# Julie Halard-Decugis

Julie Halard-Decugis (born 10 September 1970) is a French former professional tennis player.

## Tennis career

Halard-Decugis lived in La Baule, France, during the initial stages of her career and later moved to Pully, Switzerland. She turned professional in 1986. She won the French Open junior singles title in 1988 and was the Wimbledon junior singles runner-up in 1987. She retired from the WTA Tour tennis circuit at the end of the 2000 season. Her highest WTA Tour singles and doubles rankings was number seven and number one respectively. She had been coached by Arnaud Decugis since 1989.
Halard-Decugis won her first WTA Tour singles title in Puerto Rico. She enjoyed her best season in 1996, when she won her first WTA Tour Tier II singles title in Paris and finished the year with a career-high season-ending singles ranking of No. 15 and as the No. 1 singles player from France. This occurred despite the fact that her playing schedule in the second half of 1996 was curtailed because of a wrist injury sustained during the Fed Cup semifinal match against Spain. She only played two tournaments in late 1997 because of injuries.
By winning the singles title in Rosmalen in 1998, she became the 20th player to have won singles titles on all four surfaces in the Open Era. Halard also won the singles and doubles titles in Pattaya that year, and broke into the top 10 singles ranking in August 1999, becoming the fifth Frenchwoman after Françoise Dürr, Mary Pierce, Nathalie Tauziat and Amélie Mauresmo to do so. In 1999, she won WTA Tour singles titles in Auckland and Birmingham and was runner-up on three other occasions. Between 15 November 1999 and 9 January 2000, Julie Halard, Nathalie Tauziat, Amélie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce were all ranked inside the singles top 10, the first time France had four players ranked among the singles top 10.
2000 was to be the final and perhaps the finest year of Halard's professional playing career. She reached the Australian Open singles quarterfinal for the second time, captured the second WTA Tour Tier II title of her career in Eastbourne and reached her career-high singles ranking of No. 7 in February. Halard was also runner-up in Tokyo's Princess Cup in October and won the doubles title with Ai Sugiyama. The following week, she won both the singles and doubles titles at the Japan Open in Tokyo, saving three match points in the final to defeat the defending champion Amy Frazier.
On her 30th birthday, Halard won the 2000 US Open women's doubles title with Ai Sugiyama, her only Grand Slam title as a professional. The pair also reached the final at Wimbledon, the semifinal at the French Open and the quarterfinal at the Australian Open that year. Halard-Decugis won nine other doubles titles in 2000, five of them with Sugiyama, and became the first Frenchwoman to attain the No. 1 doubles ranking in the Open Era. Halard-Decugis represented her country in the Federation Cup Fed Cup from 1990 to 2000 and in the Olympic Games in 1992 and 2000.

## Personal life

She married her coach, Arnaud Decugis, on 22 September 1995. Arnaud Decugis is the great nephew of Max Decugis, a leading tennis player from France during the early 20th century. The couple have three children

## Grand Slam finals
### Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)

| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 2000 | Wimbledon | Grass | Ai Sugiyama | Serena Williams Venus Williams | 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 2000 | US Open | Hard | Ai Sugiyama | Cara Black Elena Likhovtseva | 6–0, 1–6, 6–1 |

## WTA career finals
### Singles: 21 (12 titles, 9 runner-ups)

* Legend
* Grand Slam tournaments
* Virginia Slims
* Tier I
* Tier II
* Tier III
* Tier IV & V
| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | Oct 1987 | Athens Open, Greece | Clay | Katerina Maleeva | 0–6, 1–6 |
| Loss | 0–2 | Aug 1991 | Albuquerque, U.S. | Hard | Gigi Fernández | 0–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 1–2 | Oct 1991 | San Juan Open, Puerto Rico | Hard | Amanda Coetzer | 7–5, 7–5 |
| Win | 2–2 | Apr 1992 | Taranto Trophy, Italy | Clay | Emanuela Zardo | 6–0, 7–5 |
| Loss | 2–3 | Feb 1994 | Paris Indoors, France | Carpet (i) | Martina Navratilova | 5–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 3–3 | Apr 1994 | Taranto, Italy | Clay | Irina Spîrlea | 6–2, 6–3 |
| Win | 4–3 | May 1995 | Prague Open, Czech Republic | Clay | Ludmila Richterová | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 5–3 | Jan 1996 | Hobart International, Australia | Hard | Mana Endo | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Win | 6–3 | Feb 1996 | Paris, France | Carpet (i) | Iva Majoli | 7–5, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$ |
| Loss | 6–4 | Feb 1996 | Linz Open, Austria | Carpet (i) | Sabine Appelmans | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 6–5 | May 1998 | Internationaux de Strasbourg, France | Clay | Irina Spîrlea | 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 3–6 |
| Win | 7–5 | Jun 1998 | Rosmalen Championships, Netherlands | Grass | Miriam Oremans | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 8–5 | Nov 1998 | Pattaya Open, Thailand | Hard | Li Fang | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Win | 9–5 | Jan 1999 | Auckland Open, New Zealand | Hard | Dominique Monami | 6–4, 6–1 |
| Loss | 9–6 | Apr 1999 | Bol Ladies Open, Croatia | Clay | Corina Morariu | 2–6, 0–6 |
| Loss | 9–7 | May 1999 | German Open, Berlin | Clay | Martina Hingis | 0–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 10–7 | Jun 1999 | Birmingham Classic, UK | Grass | Nathalie Tauziat | 6–2, 3–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 10–8 | Aug 1999 | Los Angeles Classic, U.S. | Hard | Serena Williams | 1–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 11–8 | Jun 2000 | Eastbourne International, UK | Grass | Dominique Monami | 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–4 |
| Loss | 11–9 | Oct 2000 | Tokyo Cup, Japan | Hard | Serena Williams | 5–7, 1–6 |
| Win | 12–9 | Oct 2000 | Tokyo Championships, Japan | Hard | Amy Frazier | 5–7, 7–5, 6–4 |

### Doubles: 25 (15 titles, 10 runner-ups)

| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | Sep 1991 | Clarins Open Paris, France | Clay | Alexia Dechaume | Petra Langrová Radka Zrubáková | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 0–2 | Apr 1994 | Barcelona Open, Spain | Clay | Nathalie Tauziat | Larisa Neiland Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 1–2 | Aug 1994 | Los Angeles Classic, US | Hard | Nathalie Tauziat | Jana Novotná Lisa Raymond | 6–1, 0–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 2–2 | Sep 1994 | Tokyo International, Japan | Hard | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | Amy Frazier Rika Hiraki | 6–1, 0–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 3–2 | Jan 1996 | Auckland Open, New Zealand | Hard | Els Callens | Jill Hetherington Kristine Kunce | 6–0, 6–1 |
| Loss | 3–3 | Feb 1996 | Paris Indoors, France | Carpet (i) | Nathalie Tauziat | Kristie Boogert Jana Novotná | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 3–4 | Mar 1996 | Indian Wells Open, US | Hard | Nathalie Tauziat | Chanda Rubin Brenda Schultz | 1–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 3–5 | Sep 1997 | Tokyo Cup, Japan | Hard | Chanda Rubin | Monica Seles Ai Sugiyama | 1–6, 0–6 |
| Loss | 3–6 | Jan 1998 | Auckland Open, New Zealand | Hard | Janette Husárová | Nana Miyagi Tamarine Tanasugarn | 6–7$^1$, 4–6 |
| Loss | 3–7 | Jan 1998 | Hobart International, Australia | Hard | Janette Husárová | Virginia Ruano Pascual Paola Suárez | 6–7$^6$, 3–6 |
| Win | 4–7 | Jun 1998 | Birmingham Classic, UK | Grass | Els Callens | Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs | 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 5–7 | Nov 1998 | Pattaya Open, Thailand | Hard | Els Callens | Rika Hiraki Aleksandra Olsza | 3–6, 6–2, 6–2 |
| Loss | 5–8 | Oct 1999 | Kremlin Cup, Russia | Carpet (i) | Anke Huber | Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs | 0–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 6–8 | Jan 2000 | Gold Coast Hardcourts, Australia | Hard | Anna Kournikova | Sabine Appelmans Rita Grande | 6–3, 6–0 |
| Win | 7–8 | Jan 2000 | Sydney International, Australia | Hard | Ai Sugiyama | Martina Hingis Mary Pierce | 6–0, 6–3 |
| Win | 8–8 | Feb 2000 | Paris Indoors, France | Carpet (i) | Sandrine Testud | Émilie Loit Åsa Carlsson | 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 9–8 | Mar 2000 | Miami Masters, US | Hard | Ai Sugiyama | Nicole Arendt Manon Bollegraf | 4–6, 7–5, 6–4 |
| Win | 10–8 | May 2000 | Bol Ladies Open, Croatia | Clay | Corina Morariu | Tina Križan Katarina Srebotnik | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Loss | 10–9 | Jun 2000 | Wimbledon, UK | Grass | Ai Sugiyama | Serena Williams Venus Williams | 3–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 10–10 | Aug 2000 | Rogers Cup Montreal, Canada | Hard | Ai Sugiyama | Martina Hingis Nathalie Tauziat | 3–6, 6–3, 4–6 |
| Win | 11–10 | Aug 2000 | Connecticut Open, US | Hard | Ai Sugiyama | Virginia Ruano Pascual Paola Suárez | 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 |
| Win | 12–10 | Aug 2000 | US Open | Hard | Ai Sugiyama | Cara Black Elena Likhovtseva | 6–0, 1–6, 6–1 |
| Win | 13–10 | Oct 2000 | Tokyo Cup, Japan | Hard | Ai Sugiyama | Nana Miyagi Paola Suárez | 6–0, 6–2 |
| Win | 14–10 | Oct 2000 | Tokyo Championships, Japan | Hard | Corina Morariu | Tina Križan Katarina Srebotnik | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Win | 15–10 | Oct 2000 | Kremlin Cup, Russia | Carpet (i) | Ai Sugiyama | Martina Hingis Anna Kournikova | 4–6, 6–4, 7–6$^5$ |

## ITF Circuit finals
### Singles: 2 (2–0)

* Legend
* $50,000 tournaments
* $25,000 tournaments
* $10,000 tournaments
| Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 13 July 1987 | ITF Erlangen, West Germany | Clay | Wiltrud Probst | 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| Winner | 2. | 27 July 1987 | ITF Neumünster, West Germany | Clay | Brenda Schultz-McCarthy | 6–2, 6–4 |

### Doubles: 4 (2–2)

| Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Winner | 1. | 20 July 1987 | ITF Vaihingen, West Germany | Clay | Virginie Paquet | Hana Fukárková Denisa Krajčovičová | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Winner | 2. | 3 December 1990 | ITF Le Havre, France | Clay | Agnès Zugasti | Gaby Coorengel Amy van Buuren | 6–3, 6–0 |
| Runner-up | 1. | 7 December 1992 | ITF Val-d'Oise, France | Hard (i) | Sabine Appelmans | Isabelle Demongeot Catherine Suire | 5–7, 4–6 |
| Runner-up | 2. | 7 December 1997 | ITF Cergy-Pontoise, France | Hard (i) | Anne-Gaëlle Sidot | Kristie Boogert Miriam Oremans | 5–7, 4–6 |

## Grand Slam performance timelines

Key :
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |

### Singles

| Tournament | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | SR | W–L |
| Australian Open | A | 2R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 1R | QF | 2R | 1R | 3R | A | A | 2R | QF | 0 / 11 | 16–11 |
| French Open | 2R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 3R | 3R | QF | 3R | 2R | A | 2R | 4R | 1R | 0 / 13 | 20–13 |
| Wimbledon | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 4R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | 3R | 3R | 1R | 0 / 11 | 10–11 |
| US Open | 3R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 2R | A | A | 1R | 4R | 1R | 0 / 12 | 12–12 |
| Overall win–loss | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 6–4 | 4–4 | 6–4 | 7–4 | 6–4 | 3–4 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 9–4 | 4–4 | 0 / 47 | 58–47 |
| Career statistics |||||||||||||||||
| Titles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 12 |
| Finals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 21 | 21 |
| Year-end ranking | 62 | 75 | 118 | 41 | 20 | 27 | 29 | 21 | 51 | 20 | – | 22 | 9 | 15 | | |

### Doubles

| Tournament | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | SR | W–L |
| Australian Open | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 3R | A | A | 3R | QF | 0 / 10 | 10–10 |
| French Open | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | 3R | 2R | 1R | SF | QF | 3R | A | 2R | 1R | SF | 0 / 12 | 18–12 |
| Wimbledon | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 3R | A | A | QF | 2R | F | 0 / 8 | 14–8 |
| US Open | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | QF | A | A | 3R | 3R | W | 1 / 8 | 13–7 |
| Overall win–loss | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 6–4 | 9–4 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 6–3 | 5–4 | 18–3 | 1 / 38 | 55–37 |

### Head-to-head records

* Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 4—8
* Dominique Monami 2—2
* Serena Williams 0—4
* Martina Hingis 0—5
* Venus Williams 1—1
* Anna Kournikova 1—1
* Elena Dementieva 1—0
* Jelena Dokic 1—0
* Steffi Graf 1—9
* Lindsay Davenport 2—9
* Mary Pierce 3-0