Mary Joe Fernández

Mary Joe Fernández
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceMiami, Florida, U.S.
Born (1971-08-19) August 19, 1971 (age 52)
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 (68.3%)
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
Doubles
Career record344–141 (70.9%)
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)
Medal record
Women's tennis
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona Women's doubles
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Women's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Barcelona Women's singles

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.

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
Loss 1990 Australian Open Hard West Germany Steffi Graf 3–6, 4–6
Loss 1992 Australian Open Hard Monica Seles 2–6, 3–6
Loss 1993 French Open Clay West Germany Steffi Graf 6–4, 2–6, 4–6

Doubles: 7 (2 titles, 5 runner-ups)

Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1989 US Open Hard United States Pam Shriver Australia Hana Mandlíková
United States Martina Navratilova
7–5, 4–6, 4–6
Loss 1990 Australian Open Hard United States Patty Fendick Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
6–7(5–7), 6–7(6–8)
Win 1991 Australian Open Hard United States Patty Fendick United States Gigi Fernández
Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
7–6(7–4), 6–1
Loss 1992 Australian Open Hard United States Zina Garrison Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
4–6, 6–7(4–7)
Loss 1996 Australian Open Hard United States Lindsay Davenport United States Chanda Rubin
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
5–7, 6–2, 4–6
Win 1996 French Open Clay United States Lindsay Davenport United States Gigi Fernández
Belarus Natasha Zvereva
6–2, 6–1
Loss 1997 French Open Clay United States Lisa Raymond United States Gigi Fernández
Belarus Natasha Zvereva
2–6, 3–6

Olympics

Singles: 1 (bronze medal)

Outcome Year Location Surface Opponent Score
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
Gold 1992 Barcelona Clay United States Gigi Fernández Spain Conchita Martínez
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–5, 2–6, 6–2
Gold 1996 Atlanta Hard United States Gigi Fernández Czech Republic Jana Novotná
Czech Republic Helena Suková
7–6(9–7), 6–4

Year-end championships

Doubles: 1 title

Result Year Location Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1996 New York Carpet (i) United States Lindsay Davenport Czech Republic Jana Novotná
Spain 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)
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 Oct 1989 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Carpet (i) Argentina Gabriela Sabatini 6–7(5–7), 4–6
Loss 0–2 Jan 1990 Australian Open Hard West Germany Steffi Graf 3–6, 4–6
Win 1–2 Sep 1990 Tokyo Championships Carpet (i) United States Amy Frazier 3–6, 6–2, 6–3
Win 2–2 Oct 1990 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Carpet (i) Austria Barbara Paulus 6–1, 6–3
Loss 2–3 Apr 1991 VS Houston Clay Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles 4–6, 3–6
Loss 2–4 Sep 1991 Tokyo Championships Hard Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles 1–6, 1–6
Loss 2–5 Jan 1992 Australian Open Hard Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles 2–6, 3–6
Loss 2–6 Feb 1992 Essen Grand Prix Carpet (i) Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Monica Seles 0–6, 3–6
Win 3–6 Feb 1993 Indian Wells Masters Hard South Africa Amanda Coetzer 3–6, 6–1, 7–6(8–6)
Loss 3–7 May 1993 French Open Clay Germany Steffi Graf 6–4, 2–6, 4–6
Loss 3–8 Jun 1994 Sydney International Hard Japan Kimiko Date 4–6, 2–6
Win 4–8 May 1994 Internationaux de Strasbourg Clay Argentina Gabriela Sabatini 2–6, 6–4, 6–0
Win 5–8 Feb 1995 Indian Wells Masters Hard Belarus Natasha Zvereva 6–4, 6–3
Win 6–8 Oct 1995 Brighton International Carpet (i) South Africa Amanda Coetzer 6–4, 7–5
Loss 6–9 Jun 1996 Eastbourne International Grass United States Monica Seles 0–6, 2–6
Win 7–9 May 1997 German Open Clay France Mary Pierce 6–4, 6–2

Doubles: 41 (17–24)

Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (2–5)
WTA Championships (1–0)
Tier I (2–5)
Tier II (8–11)
Tier III (4–3)
Tier IV (0–0)
Tier V (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (7–14)
Grass (0–1)
Clay (5–4)
Carpet (5–5)
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. Jan 1989 Pan Pacific Open, Japan Carpet (i) West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch United States Katrina Adams
United States Zina Garrison
3–6, 6–3, 6–7(5–7)
Loss 2. Mar 1989 VS Boca Raton, U.S. Hard United Kingdom Jo Durie Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
4–6, 2–6
Loss 3. Aug 1989 LA Championships, U.S. Hard West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch United States Martina Navratilova
Australia Wendy Turnbull
2–5 ret.
Loss 4. Aug 1989 US Open Hard United States Pam Shriver Australia Hana Mandlíková
United States Martina Navratilova
7–5, 4–6, 4–6
Win 1. Sep 1989 VS Dallas, U.S. Carpet (i) United States Betsy Nagelsen United States Elise Burgin
South Africa Rosalyn Fairbank
7–6(7–5), 6–3
Loss 5. Jan 1990 Australian Open Hard United States Patty Fendick Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
6–7(5–7), 6–7(3–7)
Win 2. Sep 1990 Tokyo Championships, Japan Carpet (i) United States Robin White United States Gigi Fernández
United States Martina Navratilova
4–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–4)
Win 3. Oct 1990 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Germany Carpet (i) United States Zina Garrison Argentina Mercedes Paz
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
7–5, 6–3
Loss 6. Nov 1990 VS Worcester, U.S. Carpet (i) Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná United States Gigi Fernández
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
6–3, 3–6, 3–6
Win 4. Jan, 1991 Australian Open Hard United States Patty Fendick United States Gigi Fernández
Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
7–6(7–4), 6–1
Loss 7. Jan 1991 Pan Pacific Open, Japan Carpet (i) United States Robin White United States Kathy Jordan
Australia Elizabeth Smylie
6–4, 0–6, 3–6
Win 5. Mar 1991 Miami Masters, U.S. Hard United States Zina Garrison United States Gigi Fernández
Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
7–5, 6–2
Loss 8. Apr 1991 VS Houston, U.S. Clay United States Patty Fendick Canada Jill Hetherington
United States Kathy Rinaldi
1–6, 6–2, 1–6
Win 6. Sep 1991 Tokyo Championships, Japan Hard United States Pam Shriver United States Carrie Cunningham
Peru Laura Gildemeister
6–3, 6–3
Loss 9. Nov 1991 Championships of Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet (i) United States Zina Garrison Soviet Union Larisa Neiland
Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
2–6, 4–6
Loss 10. Jan 1992 Sydney International, Australia Hard United States Zina Garrison Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
6–7(4–7), 7–6(4–7), 2–6
Loss 11. Jan 1992 Australian Open Hard United States Zina Garrison Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Czechoslovakia Helena Suková
4–6, 6–7(3–7)
Loss 12. Jun 1992 Eastbourne International, UK Grass United States Zina Garrison Latvia Larisa Neiland
Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná
0–6, 3–6
Win 7. Sep 1992 Tokyo Championships, Japan Hard United States Robin White Indonesia Yayuk Basuki
Japan Nana Miyagi
6–4, 6–4
Loss 13. Mar 1993 Italian Open Clay United States Zina Garrison Czech Republic Jana Novotná
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
4–6, 2–6
Win 8. May 1993 European Open, Switzerland Clay Czech Republic Helena Suková United States Lindsay Davenport
United States Marianne Werdel
6–2, 6–4
Loss 14. Oct 1994 Brighton International, UK Carpet (i) Czech Republic Jana Novotná Netherlands Manon Bollegraf
Latvia Larisa Neiland
6–4, 2–6, 3–6
Loss 15. Jan 1995 Sydney International, Australia Hard United States Patty Fendick United States Lindsay Davenport
Czech Republic Jana Novotná
5–7, 6–2, 4–6
Win 9. Mar 1995 VS Delray Beach, U.S. Hard Czech Republic Jana Novotná United States Lori McNeil
Latvia Larisa Neiland
6–2, 6–4
Win 10. May 1995 Internationaux de Strasbourg, France Clay United States Lindsay Davenport Belgium Sabine Appelmans
Netherlands Miriam Oremans
6–2, 6–3
Win 11. Sep 1995 Tokyo Championships, Japan Hard United States Lindsay Davenport South Africa Amanda Coetzer
United States Linda Wild
6–3, 6–2
Win 12. Jan 1996 Sydney International, Australia Hard United States Lindsay Davenport United States Lori McNeil
Czech Republic Helena Suková
6–3, 6–3
Loss 16. Jan 1996 Australian Open Hard United States Lindsay Davenport United States Chanda Rubin
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
5–7, 6–2, 4–6
Loss 17. Apr 1996 Hilton Head Cup, U.S. Clay United States Gigi Fernández Czech Republic Jana Novotná
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
2–6, 3–6
Win 13. May 1996 French Open Clay United States Lindsay Davenport United States Gigi Fernández
Belarus Natasha Zvereva
6–2, 6–1
Loss 18. Aug 1996 Canadian Open Hard Czech Republic Helena Suková Latvia Larisa Neiland
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–7(1–7), 1–6
Win 14. Nov 1996 Oakland Classic, U.S. Carpet (i) United States Lindsay Davenport Romania Irina Spîrlea
France Nathalie Tauziat
6–1, 6–3
Win 15. Nov 1996 WTA Tour Championships, New York Carpet (i) United States Lindsay Davenport Czech Republic Jana Novotná
Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–3, 6–2
Win 16. Mar 1997 Hilton Head Cup, U.S. Clay Switzerland Martina Hingis United States Lindsay Davenport
Czech Republic Jana Novotná
7–5, 4–6, 6–1
Win 17. May 1997 Madrid Open, Spain Clay Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Argentina Inés Gorrochategui
Romania Irina Spîrlea
6–3, 6–2
Loss 19. May 1997 French Open Clay United States Lisa Raymond United States Gigi Fernández
Belarus Natasha Zvereva
2–6, 3–6
Loss 20. Aug 1998 Boston Cup, U.S. Hard South Africa Mariaan de Swardt United States Lisa Raymond
Australia Rennae Stubbs
4–6, 4–6
Loss 21. Sep 1998 Tokyo Cup, Japan Hard Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Russia Anna Kournikova
United States Monica Seles
4–6, 4–6
Loss 22. Jan 1999 Sydney International, Australia Hard Germany Anke Huber Russia Elena Likhovtseva
Japan Ai Sugiyama
3–6, 6–2, 0–6
Loss 23. Mar 1999 Indian Wells Masters, U.S. Hard Czech Republic Jana Novotná Switzerland Martina Hingis
Russia Anna Kournikova
2–6, 2–6
Loss 24. Mar 1999 Miami Masters, U.S. Hard United States Monica Seles Switzerland Martina Hingis
Czech Republic Jana Novotná
6–0, 4–6, 6–7(1–7)

Grand Slam performance timelines

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles

Tournament 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Career 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

Tournament 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Career 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

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