Gastón Gaudio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Gastón Norberto Gaudio

Gastón Gaudio in 2018
Country (sports)	Argentina
Residence	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Born	(1978-12-09) 9 December 1978 (age 46) Temperley, Argentina
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Turned pro	1996
Retired	2011
Plays	Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money	$6,066,156
Singles
Career record	270–196 (57.9%)
Career titles	8
Highest ranking	No. 5 (25 April 2005)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	3R (2002, 2005, 2006)
French Open	W (2004)
Wimbledon	2R (2002, 2006)
US Open	3R (2002, 2006)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	SF (2005)
Olympic Games	1R (2000)
Doubles
Career record	26–39
Career titles	3
Highest ranking	No. 78 (14 June 2004)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	3R (2004)
French Open	3R (2004)
US Open	1R (2003, 2004)

Gastón Norberto Gaudio (born December 9, 1978) is a former professional tennis player from Argentina. He is best known for winning the French Open in 2004. This was a huge win for him! He reached a career-high ranking of world No. 5 in April 2005. Gastón won a total of eight singles titles during his career.

Early Life and Tennis Start

Gastón Gaudio grew up in Temperley, Argentina. He started learning tennis at the Temperley Lawn Tennis Club. His first coach was Roberto Carruthers. Gastón was the youngest of three children in his family. Besides tennis, he also enjoyed playing football and rugby when he was a kid. He chose tennis to help his parents financially.

Gastón's Tennis Journey

Gastón started playing tennis when he was six years old. He became a professional player in 1996. That same year, he was ranked No. 2 among junior players in Argentina.

Climbing the Ranks: 1998-2000

In 1998, Gastón began to make a name for himself. He reached four finals in smaller tournaments called ATP Challenger events. He won three of these, helping his ranking climb to world No. 138.

By 1999, he was doing even better. He won two more Challenger titles. He also made it to the third round of the French Open as a qualifier. This meant he won five matches in total at that big event. He finished the year ranked No. 73.

The year 2000 was important for Gastón. He started playing more on the main tennis tour. He reached the semifinals in several tournaments, including the Monte Carlo Masters. He even made it to a final in Stuttgart, Germany. Gastón also played for Argentina in his first Olympic Games. He ended 2000 ranked No. 34 in the world.

First Big Wins: 2001-2002

In 2001, Gastón reached another final in Viña del Mar, Chile. He also made it to the quarterfinals of the Miami Masters, a very important tournament. He helped Argentina get back into the top group of the Davis Cup competition. Even with some tough losses, he showed his potential.

The year 2002 was a breakthrough for Gastón. He won his very first professional tournament in Barcelona, Spain. He didn't lose a single set in that event! He beat the world No. 1 player, Lleyton Hewitt, in the semifinals. Then he defeated Albert Costa, who would later win the French Open that year. Just a week later, Gastón won another title in Mallorca. He finished 2002 ranked No. 21.

Challenges and Triumphs: 2003-2004

The year 2003 was a bit tougher for Gastón. He didn't win any titles. He faced some difficult matches in the Davis Cup semifinals. Despite these challenges, he kept working hard.

2004 was the most amazing year of Gastón's career. He came into the French Open ranked 44th. He was not expected to win. But he surprised everyone! He won several tough matches, including two five-set thrillers.

In the final, he played against his fellow Argentine, Guillermo Coria. Gastón lost the first two sets, 0–6, 3–6. It looked like he was going to lose. But he made an incredible comeback! He won the next three sets, 6–4, 6–1, 8–6, to win the championship. This was a historic moment! Gastón became the first Argentine man to win a Grand Slam since 1979. He was also the first man ever to win a Grand Slam final after losing the first set 6–0. After this huge win, Gastón entered the top 10 rankings for the first time.

Staying Strong: 2005-2006

In 2005, Gastón continued to play very well. He won five more tournaments, mostly on clay courts. He reached his highest ranking ever, world No. 5, in April. He also made it to the semifinals of the Tennis Masters Cup, a tournament for the best players of the year. He finished 2005 ranked No. 10.

By 2006, Gastón's ranking started to drop a bit. He still had some good results, reaching semifinals in Acapulco and Monte Carlo. He finished the year ranked No. 34.

Later Career and Retirement: 2007-2011

Gastón faced more challenges in 2007 and 2008. He struggled with injuries and his ranking fell. He played very few matches during this time.

In 2009, Gastón started to make a comeback. He won a Challenger tournament in Tunis, his first title in almost four years. He also played in the French Open again.

He won another Challenger title in 2010 in Sanremo, Italy. Gastón officially announced his retirement from professional tennis on August 30, 2011.

Career Highlights

Gastón Gaudio had a fantastic career, especially his memorable win at the French Open. Here's a quick look at his performance in the biggest tournaments:

Grand Slam Singles Performance

Grand Slam Final: 1 (1 title)

Outcome	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2004	French Open	Clay	Guillermo Coria	0–6, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1, 8–6

Images for kids

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  Gastón Gaudio during the 2005 French Open

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  Gastón Gaudio at the 2006 Wimbledon Championships

See also

In Spanish: Gastón Gaudio para niños