There hasn't been a rise in professional tennis in recent memory much like that of Diana Shnaider, the 20-year-old who late in 2024 peaked at world No.12.
Yes, you read that right: Twelve.
While the rankings rise is one thing, there's so much more to love about the quiet collegiate standout who has made a quite the racket over the last two years on the WTA Tour.
1. She's among bandana royalty
Jennifer Capriati. Martina Navratilova. Gabriela Sabatini. Diana Shnaider.
Yes, there have been plenty of other female superstars that have donned the throwback accessory, but Shnaider joins the greats in her commitment to the stylish cause, which dates back to her childhood.
“I couldn’t wear a hat because it was hard to see the ball when I tossed it, but the [bandana] was the way my parents helped protect me from the sun," she said in Charleston, back in 2023.
She travels with a variety of them now, with options to match her on-court kit. Her favourite? That iconic dark blue – with the polka dots.
2. All she does is (seemingly) win, win, win
Speaking of just that bandana, Shnaider donned it through much of her title run in Hong Kong in early November, when she scored wins over Leylah Fernandez and Katie Boulter en route to the title.
It was her fourth (fourth!) WTA singles title of the year, adding to trophy hauls in Hua Hin, Bad Homburg and Budapest.
Her versatility – with wins on hard court, clay and grass – stood alone in 2024; she was the only WTA player who won titles on three different surfaces this year, and her four titles match that of world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, with only Iga Swiatek winning more (five).
3. She's a big-stage baller
It was at Australian Open 2023 that Shnaider really first turned heads, having gone through qualifying to meet No.6 seed Maria Sakkari in the second round.
Their encounter on Margaret Court Arena turned into a classic, with the Greek barely escaping the teen over three close sets and showing signs of frustration with the lefty's game that turned commonplace a year later as Shnaider shot up the rankings in 2024.
A standout moment in her already glittering season? An under-the-stadium-lights night session stunner over Coco Gauff in Toronto, her first and only top-10 win, though she has a 7-11 mark against the top 20 so far in her burgeoning career.
4. She's (sorta) one of us
What is it about Shnaider that just makes her feel... so approachable?
From the bandana to a trip to Disneyland (Hong Kong) to a plethora of silly selfies and illustrated toe tape (yes, that's actually a thing), Shnaider exudes a sort of relaxed vibe that can often feel at odds with the rigours of a WTA ranking rise.
Her unusual path – leaving Moscow for collegiate tennis at North Carolina State – has made her even more of an anomaly, especially having spent just one season with the Wolfpack.
She showed off her personality a bit after stunning Gauff in Toronto. She was asked about out-duelling the world No.3 from the baseline: "When there were long rallies and I was winning them I was like, 'Wow, I just beat Coco in long rallies. I am good today, okay,'" she shared, laughing.
"I mean, I tried to play it cool, but inside I was like, 'Yes, I made it!'"
5. She does it Diana's way
Shnaider, if you can't tell already, has been bent to do it her way, something she says comes from her parents.
"I never thought about inspirations," she told the WTA last year. "My parents always said you need to find your own style, just like you need to find your own tennis game. You can watch to be inspired but for yourself, it needs to be your own."
Who did she, though, model her game off of? Shnaider hesitates in picking just one player, and instead names three – all major winners: Rafael Nadal, Petra Kvitova and Carlos Alcaraz.
It takes a village, though, Shnaider acknowledged after booking her place in her first fourth round at a major, at the US Open.
"If I'm honest, no," she said when asked if she thought she would have this kind of rankings rise.
"I'm proud of myself. It [hasn't] come in just one moment... sometimes it's been very hard. But I'm very glad that I managed it and found my way.
"It's thanks to the people who support me no matter what. And they're still supporting me. So I'm very glad to have those people around me."