needed for potential recruitment by top college tennis programs.
Spartak produced many successful players who rose to international prominence, including Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Anna Kournikova, Elena Dementieva, Anastasia Myskina, Dinara and Marat Safin.