Isabel Fernández de Soto

María-Isabel Fernández de Soto[lower-alpha 1] (born 18 September 1950) is a former professional tennis player from Colombia.

Isabel Fernández
Full nameMaría-Isabel Fernández de Soto
Country (sports) Colombia
Born (1950-09-18) 18 September 1950
Singles
Grand Slam Singles results
French Open3R (1976)
Wimbledon2R (1974)
US Open3R (1973)
Doubles
Career titles2 WTA
Grand Slam Doubles results
French OpenQF (1971, 1972, 1973)
WimbledonSF (1973)
US Open2R (1972, 1976)
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
French OpenSF (1973)
WimbledonQF (1972)
US Open2R (1972)

Biography

Fernández, who is originally from Cali, took a tennis scholarship to the University of South Florida at the age of 19.[1] After a year of college, she joined the international tennis circuit and became the first Colombian woman to play professionally.[1] She made several WTA quarterfinals but was most successful on tour as a doubles player.

She represented Colombia in the 1972 Federation Cup and won five of her six singles matches.

Her two Grand Slam semifinals were both in doubles: the mixed doubles at the 1973 French Open with Jairo Velasco and women's doubles at the 1973 Wimbledon Championships with Fiorella Bonicelli.

Fernández won her first WTA title with Martina Navratilova at the 1974 Virginia Slims of Dallas.[2] The following year, she won another title at the 1975 U.S. Clay Court Championships with Fiorella Bonicelli as her partner.[3]

Since retiring, she has worked as a tennis coach, and she is now a tennis pro at the Sawmill club in New York.[4]

WTA Tour finals

Doubles (2–1)
Result W–L    Date    Tournament Partner Opponents Score
Loss 0–1 August 1973 Indianapolis, U.S. Fiorella Bonicelli Patti Hogan
Sharon Walsh		 4–6, 4–6
Win 2–0 March 1974 Dallas, U.S. Martina Navratilova Karen Krantzcke
Virginia Wade		 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Win 2–1 August 1975 Indianapolis, U.S. Fiorella Bonicelli Gail Sherriff Chanfreau
Julie Heldman		 3–6, 7–5, 6–3

Notes
  1. This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Fernández and the second or maternal family name is de Soto.

References
  1. Slater, Chuck (13 January 2002). "For The Record; A Winning Drop Shot In the 50-and-Over Slot". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  2. Fretz, Tory (9 March 1975). "Top Competition Expected For Barnett Tennis Classic". Playground Daily News. p. 21. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  3. "Evert overcomes deficit". Lima News. 10 August 1975. p. 35. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  4. "Tennis Pros – Saw Mill Club". sawmillclub.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
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