Mary Joe Fernández

Mary Joe Fernández (b. August 19 1971, in the Dominican Republic) is a former professional tennis player from the United States of Cuban descent. During her career she was runner-up in three Grand Slam singles events, and won two Grand Slam doubles titles and two Olympic Gold Medals.

Related Topics:
August 19 - 1971 - Dominican Republic - Tennis - United States - Cuban - Grand Slam - Olympic

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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 8 days, Fernández became the youngest-ever player to win a main draw match at the US Open when she defeated Sara Gomer in the first round 6-1, 6-4.

Related Topics:
1985 - US Open

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Fernández turned professional in 1986. She won her first tour doubles titles in 1989 at Dallas. Her first top-level singles title came in 1990 at the Tokyo Indoor championships.

Related Topics:
1986 - 1989 - Dallas - 1990 - Tokyo

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Fernández reached her first Grand Slam singles final in 1990 at the Australian Open, where she was defeated 6-3, 6-4 by Steffi Graf. She finished 1990 ranked a career-high World No. 4 in singles.

Related Topics:
Australian Open - Steffi Graf

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1991 saw Fernández win the women's doubles at the Australian Open, partnering Patty Fendick.

Related Topics:
1991 - Patty Fendick

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Fernández was back in the Australian Open singles final in 1992. This time she lost 6-2, 6-3 to Monica Seles.

Related Topics:
1992 - Monica Seles

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Fernández was selected to represent the United States at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, and won a Gold Medal in the women's doubles partnering Gigi Fernández (no relation), and a Bronze Medal in the women's singles.

Related Topics:
Barcelona - Gigi Fernández

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In the quarter-finals of the French Open in 1993, Fernández staged a dramatic comeback against Gabriela Sabatini, who at one point led their encounter 6-1, 5-1. Fernández saved five match points during the 3-hour, 36-minute match and eventually won 1-6, 7-6(7-4), 10-8. She then beat Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6-2, 6-2 in the semi-finals to reach her third Grand Slam singles final. In a tight three-set final against Steffi Graf, Fernández lost 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Related Topics:
French Open - 1993 - Gabriela Sabatini - Arantxa Sánchez Vicario

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Fernández won her second Grand Slam doubles title in 1996 at the French Open, partnering Lindsay Davenport. The pair went on to capture the year-end WTA Tour Championships doubles title later that year.

Related Topics:
1996 - Lindsay Davenport - WTA Tour Championships

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Fernández was a late replacement for Chanda Rubin on the United States team for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and ended-up winning a second straight women's doubles Gold Medal partnering Gigi Fernández. She was also entered in the singles competition due to a withdrawal and reached the semi-finals. She was defeated in the Bronze Medal play-off by Jana Novotná. Later that year, Fernández was also a member of the US team which won the Fed Cup.

Related Topics:
Chanda Rubin - Atlanta - Jana Novotná - Fed Cup

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Fernández won her final tour singles title in 1997 at the German Open in Berlin. Her final doubles title also came that year at Madrid. She retired from the tour in 2000, having won 7 singles titles and 19 doubles titles.

Related Topics:
1997 - Berlin - Madrid - 2000

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Since retiring from the tour, Fernández has served as a tennis commentator for ESPN and joined CBS Sports as an analyst for the 2005 U.S. Open.

Related Topics:
ESPN - CBS Sports

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