This is a translation into English of the Russian article at http://www.uzbektennis.uz/russian/uzteam/tulyaganova.html, which is Copyright 1999 Uzbek Tennis Federation (though it was evidently written in 2000). If you have a problem with that, let me know and I'll remove it within a month! Thanks to my mother for doing the translation.
Born 7 January 1982 in Tashkent
Height - 1 m 72 cm
Weight - 56 kg
Plays right-handed
Won 2 ITF tournaments
Highest singles ranking: 150 (17/4/00)
Lowest ranking: 160 (29/5/00)
"My daughter, Iroda. I was extremely glad on hearing the good news that you won at Wimbledon, the most prestigious tournament in the world. Your victory brought delight and awakened a feeling of national pride in the hearts of all your fellow countrymen.
"To be first among the strongest sportsmen of the world, to increase the fame and honour of Uzbekistan - demands of a person selflessness, real heroism and will-power. My daughter, Iroda, I am sure that as a representative of the great tennis rapidly developing in our country, you will always carry the Uzbek flag high in the sporting arenas of the world. I wish you health and happiness. May success always accompany you in sport and in life."
This was the message of greetings from the president of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov published in all the republic's newspapers. Perhaps not one Uzbek sportsman has been honoured in such a way. Except perhaps the professional world boxing champion Arthur Grigorian. But one thing is certain: no-one has been addressed in such a paternal way by the head of government. Iroda is a favourite of the president. The success of an Uzbek tennis-player has provoked a great response. Mostly because it happened at the Wimbledon girls' tournament, one of the London newspapers commented, under the headline "The stars are rising from the East". The correspondent wrote that he could "not remember when the winner at Wimbledon was a tennis-player from Asia". He considers Iroda not only "a heroine of her own country, of the Central Asian region, but of the whole continent."
Such praises can turn anyone's head. But "star sickness" has not touched Tulyaganova. One can say this with certainty after a year. But there were many temptations: interview in the newspapers, taking part in various talk-shows on television... she has not given herself airs. Above all, she continued to train seriously. The current season, like the last, is also turning out to be successful. Although, of course, the transition from junior tennis to senior is a painful process. But it has paid off, evidently a tactical line worked out by her father Batir Tursunovich. He has not pressed his daughter. He has not forced her development. Little by little he has brought her towards great tennis.
Last year Iroda conquered Japan with her game: in the "Japan Open" tournament she won the girls' 18s, and in Fukioko won most importantly that age group in Asia. Only then, finding psychological stability, did she come onto the adult court. In March 1999 she got through the first round of a tournament in Dubai with prize money of US $75,000, and in May became holder of the "Steel Cup" in Seoul (prize money of US $25,000). On Tulyaganova's service record one victory in Challengers has already been entered. Already this year. She took first place in a tournament in Caen-sur-Mer in France. Before her lay the rackets of Ukrainian player Anna Zaporozhanova (6:3, 6:3), Ekaterina Syssoeva of Russia (6:3, 6:4), Frenchwoman Stephanie Foretz (7:6(3), 6:3), Yvette Basting of Holland (7:6(2), 6:1), and in the final Italian Giulia Casoni (6:2, 6:3). Tulyaganova made a significant contribution to the success of the Uzbek team in the Ray Cup tournament in Osaka (Japan). Our girls secured a place in the first subgroup, having beaten the teams of Oceania, Fiji, Malaysia, Iran, and Tajikistan.
Having experienced the taste of victory, Iroda now travels from tournament to tournament like a true professional. Together with her Ukrainian friend Anna Zaporozhanova she was in the final of a tournament in Poland. She teamed up quite well in the doubles with Lubomira Bacheva from Bulgaria in Antwerp. They reached the semi-final. However her partner became ill and they couldn't go out on court. In singles Iroda played quite successfully in a tournament in Strasbourg, and then at "Roland Garros" in Paris. From there Tulyaganova travelled to her native town in order to take part in the "Tashkent Open", in which she caused a sensation last year: in the first round she beat the seventh seed Seda Noorlander. This then was her first victory at a WTA tournament. And as it turned out, not the last.