Career
Silva debuted in the ITF Circuit in Vila do Conde with a first round loss. Her first high level match came in 2002 at the Estoril Open, followed soon by her first presence in the Fed Cup. Both matches resulted in defeat.
Her greatest moment came at home at the 2004 Estoril Open when she defeated Julia Schruff, the previous year finalist, 3–6, 7–6(5), 7–6(8), to become the first Portuguese female player to win a singles match at the tournament. She would then lose to fourth seed Denisa Chládková 6–2, 6–1.
The year 2009 proved to be a breakthrough year for Silva. In February, she entered her first Tour event outside of Portugal in Pattaya and reached the second round, defeating Jessica Moore 6–2, 6–1 before losing to home player and sixth seed Tamarine Tanasugarn 6–3, 6–2.
In May, at Estoril, she played first seed Iveta Benešová in the first round, losing 6–4, 5–7, 6–4. In doubles, with Alexandra Dulgheru, she reached the quarterfinals.
On June 18, 2009, Silva qualified for her first Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon, where she lost to second seed Serena Williams on June 22, 2009, 6–1, 7–5 in the first round.
Her next WTA Tour event was the Tashkent Open in September, where she lost in the first round 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 to eight seed Galina Voskoboeva.
2010 was an injured filled year for Silva, who missed most of the season. Her last match came in June during the 2010 Wimbledon Championships qualifying tournament where she lost in the first round against Michaëlla Krajicek 6–1, 6–3. Citing constant pain in both of her knees, Silva retired on September 12, 2010.
Read more about this topic: Neuza Silva
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“It is a great many years since at the outset of my career I had to think seriously what life had to offer that was worth having. I came to the conclusion that the chief good for me was freedom to learn, think, and say what I pleased, when I pleased. I have acted on that conviction... and though strongly, and perhaps wisely, warned that I should probably come to grief, I am entirely satisfied with the results of the line of action I have adopted.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)
“From a hasty glance through the various tests I figure it out that I would be classified in Group B, indicating “Low Average Ability,” reserved usually for those just learning to speak the English Language and preparing for a career of holding a spike while another man hits it.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)
“Each of the professions means a prejudice. The necessity for a career forces every one to take sides. We live in the age of the overworked, and the under-educated; the age in which people are so industrious that they become absolutely stupid.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)