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%)
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%)
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 tennis player. He was once ranked the world's number one player. Guga is best known for winning the French Open singles title three times. He won in 1997, 2000, and 2001. He also won the Tennis Masters Cup in 2000. During his career, he won 20 singles titles and 8 doubles titles.

Sadly, Guga faced many injuries that kept him from playing in tournaments. He had two hip surgeries. After trying to come back to the sport, he retired from professional tennis in May 2008. In 2012, he was honored by being added to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In 2016, Guga was a torch bearer for the Rio Olympics opening ceremony.

Guga's Tennis Journey

As a young player in South America, Guga won many important junior tournaments. He often played against older kids and still won.

After two years as a professional, Guga became the second-best player in Brazil. He helped the Brazil Davis Cup team beat Austria in 1996. This win helped Brazil reach the top division of the Davis Cup, called the World Group.

Becoming a Champion: 1997

Guga's big moment came when he surprisingly won the 1997 French Open. This was his first major win on the ATP Tour. It was also the first time he had even reached a final in a professional tournament. He was the first Brazilian to win a Grand Slam singles title since Maria Bueno in 1966.

Winning the French Open was a huge surprise. Guga was ranked 66th in the world at the time. Only two other players have won a Grand Slam with a lower ranking. He beat former champions like Thomas Muster, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, and Sergi Bruguera on his way to the title. After this win, Guga entered the top 20 players in the world.

He received his trophy from tennis legends Björn Borg and Guillermo Vilas. Guga was very respectful to his childhood idol, Borg.

Rising to the Top 5: 1999

By 1999, Guga was known as one of the best clay court players. He became one of only three South Americans to finish the year in the top 10 ATP rankings. In April, he won the Monte-Carlo Masters. He also won the Rome Masters in May.

At Wimbledon, he made it to the quarterfinals. This was the first time a Brazilian had done so since 1968. He played a very long match in the 1999 Davis Cup quarterfinals against France. It lasted almost 5 hours! Guga also qualified for the ATP Nitto ATP Finals for the first time.

World Number 1: 2000

Guga had another strong year on clay courts. He won his second French Open title. He beat Magnus Norman in a tough final.

In 2000, Guga became the first South American to finish the year as the World No. 1 player. This was a very close race with Marat Safin. At the year's last event, the Tennis Masters Cup in Lisbon, Guga had to win to keep his No. 1 spot. He managed to beat tennis legends Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi back-to-back. This was a huge achievement, especially on an indoor hard court.

More Wins and First Injuries: 2001

In 2001, Guga won his third French Open title. This put him in a special group of players with three or more French Open wins. He also won his biggest hardcourt title at the Cincinnati Masters. He defeated Patrick Rafter in the final.

However, injuries started to affect Guga this year. He lost many matches towards the end of the year. Even though he was a favorite, Lleyton Hewitt took over the No. 1 spot. Still, Guga earned the most prize money in tennis for the second year in a row.

A Special Win at Home: 2004

In 2004, Guga reached the third round of the 2004 Australian Open for the first time. Despite his injuries, he won one ATP Tour title that year. He won the Brasil Open for the second time. This tournament was special because it was played in his home country.

Guga also achieved a memorable win against Roger Federer at the French Open in 2004. Federer was the world No. 1 and expected to win easily. But Guga played incredibly well and beat him in straight sets. This was a rare loss for Federer in a Grand Slam before the quarterfinals. Later that year, Guga had to stop playing for a while to deal with his hip injury.

Challenges and Retirement: 2006-2008

In 2006, Guga's injuries continued to cause problems. His ranking dropped, and he struggled to play in major tournaments. He missed the French Open for the first time in his career. His form did not improve much in 2007. He relied on special invitations to enter events. In November 2007, Guga's younger brother, Guilherme, passed away. Guilherme had cerebral palsy.

Guga announced that 2008 would be his last year playing professional tennis. He chose to play in tournaments that meant a lot to him, like the French Open and the Brasil Open.

Saying Goodbye to Tennis

On May 25, 2008, Gustavo Kuerten played his last professional singles match. It was at Roland Garros, the place where he won his first Grand Slam. He wore the same blue and yellow uniform he wore in 1997. He lost the match, but the crowd of 15,000 fans honored him for his amazing career.

How Guga Played Tennis

Guga was known for his powerful baseline game. This means he played mostly from the back of the court. He hit his shots with a lot of topspin, which made the ball curve and bounce high. His serve was also very strong. He played right-handed and had a unique single-handed backhand shot. This arcing backhand with topspin became his signature move. He was one of the first players to use polyester strings in his racquet. These strings helped him hit the ball with great power and control.

Playing for Brazil: Davis Cup

Guga first played for Brazil in the Davis Cup in 1996. He always wanted to represent his country in this team competition.

In 1999 and 2000, some fans criticized Guga. They felt he wasn't giving his all in Davis Cup matches. They thought he was saving his energy for other tournaments. At one point, Guga even stopped a match to talk to a fan who was yelling at him.

In 2004, Guga and other Brazilian players decided not to play for the Davis Cup team. They were unhappy with how the Brazilian Tennis Confederation was run. This led to Brazil having to play with junior players. Eventually, the tennis board changed, and Guga returned to the team in 2005. However, his hip injuries kept him from playing right away.

Gear and Sponsors

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

Guga's Life Off the Court

Guga was born in Florianópolis, Brazil. He started playing tennis at age six. His father, Aldo, who was also a tennis player, passed away when Guga was eight years old. Guga's older brother, Raphael, helps manage his business. His youngest brother, Guilherme, had cerebral palsy and passed away in 2007. Guga was very close to Guilherme. He even donated all the prize money from one tournament to a charity that helps people with disabilities. He gave all his trophies to Guilherme as souvenirs.

When he was 14, Guga met Larri Passos, who became his coach for 15 years. Passos believed Guga could become a professional tennis player. They traveled the world together for junior tournaments. Guga became a professional player in 1995.

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

In 2009, Guga started studying drama at Santa Catarina State University. In 2010, he married Mariana Soncini. They have a daughter and a son. His favorite football team is Avaí Futebol Clube.

Awards and Honors

Guga 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 also named Athlete of the Year in 1999 and 2000. In 2003, he received the ATP Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Guga was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2016, he became their global ambassador. Tennis Magazine ranked him 37th in their list of "The 40 Greatest Players of the Tennis Era" in 2005.

In 2010, the ITF gave Guga the Philippe Chatrier Award. This is their highest honor for contributions to tennis. He also won the Mercosur Konex Award as the best South American tennis player of that decade.

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

Career Statistics

Grand Slam Performance

Grand Slam Finals: 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 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