Gisela Dulko facts for kids
Dulko at the 2009 Italian Open
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| Country (sports) |  Argentina |
|---|---|
| Residence | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Born | 30 January 1985 Tigre, Argentina |
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Turned pro | January 2001 |
| Retired | 18 November 2012 |
| Plays | Right–handed (two–handed backhand) |
| Prize money | ,246,105 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 309–242 |
| Career titles | 4 |
| Highest ranking | No. 26 (21 November 2005) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (2010) |
| French Open | 4R (2006, 2011) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2004, 2006, 2008, 2009) |
| US Open | 4R (2009) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 305–182 |
| Career titles | 17 |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (1 November 2010) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (2011) |
| French Open | QF (2007, 2010) |
| Wimbledon | SF (2010) |
| US Open | QF (2010) |
| Other doubles tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | W (2010) |
| Team competitions | |
| Hopman Cup | F (2005) |
Gisela Dulko is a former professional tennis player from Argentina. She was born on January 30, 1985. While she had some success in singles tennis, her biggest achievements were in doubles.
Gisela became the world No. 1 doubles player. She won 17 doubles titles with different partners. Her most famous partnership was with Flavia Pennetta. Together, they won the 2010 WTA Tour Championships and the 2011 Australian Open, which is a major Grand Slam tournament. Gisela also reached the mixed-doubles final at the 2011 US Open.
During her career, Gisela Dulko surprised many top players. She defeated Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2009. She also beat Martina Navratilova in 2004, which was Navratilova's last singles match at a Grand Slam. Gisela retired from tennis on November 18, 2012, when she was 27 years old.
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Early Life and Training
Gisela Dulko grew up in Tigre, a city in Argentina. Her older brother, Alejandro, was her tennis coach. When she was 12, Gisela moved to Miami, Florida, in the United States. This move helped her focus on becoming a professional tennis player.
Junior Career Success
Before becoming a professional, Gisela was a very successful junior player. She won three Grand Slam events in junior doubles:
- The 2000 US Open with María Emilia Salerni.
- The 2002 Australian Open with Angelique Widjaja.
- The 2001 Wimbledon Championships with Ashley Harklerroad.
Professional Career Highlights
Winning Her First Singles Titles (1999–2008)
Gisela won her first singles title on the WTA Tour in 2007. She defeated Sorana Cîrstea in Budapest. Later that year, she won her second title at Forest Hills. In 2008, she secured her third WTA singles title in Morocco.
Key Matches and Upsets (2009)
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In 2009, Gisela had some notable moments. At the Australian Open, she lost to the eventual champion, Serena Williams. She reached her first final of the year at the Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas.
One of her biggest wins came at Wimbledon. She upset the famous player Maria Sharapova in a tough three-set match. Later in the year, she reached the fourth round of the US Open.
Becoming World No. 1 in Doubles (2010)
The year 2010 was very important for Gisela's doubles career. She teamed up with Flavia Pennetta, and they became a very strong pair. They won several big tournaments together, including:
- The Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
- The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
- The Internazionali d'Italia in Rome.
They had an amazing winning streak of 19 matches. They reached the finals of the Madrid Open, where they lost to the famous sisters, Serena and Venus Williams.
Gisela and Flavia continued their success, winning the Rogers Cup in Montreal. They also won the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. Their biggest win of the year was at the Tour Championships in Doha. They won this important year-end tournament.
On November 1, 2010, Gisela Dulko officially became the world No. 1 ranked doubles player. This was a huge achievement in her career.
Grand Slam Victory and Retirement (2011–2012)
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In 2011, Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta achieved their dream of winning a Grand Slam title. They won the doubles title at the 2011 Australian Open. They defeated Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko in a thrilling final match.
Gisela also won her fourth career singles title at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in 2011. At the French Open, she reached the fourth round. She had to stop playing in that match due to a leg injury.
Gisela Dulko retired from professional tennis in November 2012.
Personal Life
Gisela Dulko is married to the Argentine football player Fernando Gago. They have two sons and a daughter.
Awards and Recognition
- 2010 WTA Award for Doubles Team of the Year: Gisela and Flavia Pennetta received this award for their outstanding performance.
- 2010 ITF Doubles World Champion: They were also named the best doubles team in the world by the International Tennis Federation.
See also
In Spanish: Gisela Dulko para niños
Images for kids
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Dulko at the 2009 Italian Open
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Dulko at the 2009 Wimbledon Championships
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Dulko at the 2010 US Open
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Dulko in 2012
