Biography Jennifer Marie Capriati (USA)

Residence: Wesley Chapel, Florida, USA
Birthdate: 29th March 1976
Birthplace: New York, USA
Height: 5ft 8½ins - 1.74 m.
Weight: 134lbs - 61 k.
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Status: 5th March 1990

Career highlights:

1988

Jennifer played her first match against a professional player in a 1988 exhibition at the Harverford College in Philadelphia USA.

1989

A request to become professional in February, after her 13th birthday in March 1989, was turned down by The Women’s International Tennis Counsel.

Won the 1989 junior final at Roland Garros at the age of 13, becoming the youngest winner, a record that was broken by Martina Hingis in 1993.

Became the youngest ever winner of the junior ‘89 US Open, her second junior Grand Slam singles title.

WIPTC (Women's International Professional Tennis Council) announced a change of the age rule. Jennifer could now make her professional debut before her 14th birthday and play two tournaments in Florida in 1990. The rules were seen as especially made for Jennifer before her birthday to let her play on familiar grounds in Florida.

Finished 1989 as The Worlds nr.1 junior player.

Signed a $3m endorsement deal with Diadora, three months before turning professional in December 1989, three months before turning pro

1990

Jennifer made her WTA Tour debut in March 1990 at Boca Raton and was beaten in the final by Gabriela Sabatini.

Won her first WTA title beating Zina Garrison and Gigi Fernandez at the 1990 Puerto Rico tournament. .

Finished the year ranked 8th, with five 1990 wins over Top 10 players.

In her Fed Cup debut in July 1990 she won all five of her singles matches as the USA won their 100th Fed Cup tie against Czechoslovakia in the quarterfinals, and their 14th Fed Cup title by defeating Russia in the final.

1991

Jennifer defeated Martina Navratilova at the 1991 Wimbledon Championships, Martina’s earliest exit in fourteen years and the first time that she did not reach the final since 1981. Jennifer, who was defeated by Gabriela Sabatini in the semi-finals (4-6 4-6), became the youngest player to reach the semi-finals in London at the age of 15.

After beating #1 ranked Monica Seles Jennifer won her second WTA title in the 1991 San Diego tournament.

In the same month of August 1991 Jennifer won her third WTA title in Toronto.

She lost to Monica Seles (3-6 6-3 7-6) in the 1991 US Open semi-final in which is described by many as the best WTA match ever, just two points away from moving into her first Grand Slam final when serving at 6-5 in the final set.

1992

There were rumours that Jennifer was considering to retire and return to High School in January 1992 just to live a ‘normal’ teenage life.

Jennifer won the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Gold Medal in July. Jennifer needed three sets on the clay of Vall d’ Hebron to beat Steffi Graf in the final.

In August Jennifer defended her San Diego title against Conchita Martinez, she won her fifth WTA title after beating Conchita in the final and Anke Huber in the semi finals.

She ended the year 1992 ranked at #7.

1993

In January 1993 Jennifer won her 6th WTA title in Sydney Australia beating Anke Huber.

Jennifer had a lot of withdrawals due to illness and injury in January, February, August and November 1993.

In December 1993 Jennifer got arrested for shoplifting in a jewellery store for which she was not prosecuted.

1994

In January 1994 she dropped out of the top ten ranking for the first time since 1991,

Arrested on drugs charges in March 1994 but she was not charged. She entered a Miami drug rehab centre voluntary.

In September at the US Open of 1994 ‘The Capriati Rule’ was announced, no 14 year old could enter the WTA Tour. Both Martina Hingis and Venus Williams entered the tour before the rule came into effect on January 1995.

In November 1994 Jennifer returned to the Philadelphia tournament without success, she withdrew from the doubles with a sore shoulder and would not play the next 15 months.

1995

Jennifer did not play in ’95.

1996

Her 150th WTA singles victory against Barbara Schett in the 1996 tournament of Essen.
Re-entering the WTA ranking at #103 in April 1996.

After bad results in the FED cup matches, replacing Lindsay Davenport, and a first round loss at Roland Garros Jennifer withdrew from Wimbledon, not yet ready to compete at Grand Slam level.

In October 1996 Jennifer defeated Gabriela Sabatini in straight set at the Zurich tournament. It would be the last professional career match of Sabatini.

Ranked #50 in November 1996 she reached her first WTA final in three years at the Chicago tournament.

Ending 1996 as # 24 on the WTA ranking and winning Comeback Player of the Year Award.

1997

After reaching the final of Sydney in January 1997, which she lost to Martina Hingis in three sets, she lost many first round matches this season. For the first time in her career she was not ranked at the top #25 and dropped to #66 at the end of ’97.

1998

After returning in March 1998 she ranked #147th due to an elbow injury. Losing first round matches in March set her back at an all time low ranking at #267.

She got a wild card for Wimbledon 1998 ranked # 151st and won her first Grand Slam match since 1993.

Jennifer ended 1998 ranked at #101.

1999

In May 1999 Jennifer’s ranking jumped from #113 to #53. Due to her results at Roland Garros where she reached the fourth round Jennifer gained another 12 spots to be ranked at #41. Jennifer won the ‘Hoover Mover’ Award for climbing in the ranking that far in one month.

After her fourth round loss at the US Open Jennifer read out her emotional statement for the press where she asked not to drag up her past all the time.

She had finished 1999 at #23, the highest since her comeback in ’96.

2000

Jennifer beats Rubin, Pierce and Hingis to win Millennium Cup exhibition in Hong Kong 2000.

Reaching a $ 2 million career mark after playing Sydney 2000, eight years after she reached her $ 1 million career mark.

She lost to Lindsay Davenport at the Australian Open 2000 quarterfinals.

Ranking improves to #12 and splits with her coach Harold Solomon in April 2000.

The ninth WTA singles title was won in September 2000 in Luxemburg.

Playing for the FED Cup team for the first time since 1996. She won two matches to gain the Cup after beating Spain 5 - 0 in November 2000.

Jennifer finished the year 2000 ranked at #14.

2001

Winning her first Grand Slam and tenth title at the 2001 Australian Open after beating Seles, Davenport and Martina Hingis in the final.

Named the US Olympic Committee's athlete of the month and first-ever Sanex WTA Tour/Nasdaq player of the month in January 2001.

Climbed to #7 in the ranking January 2001, she had reached that rank before in May ’93.

Jennifer reached the 2001 French Open finals at Roland Garros. She beats Kim Clijsters in three sets for her second Grand Slam title.

Reached the #2 ranking in August entering the 2001 US Open seeded nr. 2.

After reaching the quarterfinals in Filderstadt Jennifer was #1 in the WTA ranking on October 15th 2001.

Because of her outstanding year and her two Grand Slams, Jennifer was named the ITF World Champion of the Year 2001.

She finished the year 2001 ranked at #2 after holding the #1 spot for three weeks.

2002

Regained #1 at January 14th.

Winning her third Grand Slam and 13th single title at the 2002 Australian Open in the final against Martina Hingis, saving four match points.