Fernando gonzalez vs roger federer biography

Chilean tennis player

This article is about the Chilean tennis player. For other people, see Fernando González (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is González and the second or maternal family name is Ciuffardi.

Fernando Francisco González Ciuffardi (Latin American Spanish:[feɾˈnandoɣonˈsales]; born 29 July 1980) is a Chilean former professional tennis player. During his career, he reached at least the quarterfinals of all four major tournaments. He contested his only major final at the 2007 Australian Open, losing to top-seeded Roger Federer. González is the fourth man in history to have won an Olympic tennis medal in every color, with gold in doubles and bronze in singles at Athens 2004, and silver in singles at Beijing 2008. The gold medal that González won partnering Nicolás Massú at the 2004 Olympics in men's doubles was Chile's first-ever Olympic gold medal. During his career, González defeated many top players, including Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, 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 strongest forehands on the tour. In Spanish he is nicknamed El Bombardero de La Reina ("The Bomber from La Reina") and Mano de Piedra ("Hand of Stone").

Tennis career

Early years

See also: 1997 US Open – Boys' Doubles, 1998 French Open – Boys' Singles, and 1998 French Open – Boys' Doubles

At the age of four, González split his time playing both football and tennis. His father, an amateur tennis player, was able to persuade his son to choose tennis over football. González began playing tennis at the age of six and moved with his family to La Reina, in eastern Sa

Roger Federer and Fernando Gonzalez met nine times between 2004 and 2006. The Swiss prevailed in every of those, overpowering the Chilean twice at Majors and six times at the Masters 1000 events. One of the encounters came on October 22, 2006, when Federer scored a 7-5, 6-1, 6-0 triumph in an hour and 48 minutes in the Madrid Masters final. Roger claimed his tenth title of the season and 19th straight victory after conquering the US Open and Tokyo. It was Roger's 12th Masters 1000 crown, leaving Pete Sampras on 11 and increasing his lead over Rafael Nadal and the rest of the Tour. Federer scored four straight-sets wins over Nicolas Massu, Robin Soderling (two tie breaks), Robby Ginepri and David Nalbandian to reach the title match in the Spanish capital. He dominated against Gonzalez in sets two and three to wrap up the triumph and celebrate his 43rd ATP crown at 25.

The Swiss fired 31 service winners and fended off both break points he faced to keep the pressure on Fernando. The Chilean stayed in touch with a great rival only in the opening set, struggling on the first and second serve and facing 13 break chances to give Roger plenty of opportunities on the return. The Swiss grabbed a break in the opener's 12th game and never looked back. He stole 12 of the next 13 games for an impressive victory and another title in his third consecutive brilliant season. Federer found a way to tame Gonzalez's serve and forehand. He dominated the shortest, mid-range and most extended rallies to earn the victory fair and square. There were no opportunities for a break in the encounter's opening 11 games. Fernando wasted three game chances at 5-6 and lost serve after Roger's smash winner, as the Swiss claimed the opener in 48 minutes.

In 2006, Roger Federer claimed his tenth title of the season in Madrid.

Roger received a medical timeout on his right leg, although that did not affect his game. He hit th

It is possible that one of the biggest legends in the history of the sport was a bad tennis player during his teenage years, as Fernando Gonzalez assured: “Roger Federer was a bad tennis player”.

The Chilean, a contemporary of the Swiss and one of the players who lost the most times against him on tour (12-1 record in favor of Federer), spoke about one of the first episodes of his relationship with the winner of 20 Grand Slam titles.

“I’ve known Roger since I was 12, 13 years old, and at that age he was bad. I remember in an U-14 tournament, when I was the best in the world in that category, Federer was definetly not one of the good ones. Besides, he was a year younger, which at that age is very noticeable. He approached me and asked me questions. I got on very well with him and we went everywhere together”, said the 2007 Australian Open finalist on TNT Sports’ show Sabor a Gol.

Wearing a cooking apron and combining conversation with culinary production in a cooking show format, Gonzalez relived iconic moments of his career.

His day of fury? Semifinals of Roland Garros 2009 at the Phillipe Chatrier against Robin Soderling: “I was losing, I cameback, I was winning in the fifth… and I erased a ball mark with my ass on one of the most important courts in the world. At that moment you don’t take it seriously. Later they showed on TV that I was right (that the ball was out). Referees make mistakes, you make mistakes. I felt helpless because of the importance of the match”.

The most difficult court to play on? Guillermo Vilas Centre Court of the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club. Davis Cup between Argentina and Chile, with the Chilean Marcelo Ríos as the world No 1 and the whole stadium sold out. On Sunday, the day of definition for the series with the partial account 2-1 for the locals, Ríos had to withdrew due

Former world No. 5 Fernando Gonzalez claimed that Roger Federer was a "bad tennis player" in his younger years.

The former Chilean tennis player competed against the 20-time Grand Slam champion throughout his career and got to know him from their junior days when, according to Gonzalez, Federer had not yet reached his peak.

Gonzalez, born in 1980, was a year ahead of Federer in their junior careers. In an interview with TNT Sports, Gonzalez recalled the time when he first met Federer and stated, "Roger Federer was a bad tennis player."

“I’ve known Roger since I was 12, 13 years old, and at that age he was bad. I remember in an U-14 tournament, when I was the best in the world in that category, Federer was definitely not one of the good ones,” 3-times Olympic medalist said.

“Besides, he was a year younger, which at that age is very noticeable. He approached me and asked me questions. I got on very well with him and we went everywhere together”, he added.

Gonzalez and Federer faced each other 13 times during their careers, with Federer winning 12 of those matches and Gonzalez winning only one, which took place during the round-robin stage of the 2007 Masters Cup at China.

Both contemporaries also competed in a Grand Slam final at the 2007 Australian Open, where Federer emerged victorious, securing his 10th Grand Slam title.