Mary Joe Fernández
Mary Joe Fernández Godsick (born María José Fernández; August 19, 1971) is an American former professional tennis player. She reached a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in both singles and doubles. In singles, Fernández was the runner-up in three Grand Slam tournaments and won a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. In doubles, she won two Grand Slam women's doubles titles and two Olympic gold medals.
Mary Joe at the 2010 US Open | ||||||||||||||||||||
Country (sports) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Residence | Miami, Florida, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||
Born | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | August 19, 1971|||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||
Turned pro | 1986 | |||||||||||||||||||
Retired | 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | |||||||||||||||||||
Prize money | $5,258,471 | |||||||||||||||||||
Singles | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career record | 437–203 | |||||||||||||||||||
Career titles | 7 WTA | |||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | No. 4 (October 22, 1990) | |||||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam Singles results | ||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | F (1990, 1992) | |||||||||||||||||||
French Open | F (1993) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wimbledon | SF (1991) | |||||||||||||||||||
US Open | SF (1990, 1992) | |||||||||||||||||||
Other tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||
Olympic Games | ||||||||||||||||||||
Doubles | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career record | 344–141 | |||||||||||||||||||
Career titles | 17 WTA, 2 ITF | |||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | No. 4 (February 18, 1991) | |||||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam Doubles results | ||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | W (1991) | |||||||||||||||||||
French Open | W (1996) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wimbledon | SF (1991, 1993) | |||||||||||||||||||
US Open | F (1989) | |||||||||||||||||||
Other doubles tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tour Finals | W (1996) | |||||||||||||||||||
Olympic Games | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Career
Mary Joe Fernández first came to the tennis world's attention as an outstanding junior player who won four straight Orange Bowl junior titles. In 1985, aged 14 years and eight days, she became the youngest player to win a main draw match at the US Open when she defeated Sara Gomer in the first round. She turned professional in 1986. She won her first tour doubles title in 1989 at Dallas, partnering Betsy Nagelsen. Her first top-level singles title came in 1990 at the Tokyo Indoor championships. She reached her first Grand Slam singles final in 1990 at the Australian Open, where she was defeated by Steffi Graf. She finished 1990 ranked a career-high world No. 4 in singles.
In 1991, Fernández teamed with Patty Fendick to win the women's doubles title at the Australian Open. She was back in the Australian Open singles final in 1992, this time losing to Monica Seles. Fernández was selected to represent the United States at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, winning a gold medal in women's doubles (with Gigi Fernández) and a bronze medal in singles.
In the quarterfinals of the 1993 French Open, she staged a dramatic comeback against Gabriela Sabatini after Sabatini took a 6–1, 5–1 lead. But Fernández raised the level of her game and saved five match points in the second set before winning a tiebreak. In the third set, Mary Joe finally got rid of Sabatini by hitting a down the line winner, ending the three-hour, 36-minute marathon by a final score of 1–6, 7–6(7–4), 10–8. She then faced second seeded Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the semifinals and defeated Arantxa 6–2, 6–2, ending a three-match losing streak against the Spaniard. Her opponent in the final was top seeded Steffi Graf; in their nine previous meetings, Mary Joe had lost each time against Steffi. Fernández took the opening set 6–4, but Graf rallied to win by a final score of 4–6, 6–2, 6–4.
Fernández won her second Grand Slam doubles title in 1996 at the French Open, partnering with Lindsay Davenport. The pair went on to capture the year-end WTA Tour Championships doubles title later that year.
Fernández was a late replacement for Chanda Rubin on the United States team for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. She won a second straight women's doubles gold medal, again in partnership with Gigi Fernández. She was also entered in the singles competition (owing to a withdrawal), and reached the semifinals, where she was defeated for the bronze medal by Jana Novotná. Later that year, Fernández was a member of the U.S. team that won the Fed Cup. Fernández won her final tour singles title in 1997 at the German Open in Berlin. Her final doubles title also came that year in Madrid. She retired from the tour in 2000, having won seven singles titles, 17 WTA doubles titles, and two ITF women's doubles titles.
In 2003, Dr. Wade Exum, the United States Olympic Committee's director of drug control administration from 1991 to 2000, gave copies of documents to Sports Illustrated which revealed that some 100 American athletes who failed drug tests and should have been prevented from competing in the Olympics were nevertheless cleared to compete. Among those athletes was Fernández.[1]
Since retiring from the tour, Mary Joe Fernández has served as a tennis commentator for ESPN and joined CBS Sports as an analyst for the 2005 US Open. She also coached the US Fed Cup team from 2008 through 2016[2] and served as the woman's coach for the 2012 U.S. Olympic tennis team in London.[3]
Personal life
Fernández was born in the Dominican Republic; her parents were immigrants to the country. Her father José is from Asturias, Spain, and her mother Silvia Pino is from Cuba.[4] She completed her high school education at the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, Florida.[5]
On April 8, 2000, Fernández married Anthony Lewisohn (Tony) Godsick, a sports agent with International Management Group.[6] They have two children.[7] She has homes in Cleveland, Ohio, and Key Biscayne, Florida.[8] Her husband is the current agent of Roger Federer.[9]
Significant finals
Grand Slam tournaments
Singles: 3 (3 runners-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Runner-up | 1990 | Australian Open | Hard | 3–6, 4–6 | |
Runner-up | 1992 | Australian Open | Hard | 2–6, 3–6 | |
Runner-up | 1993 | French Open | Clay | 6–4, 2–6, 4–6 |
Women's doubles: 7 (2 titles, 5 runners-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Runner-up | 1989 | US Open | Hard | 7–5, 4–6, 4–6 | ||
Runner-up | 1990 | Australian Open | Hard | 6–7(5–7), 6–7(6–8) | ||
Winner | 1991 | Australian Open | Hard | 7–6(7–4), 6–1 | ||
Runner-up | 1992 | Australian Open | Hard | 4–6, 6–7(4–7) | ||
Runner-up | 1996 | Australian Open | Hard | 5–7, 6–2, 4–6 | ||
Winner | 1996 | French Open | Clay | 6–2, 6–1 | ||
Runner-up | 1997 | French Open | Clay | 2–6, 3–6 |
Olympics
Singles: 1 bronze medal
Outcome | Year | Location | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Bronze | 1992 | Barcelona | Clay | Tied | DNP |
Mary Joe Fernández lost in the semifinals to Steffi Graf 4–6, 2–6. In 1992, there was no bronze medal play-off match, both beaten semifinal players received bronze medals.
Doubles: 2 gold medals
Outcome | Year | Location | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Gold | 1992 | Barcelona | Clay | 7–5, 2–6, 6–2 | ||
Gold | 1996 | Atlanta | Hard | 7–6(9–7), 6–4 |
Year-end championships finals
Doubles: 1 title
Outcome | Year | Location | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Winner | 1996 | New York | Carpet (i) | 6–3, 6–2 |
WTA career finals
Singles: 16 (7–9)
Finals by surface |
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Hard (2–4) |
Grass (0–1) |
Clay (2–2) |
Carpet (3–2) |
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | October 9, 1989 | Filderstadt | Carpet (i) | 6–7(5–7), 4–6 | |
Runner-up | 2. | January 15, 1990 | Australian Open | Hard | 3–6, 4–6 | |
Winner | 1. | September 24, 1990 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 | |
Winner | 2. | October 15, 1990 | Filderstadt | Carpet (i) | 6–1, 6–3 | |
Runner-up | 3. | April 15, 1991 | Houston | Clay | 4–6, 3–6 | |
Runner-up | 4. | September 16, 1991 | Tokyo | Hard | 1–6, 1–6 | |
Runner-up | 5. | January 13, 1992 | Australian Open | Hard | 2–6, 3–6 | |
Runner-up | 6. | February 3, 1992 | Essen | Carpet (i) | 0–6, 3–6 | |
Winner | 3. | February 22, 1993 | Indian Wells | Hard | 3–6, 6–1, 7–6(8–6) | |
Runner-up | 7. | May 24, 1993 | French Open | Clay | 6–4, 2–6, 4–6 | |
Runner-up | 8. | June 10, 1994 | Sydney | Hard | 4–6, 2–6 | |
Winner | 4. | May 16, 1994 | Strasbourg | Clay | 2–6, 6–4, 6–0 | |
Winner | 5. | February 27, 1995 | Indian Wells | Hard | 6–4, 6–3 | |
Winner | 6. | October 16, 1995 | Brighton | Carpet (i) | 6–4, 7–5 | |
Runner-up | 9. | June 17, 1996 | Eastbourne | Grass | 0–6, 2–6 | |
Winner | 7. | May 12, 1997 | Berlin | Clay | 6–4, 6–2 |
Doubles: 43 (19–24)
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Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Runner-up | 1. | January 30, 1989 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(5–7) | ||
Runner-up | 2. | March 13, 1989 | Boca Raton | Hard | 4–6, 2–6 | ||
Runner-up | 3. | August 7, 1989 | Los Angeles | Hard | 2–5 ret. | ||
Runner-up | 4. | August 28, 1989 | US Open | Hard | 7–5, 4–6, 4–6 | ||
Winner | 1. | September 18, 1989 | Dallas | Carpet (i) | 7–6(7–5), 6–3 | ||
Runner-up | 5. | January 15, 1990 | Australian Open | Hard | 6–7(5–7), 6–7(3–7) | ||
Winner | 2. | September 24, 1990 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | 4–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–4) | ||
Winner | 3. | October 15, 1990 | Filderstadt | Carpet (i) | 7–5, 6–3 | ||
Runner-up | 6. | November 5, 1990 | Worcester | Carpet (i) | 6–3, 3–6, 3–6 | ||
Winner | 4. | January 14, 1991 | Australian Open | Hard | 7–6(7–4), 6–1 | ||
Runner-up | 7. | January 28, 1991 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | 6–4, 0–6, 3–6 | ||
Winner | 5. | March 15, 1991 | Key Biscayne | Hard | 7–5, 6–2 | ||
Runner-up | 8. | April 15, 1991 | Houston | Clay | 1–6, 6–2, 1–6 | ||
Winner | 6. | September 16, 1991 | Tokyo | Hard | 6–3, 6–3 | ||
Runner-up | 9. | November 11, 1991 | Philadelphia | Carpet (i) | 2–6, 4–6 | ||
Runner-up | 10. | January 6, 1992 | Sydney | Hard | 6–7(4–7), 7–6(4–7), 2–6 | ||
Runner-up | 11. | January 13, 1992 | Australian Open | Hard | 4–6, 6–7(3–7) | ||
Runner-up | 12. | June 15, 1992 | Eastbourne | Grass | 0–6, 3–6 | ||
Winner | 7. | July 28, 1992 | Olympics | Clay | 7–5, 2–6, 6–2 | ||
Winner | 8. | September 21, 1992 | Tokyo | Hard | 6–4, 6–4 | ||
Runner-up | 13. | Mary 3, 1993 | Rome | Clay | 4–6, 2–6 | ||
Winner | 9. | May 17, 1993 | Lucerne | Clay | 6–2, 6–4 | ||
Runner-up | 14. | October 17, 1994 | Brighton | Carpet (i) | 6–4, 2–6, 3–6 | ||
Runner-up | 15. | January 9, 1995 | Sydney | Hard | 5–7, 6–2, 4–6 | ||
Winner | 10. | March 6, 1995 | Delray Beach | Hard | 6–2, 6–4 | ||
Winner | 11. | May 22, 1995 | Strasbourg | Clay | 6–2, 6–3 | ||
Winner | 12. | September 18, 1995 | Tokyo | Hard | 6–3, 6–2 | ||
Winner | 13. | January 8, 1996 | Sydney | Hard | 6–3, 6–3 | ||
Runner-up | 16. | January 15, 1995 | Australian Open | Hard | 5–7, 6–2, 4–6 | ||
Runner-up | 17. | April 1, 1996 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | 2–6, 3–6 | ||
Winner | 14. | May 27, 1996 | French Open | Clay | 6–2, 6–1 | ||
Winner | 15. | July 22, 1996 | Olympics | Hard | 7–6(8–6), 6–4 | ||
Runner-up | 18. | August 5, 1996 | Montreal | Hard | 6–7(1–7), 1–6 | ||
Winner | 16. | November 4, 1996 | Oakland | Carpet (i) | 6–1, 6–3 | ||
Winner | 17. | November 18, 1996 | Chase Championships | Carpet (i) | 6–3, 6–2 | ||
Winner | 18. | March 31, 1997 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | 7–5, 4–6, 6–1 | ||
Winner | 19. | May 19, 1997 | Madrid | Clay | 6–3, 6–2 | ||
Runner-up | 19. | May 26, 1997 | French Open | Clay | 2–6, 3–6 | ||
Runner-up | 20. | August 10, 1998 | Boston | Hard | 4–6, 4–6 | ||
Runner-up | 21. | September 21, 1998 | Tokyo | Hard | 4–6, 4–6 | ||
Runner-up | 22. | January 11, 1999 | Sydney | Hard | 3–6, 6–2, 0–6 | ||
Runner-up | 23. | March 3, 1999 | Indian Wells | Hard | 2–6, 2–6 | ||
Runner-up | 24. | March 18, 1999 | Key Biscayne | Hard | 6–0, 4–6, 6–7(1–7) |
Grand Slam performance timeline
Singles
Tournament | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | Career SR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Open | A | NH | A | A | 3R | F | SF | F | QF | 4R | 4R | 4R | SF | A | 3R | 0 / 10 |
French Open | 1R | QF | 2R | A | SF | QF | QF | 3R | F | 3R | 1R | 4R | QF | A | 4R | 0 / 13 |
Wimbledon | A | 1R | 4R | 4R | 4R | A | SF | 3R | 3R | 3R | QF | QF | 4R | A | 1R | 0 / 12 |
US Open | 2R | 3R | 3R | 3R | 1R | SF | 3R | SF | A | 3R | QF | A | 4R | 3R | 4R | 0 / 13 |
SR | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 48 |
Career Statistics | ||||||||||||||||
Year-end ranking | 99 | 27 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 76 | 38 |
Doubles
Tournament | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | Career SR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Open | NH | A | A | QF | F | W | F | QF | QF | QF | F | 2R | A | 2R | 1 / 10 |
French Open | A | 1R | A | 2R | A | QF | 1R | 3R | 3R | SF | W | F | A | 2R | 1 / 10 |
Wimbledon | A | 1R | A | A | A | SF | QF | SF | 1R | 1R | QF | QF | A | QF | 0 / 9 |
US Open | 1R | 2R | 2R | F | A | SF | QF | A | A | A | A | 3R | 3R | QF | 0 / 9 |
SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 1 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 4 | 2 / 38 |
Career Statistics | |||||||||||||||
Year-end ranking | 131 | 85 | 63 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 10 | 5 | 16 | 89 | 26 |
- NH = tournament not held.
- A = did not participate in the tournament.
- SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.
References
- "Olympics; Anti-doping official says U.S. covered up". New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- "Mary Joe Fernandez steps down as U.S. Fed Cup captain". Tennis.com. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
- Joanne C. Gerstner (June 4, 2012). "Mary Joe Fernandez to coach U.S." ESPN. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- McDermott, Barry (January 6, 1986). "Young Mary Joe Is On The Go". CNN (online). Sports Illustrated. SI Vault. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
- Murphy, Austin (February 11, 1991). "The Graduate". Sports Illustrated. p. 76.
- Society Desk (April 9, 2000). "WEDDINGS; Mary Joe Fernandez, Anthony Godsick". New York Times. p. Section 9; Page 9; Column 1.
- Outlaw, Adrianna (September 16, 2004). "Mama Mary Joe Gives Birth to Second Child". Tennis Week Magazine.
- "Womens Circuit Players". International Tennis Association. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
- https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/sports/tennis/federer-and-his-agent-start-their-own-firm-representing-athletes.html