At the Net With Gigi Fernandez

May 12, 2016 | By Brian Coleman
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Gigi Fernandez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and began playing the sport of tennis at an early age. Her hard work and talent led her to the University of Clemson, eventually becoming the first female athlete from Puerto Rico to turn professional. She became one of the greatest doubles players of all-time, winning 17 Grand Slam titles and two Olympic Gold Medals. Fernandez has been extremely active since retiring from the tour pursuing her life’s mission of sharing her knowledge of doubles. She directs the adult curriculum at Chelsea Piers where she developed The Gigi Method. She also conducts Master Doubles with Gigi clinics and is establishing Gigi Fernandez Teaching Centers throughout the country. She is also director of tennis at The Long Ridge Tennis Club in North Stamford, Conn. during the summer. 

When did you first start playing tennis and how did you get into the sport?
I started playing when I was about three-years-old at a club my parents and older brothers played at. I wasn't old enough to play, so I started hitting against a wall. I always had exceptional hand-eye coordination, and was able to start rallying at just three-years-old. I used an adult racket, which isn't normal today with all the 10 and Under programs, but that's how I got started.

When did you realize tennis was something you could do professionally?
I had a pretty good junior career in Puerto Rico. There wasn't a whole lot of competition, so I was always number one in my category. Because the Puerto Rican Tennis Association was part of the United States Tennis Association, I would get entry into national tournaments where a few college coaches saw something special. I received a full scholarship to play at Clemson University, and that's when I first realized I could play professionally. As a freshman, I made it to the NCAA finals and lost to Beth Herr in a third-set tie-breaker. She was ranked 27th in the world at that time, and if I could go to 7-6 in the third with a player like that, I thought I could have a chance on the pro tour. I got my ranking up to 85th in the world in singles and decided to turn pro.

Was tennis popular in Puerto Rico at that time and how has your success changed that?
Tennis wasn't big at all when I was growing up. It was not shown on TV, and I had no role models. I was the first Puerto Rican female athlete to make a living playing a sport. I had to blaze my own trail, which I embraced with a passion, and now Hispanic girls throughout the world have several role models, including myself, Mary Jo Fernandez, Gabriella Sabatini and many other Spanish players. We have a great current player in Monica Puig, and there were two other girls who cracked the top 100 on the tour since I played. Not bad for a small island!

What was the highlight of your playing career?
The highlight of my career was definitely winning the Olympic Gold Medal. The difference between that and other big tournaments is that you are playing for your country, and everyone follows the Olympics. When I came home after winning Wimbledon, not many people paid attention to that, but they did when I won the Gold Medal at the Olympics.

What was your favorite tournament to play in?
The Australian Open. There is something about being on the other side of the world. The pressure wasn't as high as some of the other Grand Slams and Australians are super-friendly. It's a great country. They treat the players really well. It's really fun to be over there and I had some really great experiences Down Under.

You were such a great doubles player, winning 17 Grand Slams over the course of your career. What is the key to being successful at doubles?
It's really just about understanding the game of doubles because it is so different than playing singles. It's about understanding positioning, where you should be standing, where your partner is standing and what type of shot to use in a particular situation, and of course, being a good communicator.

Do you think it’s important for junior players to play both singles and doubles growing up?
I definitely think it's important for juniors to play doubles. Doubles tennis is all that most adults play when they get past the age of 30. Many come to the game later in life, having played juniors, but not fully understanding the game of doubles. It's a shame that we don't do a better job of teaching doubles in the United States. That's why I'm really trying to be proactive about sharing my knowledge of doubles, how to teach it properly and how to help people be passionate about it.

Where do you currently teach and how are you being proactive in teaching doubles?
My goal in life is to “share my knowledge of doubles,” and I do that in many ways. My main job is at Chelsea Piers, where I am senior consultant and touring pro. I am responsible for the adult tennis curriculum, training pros and ensuring cohesive instruction throughout the facility. I also travel around the country, conducting Master Doubles With Gigi Clinics. In doing that, I realized that I teach doubles differently than anyone else, so I developed the “Gigi Method,” which helps players better understand the doubles game. People have really taken a liking to it, so I am expanding that in two ways: One is through a Doubles Boot Camp, where people can come in and learn everything they need to know about doubles in one weekend. The first Boot Camp will be held at Chelsea Piers, Friday-Sunday, June 24-26. I partnered with Dr. Mark Kovacs for this event and it will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the participants. The second is through the Gigi Fernandez Teaching Center, where I license my name and method to clubs, train their pros on how to deliver it to their clients, with the shared goal of helping people achieve success. I’m also active in the conference speaking circuit, speaking at many USPTA and USTA regional and national conventions.  

As director of tennis at The Long Ridge Club in North Stamford, Conn., about a mile from the New York border, I will continue to share my passion for the doubles game with members and non-members alike. Everyone is welcomed, and I hope to see you there.


Brian Coleman

 Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com

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