Mary Joe Fernandez
Age: 53
Mary Joe Fernández Godsick (born María José Fernández; August 19, 1971) is an American former professional tennis player. She was the runner-up in three Grand Slam singles tournaments and won two Grand Slam women's doubles titles and two Olympic gold medals.
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 U.S. Open when she defeated Sara Gomer in the first round. She turned professional in 1986. She won her first tour doubles title in 1989 at Dallas, partnering Betsy Nagelsen. Her first top-level singles title came in 1990 at the Tokyo Indoor championships. She reached her first Grand Slam singles final in 1990 at the Australian Open, where she was defeated by Steffi Graf. She finished 1990 ranked a career-high World No. 4 in singles.
In 1991, Fernández teamed with Patty Fendick to win the women's doubles title at the Australian Open. She was back in the Australian Open singles final in 1992, this time losing to Monica Seles. Fernández was selected to represent the United States at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, winning a gold medal in women's doubles (with Gigi Fernández) and a bronze medal in singles.
In the quarterfinals of the 1993 French Open, Mary Joe Fernández staged a dramatic comeback against Sabatini after Sabatini took a 6-1, 5-1 lead. But Mary Joe raised the level of her game and saved five match points in the 2nd set before winning a tiebreak. In the 3rd set, Mary Joe finally got rid of Sabatini by hitting a down the line winner, ending the three-hour, 36-minute marathon by a final score of 1-6, 7-6(7-4), 10-8. She then faced second seeded Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the semifinals. Mary Joe defeated Arantxa 6-2, 6-2, ending a three match losing streak against the Spaniard. After the heroics against Sabatini in the quarterfinals, followed by her easy win over Arantxa in the semis, Mary Joe's opponent in the final would be top seeded Steffi Graf of Germany. In their nine previous meetings, Mary Joe had lost each time against Steffi. Mary Joe took the opening set 6-4, but Steffi rallied to win by a final score of 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. Revealing the fact she had reached the climax of her career when she was 22 (she defeated Steffi Graf in the first set of French Open final).
Fernández 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, where 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 won her final tour singles title in 1997 at the German Open in Berlin. Her final doubles title also came that year in Madrid. She retired from the tour in 2000, having won 7 singles titles, 17 WTA doubles titles, and 2 ITF women's doubles titles.
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.
Since retiring from the tour, Mary Joe Fernández has served as a tennis commentator for ESPN and joined CBS Sports as an analyst for the 2005 U.S. Open. She also coaches the U.S. Fed Cup team and served as the woman's coach for the 2012 U.S. Olympic tennis team in London.
Personal
Fernández was born in the Dominican Republic; her parents were immigrants to the country. Her father José is from 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.
On 8 April 2000 in Miami, Fernández married Anthony Lewisohn (Tony) Godsick, a sports agent with International Management Group. They have two children: Isabella Maria (born December 11, 2001) and Nicholas Cooper (born September 15, 2004). She has homes in Cleveland, Ohio, and Key Biscayne, Florida.
Significant finals
Grand Slam finals
Singles: 3 (0 titles, 3 runners-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1990 | Australian Open | Hard | Steffi Graf | 3-6, 4-6 |
Runner-up | 1992 | Australian Open | Hard | Monica Seles | 2-6, 3-6 |
Runner-up | 1993 | French Open | Clay | Steffi Graf | 6-4, 2-6, 4-6 |
Women's doubles: 7 (2 titles, 5 runners-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1989 | US Open | Hard | Pam Shriver | Hana Mandlíková Martina Navratilova |
7-5, 4-6, 4-6 |
Runner-up | 1990 | Australian Open | Hard | Patty Fendick | Jana Novotná Helena Suková |
6-7(5-7), 6-7(6-8) |
Winner | 1991 | Australian Open | Hard | Patty Fendick | Gigi Fernández Jana Novotná |
7-6(7-4), 6-1 |
Runner-up | 1992 | Australian Open | Hard | Zina Garrison | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Helena Suková |
4-6, 6-7(4-7) |
Runner-up | 1996 | Australian Open | Hard | Lindsay Davenport | Chanda Rubin Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
5-7, 6-2, 4-6 |
Winner | 1996 | French Open | Clay | Lindsay Davenport | Gigi Fernández Natasha Zvereva |
6-2, 6-1 |
Runner-up | 1997 | French Open | Clay | Lisa Raymond | Gigi Fernández Natasha Zvereva |
2-6, 3-6 |
Olympics
Singles: 1 medal (1 bronze medal)
Outcome | Year | Location | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bronze | 1992 | Barcelona | Clay | Tied | DNP |
Mary Joe Fernández lost in the semi-finals to Steffi Graf 6-4, 6-2. In 1992, there was no bronze medal play off match, both beaten semi-final players received bronze medals.
Doubles: 2 medals (2 gold medals)
Outcome | Year | Location | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold | 1992 | Barcelona | Clay | Gigi Fernández | Conchita Martínez Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
7-5, 2-6, 6-2 |
Gold | 1996 | Atlanta | Hard | Gigi Fernández | Jana Novotná Helena Suková |
7-6(9-7), 6-4 |
Year-End Championships finals
Doubles: 1 (1 title, 0 runners-up)
Outcome | Year | Location | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1996 | New York City | Carpet (I) | Lindsay Davenport | Jana Novotná Arantxa Sánchez Vicario |
6-3, 6-2 |
WTA Tour Finals
Singles: 16 (7-9)
Titles 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)
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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
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 |
U.S. 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 |
U.S. 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.