Gustavo Kuerten facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Gustavo Kuerten

Kuerten in 2019
Country (sports)	Brazil
Residence	Florianópolis, Brazil
Born	(1976-09-10) 10 September 1976 (age 48) Florianópolis, Brazil
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Turned pro	1995
Retired	2008
Plays	Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money	US$14,807,000
Int. Tennis HoF	2012 (member page)
Singles
Career record	358–195 (64.74%) (64.7%)
Career titles	20
Highest ranking	No. 1 (4 December 2000)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	3R (2004)
French Open	W (1997, 2000, 2001)
Wimbledon	QF (1999)
US Open	QF (1999, 2001)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	W (2000)
Grand Slam Cup	1R (1997, 1999)
Olympic Games	QF (2000)
Doubles
Career record	108–95 (53.2%) (53.2%)
Career titles	8
Highest ranking	No. 38 (13 October 1997)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	QF (1999)
French Open	QF (1998)
Wimbledon	1R (1999, 2000)
US Open	1R (1997, 2003, 2004, 2007)
Team competitions
Davis Cup	SF (2000)

Gustavo "Guga" Kuerten (born 10 September 1976) is a famous Brazilian former professional tennis player. He was ranked as the world No. 1 in men's singles for 43 weeks. He was also the year-end No. 1 in 2000.

Kuerten won 20 singles titles in his career. This includes three major titles at the French Open in 1997, 2000, and 2001. He also won the 2000 Tennis Masters Cup. He won eight doubles titles too. Many people consider Kuerten one of the best Brazilian tennis players ever. He was added to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2016, Kuerten carried the torch for the Rio Olympics.

Guga's Professional Tennis Journey

As a young player in South America, Kuerten won many important junior tournaments. He often played against older kids. After two years as a professional, he became the second-best player in Brazil. He helped the Brazil Davis Cup team beat Austria in 1996. This helped Brazil reach the top division of the Davis Cup.

Unexpected French Open Win in 1997

Kuerten had an amazing win at the 1997 French Open. It was his first big win on the ATP Tour. It was also the first time he reached a professional final. He became the first Brazilian to win a Grand Slam singles title since Maria Bueno in 1966. This was only his third Grand Slam tournament. He is the only player to win a Challenger event and a Grand Slam in back-to-back weeks.

He beat former French Open champions like Thomas Muster and Yevgeny Kafelnikov. In the final, he defeated Sergi Bruguera. Kuerten was ranked 66th in the world when he won. This made him one of the lowest-ranked players to win a Grand Slam. After this win, he entered the top 20 players in the world.

He received his trophy from tennis legends Björn Borg and Guillermo Vilas. Kuerten looked up to Borg since he was a child. Vilas whispered something funny to Kuerten during the ceremony.

Becoming a Top Clay Court Player in 1999

In 1999, Kuerten became known as a top clay court player. He was one of only three South Americans to finish the year in the top 10. In April, he won the Monte-Carlo Masters. He beat Marcelo Ríos in the final. In May, he won the Rome Masters. He defeated Patrick Rafter in that final.

At Wimbledon, he reached the quarterfinals. He was the first Brazilian to do so since 1968. He lost to Andre Agassi. He also played a very long match in the 1999 Davis Cup quarterfinals. It lasted almost 5 hours. He became the first Brazilian to play in the ATP Tennis Masters Cup.

Reaching World No. 1 in 2000

Kuerten won his second French Open title in 2000. He beat Magnus Norman in a tough match. He then became the first South American to finish the year as World No. 1. This was a very close race with Marat Safin. Kuerten won the Tennis Masters Cup in Lisbon. He beat tennis greats Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. He broke an eight-year streak of U.S. players being year-end No. 1.

Continued Success and Injuries in 2001

In 2001, Kuerten won his third French Open title. He joined legends like Björn Borg with three or more French Open wins. He saved a match point in one of his matches on the way to the title. He also won his biggest hardcourt title at the Cincinnati Masters. He defeated Patrick Rafter in the final.

Injuries started to affect Kuerten later that year. He lost many matches at the end of the season. He was expected to be world No. 1 again, but Lleyton Hewitt took that spot. He earned a lot of prize money that year.

2004: A Special Win and a Big Upset

At the 2004 Australian Open, Kuerten reached the third round for the first time. He won his only ATP Tour title that year at the Brasil Open. This tournament was played in his home country. He became the only player to win this title on both hard and clay courts.

Kuerten also famously beat Roger Federer at the French Open in 2004. Federer was the world No. 1 and expected to win easily. But Kuerten played incredibly well and won in straight sets. This was a big surprise. It was the last time Federer lost so early in a Grand Slam until 2013. Later in 2004, Kuerten had to stop playing due to hip injuries.

Challenges with Injuries (2006-2007)

In 2006, Kuerten struggled with injuries and his ranking dropped. He was no longer the top player from Brazil. He tried to come back at the 2006 Brasil Open but lost early. He missed the French Open for the first time in his career because of his injuries. His form did not get better in 2007. He had to rely on special invitations to play in tournaments.

Guga's Retirement in 2008

Kuerten announced that 2008 would be his last year playing tennis. He chose to play in tournaments that meant a lot to him. These included the French Open, the Brasil Open, and the Miami Masters.

On May 25, 2008, Gustavo Kuerten played his last professional singles match. It was at Roland Garros, where he won his first French Open. He wore the same blue and yellow uniform he wore in 1997. He lost the match but was honored by the fans and organizers.

Guga's Playing Style

Kuerten played mostly from the back of the court. He hit the ball with a lot of spin and had a strong serve. He liked to attack from the baseline. His first serve was a very powerful shot. He played right-handed and used a single-handed backhand. His backhand shot, with its high arc and spin, was his signature move. He was one of the first players to use special polyester strings. These strings helped him hit the ball with power and control.

Davis Cup Matches

Kuerten first played for Brazil in the Davis Cup in 1996. He always wanted to represent his country. In 1999 and 2000, some fans criticized him. They thought he wasn't trying his hardest in Davis Cup matches. They believed he was saving energy for other tournaments.

In 2004, there was a disagreement with the Brazilian Tennis Confederation. Kuerten and other players refused to play for Brazil. They felt the decisions made by the tennis board were unfair. As a result, Brazil had to play with junior players. This caused Brazil to drop to a lower group in the Davis Cup. After new leaders took over the tennis board, Kuerten and the other players decided to return.

Equipment and Sponsors

During his career, Kuerten used Head racquets. He wore Diadora clothes, then later Olympikus and Head. After he retired, he signed deals with Lacoste and Peugeot. Kuerten also has his own clothing and glasses brand called "Guga Kuerten."

Guga's Personal Life

Kuerten was born in Florianópolis, Brazil. He started playing tennis at age six. His father, Aldo, passed away when Kuerten was eight years old. His older brother, Raphael, helps manage his business. His youngest brother, Guilherme, had cerebral palsy and passed away in 2007. Kuerten was very close to Guilherme. He often donated prize money to a group that helps people with disabilities. He gave all his trophies to Guilherme as souvenirs.

When he was 14, Kuerten met Larri Passos, who became his coach for 15 years. Passos believed Kuerten could become a professional tennis player. Kuerten turned professional in 1995.

In 2000, he started the Gustavo Kuerten Institute. This group helps children and people with disabilities. After retiring, he settled in his hometown of Florianópolis. He enjoys teaching and playing tennis there. He is also a big fan of surfing.

In November 2010, Kuerten married Mariana Soncini. They have a daughter and a son. His favorite football team is Brazilian Avaí Futebol Clube.

Awards and Honors

Kuerten received the Prix Orange Roland Garros Award for good sportsmanship in 1998, 2002, and 2004. In Brazil, he won the Prêmio Brasil Olímpico in 1999. He was named Athlete of the Year in 1999 and 2000. He received the ATP Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2003.

He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2016, he became their global ambassador. Tennis Magazine ranked him among the "40 Greatest Players of the Tennis Era" in 2005. In 2010, he received the Philippe Chatrier Award for his contributions to tennis. He also won the Mercosur Konex Award as the best South American tennis player of that decade.

In 2011, Kuerten won the prestigious Jean Borotra Sportsmanship Award. On February 16, 2016, the main court at the Rio Open was named "Guga Kuerten court" in his honor. On August 5, 2016, he carried the Olympic Torch into Maracanã Stadium for the Opening Ceremonies in Rio de Janeiro.

Career Statistics

Grand Slam Performance

Grand Slam Finals: 3 (3 titles)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	1997	French Open	Clay	Sergi Bruguera	6–3, 6–4, 6–2
Win	2000	French Open	Clay	Magnus Norman	6–2, 6–3, 2–6, 7–6(8–6)
Win	2001	French Open	Clay	Àlex Corretja	6–7(3–7), 7–5, 6–2, 6–0

Year-End Championships Performance

Year-End Championship Finals: 1 (1 title)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2000	Tennis Masters Cup, Portugal	Hard (i)	Andre Agassi	6–4, 6–4, 6–4

See also

In Spanish: Gustavo Kuerten para niños