Gigi Fernández
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Residence | Connecticut, USA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | San Juan, Puerto Rico | February 22, 1964|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | ![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mixed doubles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam mixed doubles results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | F (1995) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wimbledon | F (1995) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
US Open | F (1995) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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 |
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Winner | 1988 | US Open (1) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–1 |
Winner | 1990 | US Open (2) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 1991 | Australian Open (1) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 6–1 |
Winner | 1991 | French Open (1) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–0 |
Runner-up | 1991 | Wimbledon (1) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 3–6, 6–4 |
Winner | 1992 | French Open (2) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–2 |
Winner | 1992 | Wimbledon (1) | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–1 |
Winner | 1992 | US Open (3) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 6–1 |
Winner | 1993 | Australian Open (1) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Winner | 1993 | French Open (3) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 7–5 |
Winner | 1993 | Wimbledon (2) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–7(9–11), 6–4 |
Winner | 1994 | Australian Open (2) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 4–6, 6–4 |
Winner | 1994 | French Open (4) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–2 |
Winner | 1994 | Wimbledon (3) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 1995 | Australian Open (2) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–7(3–7), 6–4 |
Winner | 1995 | French Open (5) | ![]() |
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6–7(6–8), 6–4, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 1995 | Wimbledon (2) | ![]() |
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5–7, 7–5, 6–4 |
Winner | 1995 | US Open (4) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 1996 | French Open | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–1 |
Winner | 1996 | US Open (5) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
1–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
Winner | 1997 | French Open (6) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–2, 6–3 |
Winner | 1997 | Wimbledon (4) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 6–4 |
Runner-up | 1997 | US Open | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–3, 6–4 |
Mixed doubles: 3 (0–3)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Runner-up | 1995 | Australian Open | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(7–4), 6–7(3–7), 6–4 |
Runner-up | 1995 | Wimbledon | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 1995 | US Open | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6–4, 6–4 |
Olympic finals
Doubles: 2 (2 gold medals)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Gold | 1992 | Barcelona | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–5, 2–6, 6–2 |
Gold | 1996 | Atlanta | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7–6(8–6), 6–4 |
WTA Tour titles (71)
Singles (2)
No. | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score |
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1. | October 26, 1986 | Singapore | VS | Hard (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 2–6, 6–4 |
2. | April 18, 1991 | Albuquerque, US | IV | Hard | ![]() |
6–0, 6–2 |
Doubles (69)
- 1985: Washington (with Martina Navratilova), Miami (with Navratilova), Toronto (with Navratilova), Fort Lauderdale (with Robin White)
- 1987: U.S. Indoor Championships (with Lori McNeil), Newport (with McNeil), Mahwah (with McNeil)
- 1988: Tokyo Outdoor (with Robin White), US Open (with Robin White)
- 1989: Newport (with McNeil), Toronto (with Robin White), Tokyo Doubles Championships (with Robin White), Filderstadt (with Robin White)
- 1990: Tokyo/Pan Pacific (with Elizabeth Smylie), Hamburg (with Navratilova), Los Angeles (with Jana Novotná), US Open (with Navratilova), New England (with Helena Suková)
- 1991: Brisbane (with Novotná), Chicago (with Novotna), Light n' Lively Doubles (with Suková), French Open (with Novotna), Oakland (with Patty Fendick), Indianapolis (with Fendick)
- 1992: Houston (with Fendick), French Open (with Natasha Zvereva), Wimbledon (with Zvereva), Barcelona Olympics (with Mary Joe Fernández), US Open (with Zvereva), Oakland (with Zvereva), Philadelphia (with Zvereva)
- 1993: Australian Open (w/Zvereva), Delray Beach (w/Zvereva), Light n' Lively Doubles (w/Zvereva), Hilton Head (w/Zvereva), Berlin (with Zvereva), French Open (with Zvereva), Eastbourne (with Zvereva), Wimbledon (with Zvereva), San Diego (with Suková), Leipzig (with Zvereva), Filderstadt (with Zvereva), Virginia Slims Championships (with Zvereva)
- 1994: Australian Open (with Zvereva), Chicago (with Zvereva), Miami (with Zvereva), Italian Open (with Zvereva), Berlin (with Zvereva), French Open (with Zvereva), Eastbourne (with Zvereva), Wimbledon (with Zvereva), Filderstadt (with Zvereva), Philadelphia (with Zvereva), Virginia Slims Championships (with Zvereva)
- 1995: Tokyo/Pan Pacific (with Zvereva), Hamburg (with Martina Hingis), Rome (with Zvereva), French Open (with Zvereva), San Diego (with Zvereva), Los Angeles (with Zvereva), US Open (with Zvereva), Filderstadt (with Zvereva)
- 1996: Tokyo/Pan Pacific (with Zvereva), Atlanta Olympics (with Mary Joe Fernández), San Diego (with Conchita Martínez), US Open (with Zvereva)
- 1997: Sydney (with Arantxa Sánchez Vicario), French Open (with Zvereva), Wimbledon (with Zvereva)
Women's doubles performance timeline
Tournament | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | SR | W–L | |||||||
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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 | — | — | — | 17 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
See also
References
- ^ according to Hispanic Magazine, 1988
- ^ "Gigi Fernández: "We Have A Mixed Identity"". Puerto Rico Herald. May 30, 2002. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
- ^ "WTA, Players, Stats, Gigi Fernandez". Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
- ^ "2008 Inductee – Gigi Fernandez". Web.wm.edu. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
- ^ a b "Gigi Fernandez, International Tennis Hall of Fame". Tennisfame.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
- ^ a b "Fernandez remembered for her trademark zeal on the court – ESPN". ESPN. September 30, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
- ^ "WTA, Players, Info, Gigi Fernández". WTA Tour. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
- ^ a b according to WTA players guide
- ^ Crouse, Karen. "A Dream Deferred, Almost Too Long." The New York Times August 29, 2010.
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20110601041716/http://babygoespro.com/buzz/pdf/Baby_Goes_Pro_PR_12-18-09.pdf (PDF)
- ^ "Gigi Fernandez". Tennis Club at Chelsea Piers. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
External links
- Gigi Fernández at the Women's Tennis Association
- Gigi Fernández at the Billie Jean King Cup
- Gigi Fernández at the International Tennis Hall of Fame
- 1964 births
- American female tennis players
- Australian Open (tennis) champions
- Clemson Tigers tennis players
- French Open champions
- Hispanic and Latino American sportspeople
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in women's doubles
- Lesbian sportswomen
- LGBT people from Puerto Rico
- LGBT tennis players
- Living people
- Olympic gold medalists for the United States
- Olympic medalists in tennis
- Olympic tennis players of Puerto Rico
- Olympic tennis players of the United States
- Sportspeople from San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Sportspeople from Stamford, Connecticut
- People from Seminole County, Florida
- Puerto Rican female tennis players
- Rollins Tars tennis players
- Tennis people from Florida
- Tennis players at the 1983 Pan American Games
- Tennis players at the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Tennis players at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Tennis players at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- US Open (tennis) champions
- Wimbledon champions
- Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics