# 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 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 | Steffi Graf | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1992 | Australian Open | Hard | Monica Seles | 2–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 1993 | French Open | Clay | 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 | Pam Shriver | Hana Mandlíková Martina Navratilova | 7–5, 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 1990 | Australian Open | Hard | Patty Fendick | Jana Novotná Helena Suková | 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 6–7$^{(6–8)}$ |
| Win | 1991 | Australian Open | Hard | Patty Fendick | Gigi Fernández Jana Novotná | 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–1 |
| Loss | 1992 | Australian Open | Hard | Zina Garrison | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Helena Suková | 4–6, 6–7$^{(4–7)}$ |
| Loss | 1996 | Australian Open | Hard | Lindsay Davenport | Chanda Rubin Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 5–7, 6–2, 4–6 |
| Win | 1996 | French Open | Clay | Lindsay Davenport | Gigi Fernández Natasha Zvereva | 6–2, 6–1 |
| Loss | 1997 | French Open | Clay | Lisa Raymond | Gigi Fernández 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 | 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
#### Doubles: 1 title

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

### 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 |