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Fernando González

Fernando González
Fernando Gonzalez - 2009 US Open.jpg
Country (sports)  Chile
Residence La Reina, Santiago, Chile
Born (1980-07-29) 29 July 1980 (age 36)
Santiago, Chile
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro 1999
Retired 2012
Plays Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money $8,862,276
Singles
Career record 370–202
Career titles 11
Highest ranking No. 5 (29 January 2007)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open F (2007)
French Open SF (2009)
Wimbledon QF (2005)
US Open QF (2002, 2009)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals RR (2005, 2007)
Olympic Games F (2008)
Doubles
Career record 109–98
Career titles 3
Highest ranking No. 5 (25 January 2007)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open QF (2010)
French Open SF (2005)
Wimbledon 2R (2005)
US Open QF (2004)
Wimbledon Senior RR (2015)
Other doubles tournaments
Olympic Games W (2004)
Mixed doubles
Career record 3–2
Career titles 0
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
French Open QF (2006)
Wimbledon 2R (2006)
Team competitions
Davis Cup QF (2006)

Fernando Francisco González Ciuffardi (born 29 July 1980) is a retired professional tennis player from Chile. During his career he made it to the quarterfinal round of all four Grand Slam tournaments. He played his only major final at the 2007 Australian Open, losing to top-seeded Roger Federer. He is the fourth male tennis player in history to have won each Olympic medal (gold in doubles and bronze in singles at Athens 2004, and silver in singles at Beijing 2008). The gold medal González won together with Nicolás Massú in the 2004 Olympic doubles competition was the first ever gold medal won by Chile at the Olympics.

Throughout his career, González defeated many past and present top players, including Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer (all while they held the top spot), Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Carlos Moyá, Gustavo Kuerten, Marat Safin, Pete Sampras, and Andy Murray. González qualified twice for the year-end Masters Cup event and was runner-up at two Masters Series tournaments.

González was known for having one of the hardest forehands on the tour. In Spanish he is called El Bombardero de La Reina ("The La Reina Bomber") and Mano de Piedra ("Stone Hand").

At age four, González spent his time playing both football and tennis. His father, who was an amateur tennis player, was able to convince his son to opt for tennis over football. He began playing tennis at the age of six. He moved in with his family to La Reina in eastern Santiago, where he practiced with his coach Claudio González (no relation) at the Club La Reina three times a week.


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Wikipedia

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