Gigi Fernandez is adding to her extensive tennis resume. The Puerto Rican native has won Grand Slams, coached on the WTA tour, worked with recreational players and now, she has been named the head coach of the New York Empire.
One of the newest World TeamTennis franchises, the Empire is heading into their second year. Fernandez is replacing former head coach Patrick McEnroe, and her team (so far) includes marquee players Eugenie Bouchard, John Isner and Mardy Fish. The Mylan World TeamTennis Roster draft will take place March 14.
Home matches will be played on Court 17 of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (the site of the US Open).
Fernandez, the only female coach currently in World TeamTennis, will be bringing in plenty of experience. She's a former No. 1 in doubles, having won 17 doubles Grand Slams (and an Olympic gold medal). She also reached No. 17 in singles and won two WTA singles titles.
Since retiring in 1997, Fernandez has worked with Rennae Stubbs, Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur. She later transitioned to coaching recreational players at Chelsea Piers Connecticut in Stamford, CT. She has also been working on perfecting the Gigi Method to help players learn how to play doubles the right way.