Gigi Fernández

Gigi Fernández
Country (sports)  United States
Residence Connecticut, USA
Born (1964-02-22) February 22, 1964
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Turned pro November 1983
Retired November 1997
Plays Right-handed (two handed-backhand)
Prize money US$ 4,681,906
Int. Tennis HoF 2010 (member page)
Singles
Career record 270–232
Career titles 2
Highest ranking No. 17 (October 6, 1991)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open 4R (1990, 1993)
French Open 2R (1986, 1987, 1991)
Wimbledon SF (1994)
US Open QF (1991, 1994)
Doubles
Career record 664–184
Career titles 69
Highest ranking No. 1 (March 4, 1991)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open W (1993, 1994)
French Open W (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997)
Wimbledon W (1992, 1993, 1994, 1997)
US Open W (1988, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour Finals W (1993, 1994)
Olympic Games Gold Medal (1992, 1996)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
Australian Open F (1995)
Wimbledon F (1995)
US Open F (1995)
Last updated on: September 10, 2013.

Beatriz "Gigi" Fernández (born February 22, 1964, in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a former professional tennis player, the first female athlete from her native Puerto Rico to turn professional,[1] the only Puerto Rican woman to ever win an Olympic gold medal and the first to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.[2]

Fernández won 17 Grand Slam doubles titles and two Olympic gold medals representing the United States, and reached the World No. 1 ranking in women's doubles. She reached a career high singles ranking of 17 in 1991. Since retiring from the professional tour in 1997 at the age of 33,[3] Fernández has been a tennis coach and entrepreneur. She now shares her knowledge of doubles with tennis enthusiast throughout the USA by conducting Master Doubles with Gigi Clinics and Doubles Boot Camps. She is mom to Karson and Madison.

Career

Fernández was recognized primarily as a doubles specialist during her professional career. She won a career doubles Grand Slam with 17 Grand Slam women's doubles title – six French Open, five US Open, four Wimbledon, and two Australian Open winning at least one Grand Slam title every year from 1988–1997, except 1989, and for three straight years winning three of the four Grand Slam doubles titles in the same year (1992–1994). She won 14 of her 17 Grand Slam titles partnering Natasha Zvereva; their partnership is the second most successful doubles pair in Grand Slam history after Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver in the Open era.[4]

In mixed doubles, Fernández was the runner-up in three of the four Grand Slam mixed doubles events in 1995 (Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) partnering Cyril Suk. Fernández captured 68 career titles in women's doubles and reached the World No. 1 doubles ranking in 1991 and attained the No. 1 ranking again in 1993, 1994 and 1995.[5] She won a total of 69 doubles titles during her career.

Fernández represented the United States at the Olympic Games in 1992 (Barcelona) and 1996 (Atlanta). She teamed with Mary Joe Fernández (no relation) to win the women's doubles gold medal on both occasions. The first gold medal was won against the home team of Conchita Martínez and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario with the King and Queen of Spain in the audience. The two medals are front and center on Fernández's desk, along with a car license plate that reads "DBL GLD".[6]

Fernández represented Puerto Rico when San Juan played host to the Pan Am Games in 1979. Just 15, Fernández won a bronze medal. In 1982 at the Central American-Caribbean Games in Cuba, she teamed up with Marilda Juliá to win doubles gold and won a silver medal in the singles as well. She represented Puerto Rico at the 1984 Olympics.

Fernández was also on the United States team that won the Fed Cup in 1990.

In singles, Fernández reached as high as World No. 17. She also won two top-level titles and reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 1994 (ranked 99 becoming the lowest-ranked grand Slam singles semi-finalist at Wimbledon[7]) and the quarterfinals at the US Open in 1991 and 1994.

Fernández retired from the professional tour in 1997. By far the most successful tennis player in the history of Puerto Rico, Fernández was named Puerto Rico's "Female Athlete of the Century" in 1999.[6]

On July 12, 2010, Fernández was inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame alongside Zvereva.[5]

Personal life

Fernández was born in San Juan. Her father Tuto was a well-known doctor in Puerto Rico.[8] Her cousin José Ferrer was a famous Puerto Rican actor and director.[8] Fernández started playing tennis when she was seven. When she turned professional in 1983, she became Puerto Rico's first-ever female professional athlete. Prior to turning professional, she played tennis for one season at Clemson University, in 1982–83, where she was a singles and doubles All-American and reached the National Collegiate Athletics Association singles final.

Since retiring from the tour, Fernández has worked as a tennis coach. She has coached players including the former World No. 1 doubles player Rennae Stubbs, Lisa Raymond, and Samantha Stosur. She coached Sam Stosur to her first Grand Slam title, at the 2005 US Open with Lisa Raymond. She has also coached for the Puerto Rican national team and the University of South Florida. Fernández is an ambassador to tennis and shares her passion for tennis and doubles to tennis enthusiast throughout the world.

Fernández earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of South Florida in 2003. She later graduated from Rollins College's Crummer School of Business where she earned a Master of Business Administration. She is the mother of twins, Karson Xavier and Madison Jane, and the partner of retired professional golfer and former LPGA and WWE executive Jane Geddes.[9]

In 2010, Fernández started a company called Baby Goes Pro.[10] She presently resides in Connecticut, and is the Director of Adult Tennis at Chelsea Piers Connecticut, as well as Summer director at The Long Ridge Tennis Club.[11]

Major finals

Grand Slam finals

Women's doubles: 23 (17–6)

Outcome Year Championship Partner Opponents Score
Winner1988US Open (1)United States Robin WhiteUnited States Patty Fendick
Canada Jill Hetherington
6–4, 6–1
Winner1990US Open (2)United States Martina NavratilovaCzech Republic Jana Novotná
Czech Republic Helena Suková
6–2, 6–4
Runner-up1991Australian Open (1)Czechoslovakia Jana NovotnáUnited States Patty Fendick
United States Mary Joe Fernández
7–6(7–4), 6–1
Winner1991 French Open (1)Czech Republic Jana NovotnáLatvia Larisa Savchenko Neiland
Belarus Natasha Zvereva
6–4, 6–0
Runner-up1991Wimbledon (1)Czechoslovakia Jana NovotnáLatvia Larisa Savchenko Neiland
Belarus Natasha Zvereva
6–4, 3–6, 6–4
Winner1992French Open (2)Belarus Natasha ZverevaSpain Conchita Martínez
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–3, 6–2
Winner1992Wimbledon (1)Belarus Natasha ZverevaLatvia Larisa Savchenko Neiland
Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
6–4, 6–1
Winner1992US Open (3)Belarus Natasha ZverevaLatvia Larisa Savchenko Neiland
Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
7–6(7–4), 6–1
Winner1993Australian Open (1)Belarus Natasha ZverevaUnited States Pam Shriver
Australia Elizabeth Smylie
6–4, 6–3
Winner1993French Open (3)Belarus Natasha ZverevaCzech Republic Jana Novotná
Latvia Larisa Savchenko Neiland
6–3, 7–5
Winner1993Wimbledon (2)Belarus Natasha ZverevaLatvia Larisa Savchenko Neiland
Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
6–4, 6–7(9–11), 6–4
Winner1994Australian Open (2)Belarus Natasha ZverevaUnited States Patty Fendick
Australia Meredith McGrath
6–3, 4–6, 6–4
Winner1994French Open (4)Belarus Natasha ZverevaUnited States Lindsay Davenport
United States Lisa Raymond
6–2, 6–2
Winner1994Wimbledon (3)Belarus Natasha ZverevaCzechoslovakia Jana Novotná
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–4, 6–1
Runner-up1995Australian Open (2)Belarus Natasha ZverevaCzech Republic Jana Novotná
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–3, 6–7(3–7), 6–4
Winner1995French Open (5)Belarus Natasha ZverevaCzech Republic Jana Novotná
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–7(6–8), 6–4, 7–5
Runner-up1995Wimbledon (2)Belarus Natasha ZverevaCzechoslovakia Jana Novotná
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
5–7, 7–5, 6–4
Winner1995US Open (4)Belarus Natasha ZverevaNetherlands Brenda Schultz-McCarthy
Australia Rennae Stubbs
7–5, 6–3
Runner-up1996French OpenBelarus Natasha ZverevaUnited States Lindsay Davenport
United States Mary Joe Fernández
6–2, 6–1
Winner1996US Open (5)Belarus Natasha ZverevaCzech Republic Jana Novotná
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
1–6, 6–1, 6–4
Winner1997French Open (6)Belarus Natasha ZverevaUnited States Mary Joe Fernández
United States Lisa Raymond
6–2, 6–3
Winner1997Wimbledon (4)Belarus Natasha ZverevaUnited States Nicole Arendt
Netherlands Manon Bollegraf
7–6(7–4), 6–4
Runner-up1997US OpenBelarus Natasha ZverevaUnited States Lindsay Davenport
Czech Republic Jana Novotná
6–3, 6–4

Mixed doubles: 3 (0–3)

Outcome Year Championship Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up1995Australian OpenCzech Republic Cyril SukBelarus Natasha Zvereva
United States Rick Leach
7–6(7–4), 6–7(3–7), 6–4
Runner-up1995WimbledonCzech Republic Cyril SukUnited States Martina Navratilova
United States Jonathan Stark
6–4, 6–4
Runner-up1995US OpenCzech Republic Cyril SukAustralia Meredith McGrath
United States Matt Lucena
6–4, 6–4

Olympic finals

Doubles: 2 (2 gold medals)

Outcome Year Championship Partner Opponents Score
Gold1992BarcelonaUnited States Mary Joe FernándezSpain Conchita Martínez
Spain Arantxa Sánchez
7–5, 2–6, 6–2
Gold1996AtlantaUnited States Mary Joe FernándezCzech Republic Jana Novotná
Czech Republic Helena Suková
7–6(8–6), 6–4

WTA Tour titles (71)

Singles (2)

No. Date Tournament Tier Surface Opponent in the final Score
1. October 26, 1986 Singapore VS Hard (i) Argentina Mercedes Paz 6–4, 2–6, 6–4
2. April 18, 1991 Albuquerque, US IV Hard France Julie Halard-Decugis 6–0, 6–2

Doubles (69)

Women's doubles performance timeline

Tournament198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997SRW–L
Grand Slam Tournaments
Australian Open 1R 1R 2R NH 2R A A SF F QF W W F QF SF 2 / 12 38–10
French Open A A A A QF A 2R A W W W W W F W 6 / 9 45–3
Wimbledon A 3R A 3R 3R QF QF QF F W W W F SF W 4 / 13 53–9
US Open A 2R QF QF 3R W QF W 3R W SF SF W W F 5 / 14 57–9
Win–Loss 0–1 3–3 4–2 5–2 8–4 9–1 7–3 13–2 18–3 21–1 22–1 22–1 22–2 18–3 21–2 17 / 48 193–31
Olympic Games
Summer Olympics NH A Not Held A Not Held G Not Held G NH 2 / 2 9–0
Year-End Championships
Tour Championships A A A QF A QF QF A F SF W W F SF QF 2 / 10 13–8
Category 5 & Tier I Tournaments
Washington No Levels A SF Tier II Not Held 0 / 1 2–1
Tokyo NH No Levels Category 4 Tier II SF A W W F 2 / 4 13–2
Boca Raton NH No Levels A QF T II QF A Tier II Not Held 0 / 2 3–2
Indian Wells Not Held C 4 Tier II A SF 0 / 1 2–1
Miami NH No Levels F F A F 2R QF W F A A 1 / 7 25–6
Hilton Head No Levels A A A QF QF W F F F SF 1 / 7 18–6
Rome No Levels C 3 A A A A QF W W F QF 2 / 5 15–3
Berlin No Levels A A A SF F W W QF A F 2 / 6 17–4
Montreal / Toronto No Levels A W A A F A A A A A 1 / 2 7–1
Zürich NH No Levels C 3 C 4 Tier II F A A A A 0 / 1 3–1
Philadelphia Not Held Tier II SF W QF Tier II 1 / 3 7–2
Career statistics
Year-End Ranking N/A N/A N/A 17 20 6 8 3 4 6 1 2 3 4 4

See also

References

  1. according to Hispanic Magazine, 1988
  2. "Gigi Fernández: "We Have A Mixed Identity"". Puerto Rico Herald. May 30, 2002. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  3. "WTA, Players, Stats, Gigi Fernandez". Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  4. "2008 Inductee – Gigi Fernandez". Web.wm.edu. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Gigi Fernandez, International Tennis Hall of Fame". Tennisfame.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  6. 1 2 "Fernandez remembered for her trademark zeal on the court – ESPN". ESPN. September 30, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  7. "WTA, Players, Info, Gigi Fernández". WTA Tour. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  8. 1 2 according to WTA players guide
  9. Crouse, Karen. "A Dream Deferred, Almost Too Long." The New York Times August 29, 2010.
  10. http://web.archive.org/web/20110601041716/http://babygoespro.com/buzz/pdf/Baby_Goes_Pro_PR_12-18-09.pdf (PDF)
  11. "Gigi Fernandez". Tennis Club at Chelsea Piers. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2012.

External links


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