Mary Joe Fernández facts for kids
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Country (sports) | ![]() |
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Residence | Miami, Florida, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||
Born | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
August 19, 1971 |||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||
Turned pro | 1986 | |||||||||||||||||||
Retired | 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | |||||||||||||||||||
Prize money | $5,258,471 | |||||||||||||||||||
Singles | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career record | 437–203 (68.28%) | |||||||||||||||||||
Career titles | 7 WTA | |||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | No. 4 (October 22, 1990) | |||||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam singles results | ||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | F (1990, 1992) | |||||||||||||||||||
French Open | F (1993) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wimbledon | SF (1991) | |||||||||||||||||||
US Open | SF (1990, 1992) | |||||||||||||||||||
Other tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||
Doubles | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career record | 344–141 (70.93%) | |||||||||||||||||||
Career titles | 17 WTA, 2 ITF | |||||||||||||||||||
Highest ranking | No. 4 (February 18, 1991) | |||||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam doubles results | ||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | W (1991) | |||||||||||||||||||
French Open | W (1996) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wimbledon | SF (1991, 1993) | |||||||||||||||||||
US Open | F (1989) | |||||||||||||||||||
Other doubles tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tour Finals | W (1996) | |||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Mary Joe Fernández Godsick (born María José Fernández; August 19, 1971) is an American former professional tennis player, who reached a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in both singles and doubles. In singles, Fernández was the runner-up at the 1990 and 1992 Australian Open, and the 1993 French Open. She also won a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. In doubles, she won the 1991 Australian Open with Patty Fendick and the 1996 French Open with Lindsay Davenport, plus two Olympic gold medals.
Contents
Career
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 eight days, she became the youngest player to win a main draw match at the US Open when she defeated Sara Gomer in the first round.
Turning professional in 1986, she won her first tour doubles title in 1989 at Dallas, partnering Betsy Nagelsen. She was also semifinalist at the 1989 French Open, losing to Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 2–6, 2–6.
She reached her first Grand Slam singles final in 1990 at the Australian Open, where she was defeated by Steffi Graf 3–6, 4–6 (having held a 4–1 lead herself in the second set). She won her first WTA Tour singles title the same year at the Tokyo Indoor championships, and finished the year ranked a career-high world No. 4 in singles.
In 1991, Fernández reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, where she was match point up against Monica Seles, before eventually losing 3–6, 6–0, 7–9. She teamed with Patty Fendick to win the women's Australian Open doubles title. At Wimbledon, she reached the semifinals, losing to Steffi Graf in straight sets.
She reached the Australian Open singles final again in 1992, beating world No. 3, Gabriela Sabatini, in the semifinals before losing to Seles, 2–6, 3–6. She also reached the semifinals of the US Open, beating Sabatini in the quarterfinals and losing once again to Seles. At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Fernández was selected to represent the United States and won both a gold medal in women's doubles (with Gigi Fernández) and a bronze medal in singles.
In 1993, she won the title in Indian Wells, defeating Amanda Coetzer in the final. At the French Open, she defeated world No. 5 Sabatini in the quarterfinals and world No. 3 Sánchez Vicario in the semifinals. In the final against Steffi Graf, Fernandez held several points to lead 3–0 in the final set, but eventually lost 6–4, 2–6, 4–6.
Fernández won her second Grand Slam doubles title in 1996 at the French Open, partnering with Lindsay Davenport. The pair went on to capture the year-end WTA Tour Championships doubles title later that year.
She was a late replacement for Chanda Rubin on the United States team for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. She won a second straight women's doubles gold medal, again in partnership with Gigi Fernández. She was also entered in the singles competition (owing to a withdrawal), and reached the semifinals, defeating world No. 2, Conchita Martínez, in the quarterfinals. She was defeated for the bronze medal by Jana Novotná. Later that year, Fernández was a member of the U.S. team that won the Fed Cup.
Fernández reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in 1997, losing to Martina Hingis 1–6, 3–6. In May, she won her first and only Tier I tournament in Berlin, beating Jana Novotná in the semifinals and Mary Pierce in the final. At the end-of-year WTA Finals, she defeated world No. 2, Lindsay Davenport.
In 1999, she defeated Serena Williams in the third round of the French Open and in her last Grand Slam appearance she lost to Venus Williams in the fourth round of the US Open the same year.
She retired from the tour in 2000, having won a total of 24 titles: seven WTA singles titles and 17 doubles titles.
Post retirement
Fernández coached the US Fed Cup team from 2008 to 2016 and served as the woman's coach for the 2012 U.S. Olympic tennis team in London.
She currently works as an analyst and commentator for ESPN.
Personal life
Fernández was born in the Dominican Republic; her parents were immigrants to the country. Her father José is from Asturias, Spain, and her mother Silvia Pino is from Cuba. She completed her high school education at the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, Florida.
In April 2000, Fernández married Anthony (Tony) Godsick, a sports agent with International Management Group. Monica Seles was a bridesmaid at the wedding. They have two children. Her husband is the current agent of Roger Federer. One of their children, Nicholas Godsick, is also a tennis player.
She has homes in Cleveland, Ohio, and Key Biscayne, Florida.
Significant finals
Grand Slam tournaments
Singles: 3 (3 runner-ups)
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Loss | 1990 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 1992 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
2–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 1993 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
6–4, 2–6, 4–6 |
Doubles: 7 (2 titles, 5 runner-ups)
Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Loss | 1989 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
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7–5, 4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 1990 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7(5–7), 6–7(6–8) |
Win | 1991 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6(7–4), 6–1 |
Loss | 1992 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–7(4–7) |
Loss | 1996 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
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5–7, 6–2, 4–6 |
Win | 1996 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
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6–2, 6–1 |
Loss | 1997 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
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2–6, 3–6 |
Olympics
Singles: 1 (bronze medal)
Outcome | Year | Location | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Bronze | 1992 | Barcelona | Clay | Tied | DNP |
Mary Joe Fernández lost in the semifinals to Steffi Graf, 4–6, 2–6. In 1992, there was no bronze medal play-off match, both beaten semifinal players received bronze medals.
Doubles: 2 (2 gold medals)
Outcome | Year | Location | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Gold | 1992 | Barcelona | Clay | ![]() |
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7–5, 2–6, 6–2 |
Gold | 1996 | Atlanta | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6(9–7), 6–4 |
Year-end championships
Doubles: 1 title
Result | Year | Location | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Win | 1996 | New York | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–2 |
WTA career finals
Singles: 16 (7–9)
Finals by surface |
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Hard (2–4) |
Grass (0–1) |
Clay (2–2) |
Carpet (3–2) |
Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Loss | 0–1 | Oct 1989 | Porsche Tennis Grand Prix | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–7(5–7), 4–6 |
Loss | 0–2 | Jan 1990 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1–2 | Sep 1990 | Tokyo Championships | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
3–6, 6–2, 6–3 |
Win | 2–2 | Oct 1990 | Porsche Tennis Grand Prix | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–1, 6–3 |
Loss | 2–3 | Apr 1991 | VS Houston | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 2–4 | Sep 1991 | Tokyo Championships | Hard | ![]() |
1–6, 1–6 |
Loss | 2–5 | Jan 1992 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
2–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 2–6 | Feb 1992 | Essen Grand Prix | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
0–6, 3–6 |
Win | 3–6 | Feb 1993 | Indian Wells Masters | Hard | ![]() |
3–6, 6–1, 7–6(8–6) |
Loss | 3–7 | May 1993 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
6–4, 2–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 3–8 | Jun 1994 | Sydney International | Hard | ![]() |
4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 4–8 | May 1994 | Internationaux de Strasbourg | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 6–4, 6–0 |
Win | 5–8 | Feb 1995 | Indian Wells Masters | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 6–3 |
Win | 6–8 | Oct 1995 | Brighton International | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 7–5 |
Loss | 6–9 | Jun 1996 | Eastbourne International | Grass | ![]() |
0–6, 2–6 |
Win | 7–9 | May 1997 | German Open | Clay | ![]() |
6–4, 6–2 |
Doubles: 41 (17–24)
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Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Loss | 1. | Jan 1989 | Pan Pacific Open, Japan | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–3, 6–7(5–7) |
Loss | 2. | Mar 1989 | VS Boca Raton, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 3. | Aug 1989 | LA Championships, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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2–5 ret. |
Loss | 4. | Aug 1989 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
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7–5, 4–6, 4–6 |
Win | 1. | Sep 1989 | VS Dallas, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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7–6(7–5), 6–3 |
Loss | 5. | Jan 1990 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7(5–7), 6–7(3–7) |
Win | 2. | Sep 1990 | Tokyo Championships, Japan | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–4) |
Win | 3. | Oct 1990 | Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Germany | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–3 |
Loss | 6. | Nov 1990 | VS Worcester, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–3, 3–6, 3–6 |
Win | 4. | Jan, 1991 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6(7–4), 6–1 |
Loss | 7. | Jan 1991 | Pan Pacific Open, Japan | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–4, 0–6, 3–6 |
Win | 5. | Mar 1991 | Miami Masters, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–2 |
Loss | 8. | Apr 1991 | VS Houston, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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1–6, 6–2, 1–6 |
Win | 6. | Sep 1991 | Tokyo Championships, Japan | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–3 |
Loss | 9. | Nov 1991 | Championships of Philadelphia, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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2–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 10. | Jan 1992 | Sydney International, Australia | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7(4–7), 7–6(4–7), 2–6 |
Loss | 11. | Jan 1992 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–7(3–7) |
Loss | 12. | Jun 1992 | Eastbourne International, UK | Grass | ![]() |
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0–6, 3–6 |
Win | 7. | Sep 1992 | Tokyo Championships, Japan | Hard | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 13. | Mar 1993 | Italian Open | Clay | ![]() |
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4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 8. | May 1993 | European Open, Switzerland | Clay | ![]() |
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6–2, 6–4 |
Loss | 14. | Oct 1994 | Brighton International, UK | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–4, 2–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 15. | Jan 1995 | Sydney International, Australia | Hard | ![]() |
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5–7, 6–2, 4–6 |
Win | 9. | Mar 1995 | VS Delray Beach, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–2, 6–4 |
Win | 10. | May 1995 | Internationaux de Strasbourg, France | Clay | ![]() |
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6–2, 6–3 |
Win | 11. | Sep 1995 | Tokyo Championships, Japan | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–2 |
Win | 12. | Jan 1996 | Sydney International, Australia | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–3 |
Loss | 16. | Jan 1996 | Australian Open | Hard | ![]() |
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5–7, 6–2, 4–6 |
Loss | 17. | Apr 1996 | Hilton Head Cup, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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2–6, 3–6 |
Win | 13. | May 1996 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
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6–2, 6–1 |
Loss | 18. | Aug 1996 | Canadian Open | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7(1–7), 1–6 |
Win | 14. | Nov 1996 | Oakland Classic, U.S. | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–1, 6–3 |
Win | 15. | Nov 1996 | WTA Tour Championships, New York | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–2 |
Win | 16. | Mar 1997 | Hilton Head Cup, U.S. | Clay | ![]() |
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7–5, 4–6, 6–1 |
Win | 17. | May 1997 | Madrid Open, Spain | Clay | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–2 |
Loss | 19. | May 1997 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
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2–6, 3–6 |
Loss | 20. | Aug 1998 | Boston Cup, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 21. | Sep 1998 | Tokyo Cup, Japan | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 22. | Jan 1999 | Sydney International, Australia | Hard | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–2, 0–6 |
Loss | 23. | Mar 1999 | Indian Wells Masters, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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2–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 24. | Mar 1999 | Miami Masters, U.S. | Hard | ![]() |
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6–0, 4–6, 6–7(1–7) |
Grand Slam performance timelines
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | A | NH |
Singles
Tournament | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | Career SR |
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Australian Open | A | NH | A | A | 3R | F | SF | F | QF | 4R | 4R | 4R | SF | A | 3R | 0 / 10 |
French Open | 1R | QF | 2R | A | SF | QF | QF | 3R | F | 3R | 1R | 4R | QF | A | 4R | 0 / 13 |
Wimbledon | A | 1R | 4R | 4R | 4R | A | SF | 3R | 3R | 3R | QF | QF | 4R | A | 1R | 0 / 12 |
US Open | 2R | 3R | 3R | 3R | 1R | SF | 3R | SF | A | 3R | QF | A | 4R | 3R | 4R | 0 / 13 |
SR | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 48 |
Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||
Year-end ranking | 99 | 27 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 76 | 38 |
Doubles
Tournament | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | Career SR |
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Australian Open | NH | A | A | QF | F | W | F | QF | QF | QF | F | 2R | A | 2R | 1 / 10 |
French Open | A | 1R | A | 2R | A | QF | 1R | 3R | 3R | SF | W | F | A | 2R | 1 / 10 |
Wimbledon | A | 1R | A | A | A | SF | QF | SF | 1R | 1R | QF | QF | A | QF | 0 / 9 |
US Open | 1R | 2R | 2R | F | A | SF | QF | A | A | A | A | 3R | 3R | QF | 0 / 9 |
SR | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 1 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 1 | 0 / 4 | 2 / 38 |
Career statistics | |||||||||||||||
Year-end ranking | 131 | 85 | 63 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 10 | 5 | 16 | 89 | 26 |
See also
In Spanish: Mary Joe Fernández para niños