María-Isabel_Fernández
Isabel Fernández de Soto
Colombian tennis player
María-Isabel Fernández de Soto (born 18 September 1950) is a former professional tennis player from Colombia.
| Full name | María-Isabel Fernández de Soto |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Colombia |
| Born | (1950-09-18) 18 September 1950 (age 73) |
| Singles | |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| French Open | 3R (1976) |
| Wimbledon | 2R (1974) |
| US Open | 3R (1973) |
| Doubles | |
| Career titles | 2 WTA |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| French Open | QF (1971, 1972, 1973) |
| Wimbledon | SF (1973) |
| US Open | 2R (1972, 1976) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| French Open | SF (1973) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1972) |
| US Open | 2R (1972) |
Fernández, who is originally from Cali, took a tennis scholarship to the University of South Florida at the age of 19.[1] After a year of college, she joined the international tennis circuit and became the first Colombian woman to play professionally.[1] She made several WTA quarterfinals but was most successful on tour as a doubles player.
She represented Colombia in the 1972 Federation Cup and won five of her six singles matches.
Her two Grand Slam semifinals were both in doubles: the mixed doubles at the 1973 French Open with Jairo Velasco and women's doubles at the 1973 Wimbledon Championships with Fiorella Bonicelli.
Fernández won her first WTA title with Martina Navratilova at the 1974 Virginia Slims of Dallas.[2] The following year, she won another title at the 1975 U.S. Clay Court Championships with Fiorella Bonicelli as her partner.[3]
Since retiring, she has worked as a tennis coach, and she is now a tennis pro at the Sawmill club in New York.[4]
Doubles (2–1)
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | August 1973 | Indianapolis, U.S. |  Fiorella Bonicelli |
 Patti Hogan Sharon Walsh |
4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 2–0 | March 1974 | Dallas, U.S. |  Martina Navratilova |
 Karen Krantzcke Virginia Wade |
6–3, 3–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 2–1 | August 1975 | Indianapolis, U.S. | Fiorella Bonicelli |
 Gail Sherriff Chanfreau Julie Heldman |
3–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
- Slater, Chuck (13 January 2002). "For The Record; A Winning Drop Shot In the 50-and-Over Slot". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- Fretz, Tory (9 March 1975). "Top Competition Expected For Barnett Tennis Classic". Playground Daily News. p. 21. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- "Evert overcomes deficit". Lima News. 10 August 1975. p. 35. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- "Tennis Pros – Saw Mill Club". sawmillclub.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
