Mary Joe Fernández

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 Opens, and the 1993 French Open, as well as winning a bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. In doubles, she won the 1991 Australian Open with Patty Fendick and 1996 French Open with Lindsay Davenport, plus two Olympic gold medals.

Mary Joe Fernández
Mary Joe at the 2010 US Open
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceMiami, Florida, U.S.
Born (1971-08-19) August 19, 1971
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Turned pro1986
Retired2000
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money$5,258,471
Singles
Career record437–203
Career titles7 WTA
Highest rankingNo. 4 (October 22, 1990)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian OpenF (1990, 1992)
French OpenF (1993)
WimbledonSF (1991)
US OpenSF (1990, 1992)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games Bronze medal (1992)
Doubles
Career record344–141
Career titles17 WTA, 2 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 4 (February 18, 1991)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian OpenW (1991)
French OpenW (1996)
WimbledonSF (1991, 1993)
US OpenF (1989)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (1996)
Olympic Games Gold medal (1992, 1996)
Medal record
Women's tennis
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
1992 Barcelona Women's doubles
1996 Atlanta Women's doubles
1992 BarcelonaWomen's singles

Career

Mary Joe 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 Sanchez-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 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.[1] 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 Sanchez-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 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

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 Martinez 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 Novotna 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

In 2003, Dr. Wade Exum, the United States Olympic Committee's director of drug control administration from 1991 to 2000, gave copies of documents to Sports Illustrated which revealed that some 100 American athletes who failed drug tests and should have been prevented from competing in the Olympics were nevertheless cleared to compete. Among those athletes was Fernández.[2]

Fernández coached the US Fed Cup team from 2008 to 2016[3] and served as the woman's coach for the 2012 U.S. Olympic tennis team in London.[4]

She currently works as an analyst and commentator for ESPN.[5]

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.[6] She completed her high school education at the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, Florida.[7]

In April 2000, Fernández married Anthony (Tony) Godsick, a sports agent with International Management Group.[8] Monica Seles was a bridesmaid at the wedding.[9] They have two children.[10] Her husband is the current agent of Roger Federer.[11]

She has homes in Cleveland, Ohio, and Key Biscayne, Florida.[12]

Significant finals

Singles: 3 (3 runners-up)
Outcome Year Championship Surface Opponent Score
Runner-up1990Australian OpenHard Steffi Graf3–6, 4–6
Runner-up1992Australian OpenHard Monica Seles2–6, 3–6
Runner-up1993French OpenClay Steffi Graf6–4, 2–6, 4–6

Women's doubles: 7 (2 titles, 5 runners-up)
Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up1989US OpenHard Pam Shriver Hana Mandlíková
Martina Navratilova		7–5, 4–6, 4–6
Runner-up1990Australian OpenHard Patty Fendick Jana Novotná
Helena Suková		6–7(5–7), 6–7(6–8)
Winner1991Australian OpenHard Patty Fendick Gigi Fernández
Jana Novotná		7–6(7–4), 6–1
Runner-up1992Australian OpenHard Zina Garrison Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Helena Suková		4–6, 6–7(4–7)
Runner-up1996Australian OpenHard Lindsay Davenport Chanda Rubin
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario		5–7, 6–2, 4–6
Winner1996French OpenClay Lindsay Davenport Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva		6–2, 6–1
Runner-up1997French OpenClay Lisa Raymond Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva		2–6, 3–6

Singles: 1 bronze medal
Outcome Year Location Surface Opponent Score
Bronze1992BarcelonaClayTiedDNP

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 gold medals
Outcome Year Location Surface Partner Opponents Score
Gold1992BarcelonaClay Gigi Fernández Conchita Martínez
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario		7–5, 2–6, 6–2
Gold1996AtlantaHard Gigi Fernández Jana Novotná
Helena Suková		7–6(9–7), 6–4

Doubles: 1 title
Outcome Year Location Surface Partner Opponents Score
Winner1996New YorkCarpet (i) Lindsay Davenport Jana Novotná
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario		6–3, 6–2

WTA career finals

Singles: 16 (7–9)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–4)
Grass (0–1)
Clay (2–2)
Carpet (3–2)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Runner-up 1. October 9, 1989 Filderstadt Carpet (i) Gabriela Sabatini 6–7(5–7), 4–6
Runner-up 2. January 15, 1990 Australian Open Hard Steffi Graf 3–6, 4–6
Winner 1. September 24, 1990 Tokyo Carpet (i) Amy Frazier 3–6, 6–2, 6–3
Winner 2. October 15, 1990 Filderstadt Carpet (i) Barbara Paulus 6–1, 6–3
Runner-up 3. April 15, 1991 Houston Clay Monica Seles 4–6, 3–6
Runner-up 4. September 16, 1991 Tokyo Hard Monica Seles 1–6, 1–6
Runner-up 5. January 13, 1992 Australian Open Hard Monica Seles 2–6, 3–6
Runner-up 6. February 3, 1992 Essen Carpet (i) Monica Seles 0–6, 3–6
Winner 3. February 22, 1993 Indian Wells Hard Amanda Coetzer 3–6, 6–1, 7–6(8–6)
Runner-up 7. May 24, 1993 French Open Clay Steffi Graf 6–4, 2–6, 4–6
Runner-up 8. June 10, 1994 Sydney Hard Kimiko Date 4–6, 2–6
Winner 4. May 16, 1994 Strasbourg Clay Gabriela Sabatini 2–6, 6–4, 6–0
Winner 5. February 27, 1995 Indian Wells Hard Natasha Zvereva 6–4, 6–3
Winner 6. October 16, 1995 Brighton Carpet (i) Amanda Coetzer 6–4, 7–5
Runner-up 9. June 17, 1996 Eastbourne Grass Monica Seles 0–6, 2–6
Winner 7. May 12, 1997 Berlin Clay Mary Pierce 6–4, 6–2

Doubles: 43 (19–24)
Winner — Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (2–5)
WTA Tour Championships (1–0)
Olympic Games (2–0)
Tier I (2–5)
Tier II (8–11)
Tier III (4–3)
Tier IV (0–0)
Tier V (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (8–14)
Grass (0–1)
Clay (6–4)
Carpet (5–5)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up 1. January 30, 1989 Tokyo Carpet (i) Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Katrina Adams
Zina Garrison		 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(5–7)
Runner-up 2. March 13, 1989 Boca Raton Hard Jo Durie Jana Novotná
Helena Suková		 4–6, 2–6
Runner-up 3. August 7, 1989 Los Angeles Hard Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Martina Navratilova
Wendy Turnbull		 2–5 ret.
Runner-up 4. August 28, 1989 US Open Hard Pam Shriver Hana Mandlíková
Martina Navratilova		 7–5, 4–6, 4–6
Winner 1. September 18, 1989 Dallas Carpet (i) Betsy Nagelsen Elise Burgin
Rosalyn Fairbank		 7–6(7–5), 6–3
Runner-up 5. January 15, 1990 Australian Open Hard Patty Fendick Jana Novotná
Helena Suková		 6–7(5–7), 6–7(3–7)
Winner 2. September 24, 1990 Tokyo Carpet (i) Robin White Gigi Fernández
Martina Navratilova		 4–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–4)
Winner 3. October 15, 1990 Filderstadt Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Mercedes Paz
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario		 7–5, 6–3
Runner-up 6. November 5, 1990 Worcester Carpet (i) Jana Novotná Gigi Fernández
Helena Suková		 6–3, 3–6, 3–6
Winner 4. January 14, 1991 Australian Open Hard Patty Fendick Gigi Fernández
Jana Novotná		 7–6(7–4), 6–1
Runner-up 7. January 28, 1991 Tokyo Carpet (i) Robin White Kathy Jordan
Elizabeth Smylie		 6–4, 0–6, 3–6
Winner 5. March 15, 1991 Key Biscayne Hard Zina Garrison Gigi Fernández
Jana Novotná		 7–5, 6–2
Runner-up 8. April 15, 1991 Houston Clay Patty Fendick Jill Hetherington
Kathy Rinaldi		 1–6, 6–2, 1–6
Winner 6. September 16, 1991 Tokyo Hard Pam Shriver Carrie Cunningham
Laura Gildemeister		 6–3, 6–3
Runner-up 9. November 11, 1991 Philadelphia Carpet (i) Zina Garrison Larisa Neiland
Jana Novotná		 2–6, 4–6
Runner-up 10. January 6, 1992 Sydney Hard Zina Garrison Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Helena Suková		 6–7(4–7), 7–6(4–7), 2–6
Runner-up 11. January 13, 1992 Australian Open Hard Zina Garrison Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Helena Suková		 4–6, 6–7(3–7)
Runner-up 12. June 15, 1992 Eastbourne Grass Zina Garrison Larisa Neiland
Jana Novotná		 0–6, 3–6
Winner 7. July 28, 1992 Olympics Clay Gigi Fernández Conchita Martínez
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario		 7–5, 2–6, 6–2
Winner 8. September 21, 1992 Tokyo Hard Robin White Yayuk Basuki
Nana Miyagi		 6–4, 6–4
Runner-up 13. Mary 3, 1993 Rome Clay Zina Garrison Jana Novotná
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario		 4–6, 2–6
Winner 9. May 17, 1993 Lucerne Clay Helena Suková Lindsay Davenport
Marianne Werdel		 6–2, 6–4
Runner-up 14. October 17, 1994 Brighton Carpet (i) Jana Novotná Manon Bollegraf
Larisa Neiland		 6–4, 2–6, 3–6
Runner-up 15. January 9, 1995 Sydney Hard Patty Fendick Lindsay Davenport
Jana Novotná		 5–7, 6–2, 4–6
Winner 10. March 6, 1995 Delray Beach Hard Jana Novotná Lori McNeil
Larisa Neiland		 6–2, 6–4
Winner 11. May 22, 1995 Strasbourg Clay Lindsay Davenport Sabine Appelmans
Miriam Oremans		 6–2, 6–3
Winner 12. September 18, 1995 Tokyo Hard Lindsay Davenport Amanda Coetzer
Linda Wild		 6–3, 6–2
Winner 13. January 8, 1996 Sydney Hard Lindsay Davenport Lori McNeil
Helena Suková		 6–3, 6–3
Runner-up 16. January 15, 1995 Australian Open Hard Lindsay Davenport Chanda Rubin
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario		 5–7, 6–2, 4–6
Runner-up 17. April 1, 1996 Hilton Head Island Clay Gigi Fernández Jana Novotná
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario		 2–6, 3–6
Winner 14. May 27, 1996 French Open Clay Lindsay Davenport Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva		 6–2, 6–1
Winner 15. July 22, 1996 Olympics Hard Gigi Fernández Jana Novotná
Helena Suková		 7–6(8–6), 6–4
Runner-up 18. August 5, 1996 Montreal Hard Helena Suková Larisa Neiland
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario		 6–7(1–7), 1–6
Winner 16. November 4, 1996 Oakland Carpet (i) Lindsay Davenport Irina Spîrlea
Nathalie Tauziat		 6–1, 6–3
Winner 17. November 18, 1996 Chase Championships Carpet (i) Lindsay Davenport Jana Novotná
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario		 6–3, 6–2
Winner 18. March 31, 1997 Hilton Head Island Clay Martina Hingis Lindsay Davenport
Jana Novotná		 7–5, 4–6, 6–1
Winner 19. May 19, 1997 Madrid Clay Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Inés Gorrochategui
Irina Spîrlea		 6–3, 6–2
Runner-up 19. May 26, 1997 French Open Clay Lisa Raymond Gigi Fernández
Natasha Zvereva		 2–6, 3–6
Runner-up 20. August 10, 1998 Boston Hard Mariaan de Swardt Lisa Raymond
Rennae Stubbs		 4–6, 4–6
Runner-up 21. September 21, 1998 Tokyo Hard Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Anna Kournikova
Monica Seles		 4–6, 4–6
Runner-up 22. January 11, 1999 Sydney Hard Anke Huber Elena Likhovtseva
Ai Sugiyama		 3–6, 6–2, 0–6
Runner-up 23. March 3, 1999 Indian Wells Hard Jana Novotná Martina Hingis
Anna Kournikova		 2–6, 2–6
Runner-up 24. March 18, 1999 Key Biscayne Hard Monica Seles Martina Hingis
Jana Novotná		 6–0, 4–6, 6–7(1–7)

Grand Slam performance timeline

Singles
Tournament198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999Career SR
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
Tournament19861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999Career SR
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
  • NH = tournament not held.
  • A = did not participate in the tournament.
  • SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.

References
  1. O'Connor, Mary (January 25, 1991). "TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN : Seles Saves Win Over Fernandez". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  2. "Olympics; Anti-doping official says U.S. covered up". New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  3. "Mary Joe Fernandez steps down as U.S. Fed Cup captain". Tennis.com. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  4. Joanne C. Gerstner (June 4, 2012). "Mary Joe Fernandez to coach U.S." ESPN. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  5. "ESPN Press Room: Mary Jo Fernandez". ESPN Press Room. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  6. McDermott, Barry (January 6, 1986). "Young Mary Joe Is On The Go". CNN (online). Sports Illustrated. SI Vault. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  7. Murphy, Austin (February 11, 1991). "The Graduate". Sports Illustrated. p. 76.
  8. Society Desk (April 9, 2000). "WEDDINGS; Mary Joe Fernandez, Anthony Godsick". New York Times. p. Section 9; Page 9; Column 1.
  9. Drillman, Lisa (July 6, 2000). "0-0, She's Back". LA Times. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  10. Outlaw, Adrianna (September 16, 2004). "Mama Mary Joe Gives Birth to Second Child". Tennis Week Magazine.
  11. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/sports/tennis/federer-and-his-agent-start-their-own-firm-representing-athletes.html
  12. "Womens Circuit Players". International Tennis Association. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
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