Guga gustavo kuerten biography

In his view that was just the last in a sequence of questionable decisions made by organization's board. All other professional Brazilian players followed Kuerten's lead, as well as the newly appointed captain, former player Jaime Oncins. As a result, Brazil had to play the first round in the Zonal Group with a team made up of junior players which was only possible after much negotiation, during which time the country was at risk of forfeiting the Round, which would have resulted in automatic demoting to the American Group IIwhich resulted in a defeat and the possibility of demotion to the American Group II.

The protest continued, and as a result, Brazil had to play the Repechage match again with a junior team, and was demoted to the American Group II for the season. As offollowing the fall of the BTC board in the aftermath of the protest, Kuerten and the other players have decided to return to the team, now captained by former player Fernando Meligeni.

Kuerten, however, had to delay his return beyond the end of the players' strike, since his hip injuries kept him off courts between September and May During his career, Kuerten used Head racquets with Luxilon polyester strings. Inafter his retirement, he signed a sponsor deal with French brands Lacoste for clothes and Peugeot for TV commercials.

Kuerten also has his own clothes and glasses brand, named "Guga Kuerten". He began playing tennis when he was six, an early start to a life and career marked by family tragedy. His father, Aldo, a former amateur tennis player, died of a heart attack in while umpiring a junior tennis match in Curitibawhen Kuerten was eight years old.

His youngest brother, Guilherme, suffered prolonged oxygen deprivation and consequently irreparable brain damage during birth, and as a result suffered from cerebral palsey until his death in He gave every trophy he won to his younger brother as a souvenir, including the three miniature replicas of the French Open men's singles trophy. As a young player, Kuerten first learned from Carlos Alves.

Alves would continue to coach Kuerten for the next 8 years. When he was 14 years old, Kuerten met Larri Passos who would be his coach for the following 15 years. Passos convinced Kuerten and his family that the youth was talented enough to make a living out of playing tennis. The two started traveling all over the world to participate in junior tournaments.

Kuerten turned professional in He still enjoys teaching and playing tennis with the local enthusiasts. In his hometown, he is known as the "Cachorro Grande" "Big Dog". He is an avid guga gustavo kuerten biography. He began his studies there on 16 February In Novemberon his brother Guilherme's birthday, he married Mariana Soncini and the couple have a daughter and a son.

Inand Kuerten received the Prix Orange Roland Garros Award for sportsmanship from the association of tennis journalists.

Guga gustavo kuerten biography

That same year he won the Mercosur Konex Award from Argentina as the best tennis player of South America in that decade. On 16 Februarythe central court of Rio Open was named after him, officially Guga Kuerten court. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects.

Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. Brazilian tennis player. Professional career [ edit ]. Retirement [ edit ]. Playing style [ edit ]. Davis Cup [ edit ]. This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately.

Equipment and sponsors [ edit ]. Personal life [ edit ]. Awards and honors [ edit ]. Career statistics [ edit ]. Main article: Gustavo Kuerten career statistics. Grand Slam performance timeline [ edit ]. Finals: 3 3 titles [ edit ]. Year-end championships performance timeline [ edit ]. Finals: 1 1 title [ edit ]. References [ guga gustavo kuerten biography ].

Retrieved January 24, The Bud Collins History of Tennis 3rd ed. New York: New Chapter Press. ISBN Baseline Tennis. June 10, The Sydney Morning Herald. International Tennis Hall of Fame. The Independent. BBC Sport. September 6, January 21, The Guardian. Irish Examiner. In addition to his tennis talent, Kuerten is also recognized for his warm personality, his philanthropic commitment and his ability to overcome obstacles, making him a beloved celebrity around the world.

His professional career took off in the s, when he won his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in Guga became the first Brazilian player to win a major tournament since the Open era and he knew how to captivate fans around the world with his flamboyant play and charisma on the court. At the peak of his career, Guga was considered one of the best tennis players in the world.

He has won a total of three Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros, inandand he also reached the world number one ranking in the ATP rankings in In addition to his remarkable sporting career, Gustavo Kuerten is also known for his commitment to charitable and social causes. He established the Gustavo Kuerten Foundation, which aims to help underprivileged Brazilian children through sports and education.

Guga has become a true icon in Brazil and in the world of tennis. His unique style of play, his contagious smile and his endearing personality have made him an international celebrity. Seeing the hardships faced by others in the world, he feels compelled to help them achieve their dreams, as they desire the same things he does. Kuerten is known for frequently changing his hairstyle.

When asked about it, he reveals that he grew tired of his long hair. He finds it much easier to manage shorter hair, although he sometimes forgets to visit the hairdresser, which he admits is one of his flaws. He also confesses that he dislikes shaving and is often perceived as sloppy by some, but he prioritizes being true to himself rather than focusing on appearances.

Kuerten has formed close friendships with several tennis players, including Fernando Meligeni, Marcelo Rios, and Nicolas Lapentti. When asked about his friendship with Rios, known for his strong personality, Kuerten acknowledges that they have differing approaches but emphasizes that each player strives to do what they believe is right. He mentions that there are other players who follow his example of organizing charity matches or making donations, but they prefer not to boast about it.

Kuerten believes that the key to success in tennis is having a positive mindset and always aiming for the best. He mentions that when he plays in important tournaments like Roland Garros or Monte Carlo, he recalls his previous victories in those places and sometimes hums Bob Marley's song, reminding himself to let go of unnecessary worries.

He emphasizes the importance of not fixating on one thing and always striving for personal growth. Kuerten recalls an incident where he threw his racket into the crowd during a match at Roland Garros. Although he acknowledges his mistake, he assures that he learned from it. He acknowledges that tennis players have to juggle various responsibilities, including sponsors, fans, and journalists, which might result in some actions not being well-received by everyone.

However, he acknowledges that it is impossible to please everyone. Kuerten believes that the tennis world still needs players who can generate interest in the game. He mentions that players like John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg created excitement on the court with their antics, but he believes that there are currently many bright personalities in tennis, such as Marcelo Rios, Andre Agassi, Marat Safin, and Carlos Moya.

Kuerten values his family's support immensely, particularly his brothers Rafael and Guillermo.