THE SCOOP: SATURDAY, AUGUST 4

Fernandez in a family way

By Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net

Fred Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

Steffi Graf is not the only former player expecting a baby at the end of the year.

Mary Joe Fernandez, playing mixed doubles with former coach Harold Solomon at the Tennis Masters Series-Senior Championship in Cincinnati this week, is also in the family way. Fernandez, who is five months pregnant, is married to IMG agent Tony Godsick. The New York City based couple were married on April 8, 2000 in Fernandez’s hometown of Miami.

WTA Tour Associate Director of Communications Brooke Lawer confirmed to tennisreporters.net that the 29-year-old Fernandez is indeed pregnant, had a difficult first trimester as many women do, but was feeling much better and able to play in Cincinnati this week.

Ranked as high as No. 4 in the world during her career, Fernandez won seven career singles titles and was a three-time Grand Slam finalist, playing the runner-up role at the 1990 and ’92 Australian Open and the 1993 French Open. She won 19 doubles trophies, including two Grand Slam trophies and two Olympic gold medals. She partnered with Lindsay Davenport to win the 1996 French Open and Patty Fendick to win the 1991 Australian Open, and teamed with Gigi Fernandez to win the 1992 and1996 Olympic gold medals.

These days, Fernandez often replaces her tennis racket with a microphone, providing color commentary at tennis tournaments for ESPN.