Swietny zawodnik a przede wszystkim kapitalna osobowosc. Do konca nie spelniony zawodnik, niestety kontuzje go wyniszczyly a biorac pod uwage sam talent i technike mogl by zrobic absolutnie wszystko. W tym roku na Roland Garros we Francji zagral pozegnalny mecz z franuzem P.H.Mathieu. Nigdy az tak bardzo brazylijczyk nie byl moim ulubionym gracze ale zawsze cenilem go i szanowalem za charakter i sposob gry na korcie. Wielki gracz.

#1) Roland Garros 1997

R128  Slava Dosedel (CZE)  6-0, 7-5, 6-1
R64     Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
R32     Thomas Muster (AUT)  6-7(3), 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
R16     Andrei Medvedev (UKR) 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, 1-6, 7-5
Q     Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS)     6-2, 5-7, 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
S     Filip Dewulf (BEL)  6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(4)
W     Sergi Bruguera (ESP)     6-3, 6-4, 6-2



Gustavo Kuerten przyjechał do Paryża w 1997 roku. Był wtedy sklasyfikowany na 66 miejscu w rankingu i nikt nie brał Go pod uwagę jako kandydata do dobrego wyniku w tym turnieju. Guga zaskoczył i w pięknym stylu wygrał całą imprezę, w wieku niespełna 21lat. Odniósł wtedy swój pierwszy (i to jaki!) sukces turniejowy w karierze.
Brazylijczyk ograł po drodze takie tuzy światowych kortów jak Thomas Muster, Andrei Medvedev, Yevgeny Kafelnikov czy w finale Sergi Brugerę.

Po tamtym turnieju Guga awansował na 12 pozycję w rankingu Entry.

1997 – Became first Brazilian to win Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros with victories over three former champions: Muster (3rd RD), Kafelnikov (QF) and Bruguera (F)…At time, became second-lowest ranked (66) Grand Slam champion and went to No. 15 afterwards…Reached final in Bologna (l. to Mantilla) and AMS Montreal (l. to Woodruff)…

#4) TMS Monte Carlo 1999
R64      Marcio Carlsson (BRA)  6-1, 6-3
R32     Bohdan Ulihrach (CZE)  6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4
R16     Fernando Meligeni (BRA) 6-2, 7-6(2)
Q     Vincent Spadea (USA)  6-3, 6-3
S     Felix Mantilla (ESP)  3-6, 6-3, 6-4
W     Marcelo Rios (CHI)  6-4, 2-1 RET

#5) TMS Rzym 1999
R64      Fernando Vicente (ESP)   6-4, 6-3
R32     Francisco Clavet (ESP)  6-3, 6-3
R16     Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS)     7-5, 6-1
Q     Karol Kucera (SVK)      3-6, 6-4, 7-5
S     Alex Corretja (ESP)      6-4, 6-2
W     Patrick Rafter (AUS)      6-4, 7-5, 7-6(6)

#10) Masters Cup 2000



RR      Andre Agassi (USA)       6-4, 4-6, 3-6
RR     Magnus Norman (SWE)  7-5, 6-3
RR     Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS)     6-3, 6-4
S     Pete Sampras (USA)      6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4
W     Andre Agassi (USA)     6-4, 6-4, 6-4

2000 – Became first South American to finish No. 1 in history of ATP Rankings (since 1973)…Secured top spot at season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Lisbon after coming in 75 points behind Race leader Safin…Twice the Russian was within one victory of finishing No. 1, and Guga four times had to win to keep his No. 1 hopes alive... Safin’s final round robin loss to Sampras and his SF defeat to Agassi gave Guga an opportunity to become world No. 1…Lost to Agassi in first RR match, but rallied for wins over Norman and Kafelnikov…Beat Sampras SF… The No. 1 year-end position came down to final match of season for first time in men’s tennis history which Guga won with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory over Agassi…Broke an eight-year reign of No. 1 finishes by Americans…He became first player to beat Sampras and Agassi back-to-back in SF and final of a tournament…Won five titles in seven finals, including his second Grand Slam crown at Roland Garros, becoming the first South American to win there twice…First South American to finish in Top 5 in consecutive years since Guillermo Vilas of Argentina in 1977-78…Won a career-best 63 matches...Reached three AMS finals, winning Hamburg (d. Safin) in a 3:52 match...Lifted his country to Davis Cup SF…Had a personal-best and ATP season-high 15-match winning streak...Won his first hard court title in Indianapolis…Reached QF at Sydney Olympics…Finished No. 3 in aces with a career-best 742 (9.8 per match)… Went 28-6 on clay and 28-12 on hard courts… Earned a career-high $4,701,610…

Ranking ATP Entry na koniec sezonu 2000:

#17) Costa do Sauipe 2002
R32      Julian Knowle (AUT)  6-4, 6-2
R16     Mashiska Washington (USA) 6-0, 7-5
Q     Gaston Etlis (ARG)  7-6(5), 6-1
S     Ramon Delgado (PAR)  6-4, 6-7(2), 6-3
W     Guillermo Coria (ARG)  6-7(4), 7-5, 7-6(2)

#18) Auckland 2003
R32      Martin Verkerk (NED)  7-6(5), 6-4
R16     Michael Russell (USA)  4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Q     Guillermo Coria (ARG) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
S     Mariano Zabaleta (ARG) 6-3, 6-3
W     Dominik Hrbaty (SVK)  6-3, 7-5

#19) St.Petersburg 2003
R32      Brian Vahaly (USA)      7-6(5), 6-4
R16     Victor Hanescu (ROU) 7-6(1), 7-6(1)
Q     Vincent Spadea (USA)  6-4, 7-6(4)
S     Alex Corretja (ESP)     6-4, 6-3
W     Sargis Sargsian (ARM) 6-4, 6-3

#20) Costa do Sauipe 2004
R32      Oscar Hernandez (ESP)  3-6, 6-2, 6-3
R16     Richard Gasquet (FRA)  7-6(3), 6-3
Q     Franco Squillari (ARG)  3-6, 7-5, 7-5
S     Jose Acasuso (ARG)      6-4, 6-3
W     Agustin Calleri (ARG)     3-6, 6-2, 6-3

Foty z pożegnania kariery Gugi:

Costa do Sauipe 2008:


Końcowe przemówienie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_nVqYGuGMQ


Roland Garros 2008:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kuerten był uwielbiany przez paryską publikę. "Romans" zaczął się w 1997 roku (po sensacyjnym sukcesie) i trwa nadal.
Guga notorycznie był nagradzany "Nagrodą Pomarańczy", przyznawaną najsympatyczniejszemu zawodnikowi turnieju.

Brazylijczyk zasłynął 2 spektakularnymi zachowaniami, po finale RG 2001:

Narysował na korcie wielkie serce, po czym położył się "w nim", zdobywając na stałe serca Francuzów.


Podczas Ceremonii wręczania Pucharu, zmienił koszulkę na specjalnie przygotowaną, z napisem: "I Love Roland Garros".

Galeria z finału RG 2001:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7408729.stm

PS : A slyszał pan o Agacie Mróz ? To wybitna polska siatkarka , która zmarła w dzień pańskiego przyjazdu do Starych jabłonek

Guga: Ile miała lat ?

PS: 26 , długo chorowała ...

Guga: Straszne , bardzo mi przykro ... Bardzo . Wiem jaki to ból , gdy traci się kogoś bliskiego , jak boli choroba kogoś kto jest dla Ciebie ważny . Bardzo proszę przekazać rodzinie i kibicom w waszym kraju moje szczere kondolencje . Niech pan to napisze , bo naprawdę niesamowicie współczuje !

Wiedział co mówi. Wcześniej w 2008 roku zmarł najmłodszy brat Gugi Kuertena, Guillermo. Od najmłodszych lat był opóźniony w rozwoju. Cierpiał na porażenie (?), dokładnie nie pamiętam, w każdym razie cierpiał strasznie. Guga właśnie Jemu dedykował swoje wszystkie zwycięstwa, założył też The Gustavo Kuerten Institue - fundację charytatywną pomagającą upośledzonej młodzieży. W 2001 roku Kuerten otrzymał nagrodę UNESCO, za zasługi w działalności charytatywnej na rzecz młodzieży.

O śmierci brata:

'Guga' Kuerten Mourning Death of Younger Brother

Guilherme, the younger brother of former ATP World No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten, died on Wednesday. The 28-year-old, who suffered from cerebral palsy, died at the University Hospital in Florianopolis accompanied by his brothers Gustavo and Rafael and his mother Alice.

Despite his health problems, Guilherme travelled the world with three-time former Roland Garros champion Gustavo.

"I take him everywhere I can," Gustavo said of his brother at the height of his tennis career. "Sometimes, I will take him someplace where you wouldn't expect a handicapped guy to go, like parties. But what's nice, really, is for me to just share moments with him."

The 31-year-old Kuerten was slowed by a continuing hip problem, which limited him to only nine ATP level matches (2-7) this season.

atptennis.com

Wystapienie Gugi na ku pamięci Guillermo:

Kuerten Makes Emotional Appearance at Institute Ceremony


"Former World No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten made an emotional appearance at the fifth annual Gustavo Kuerten Institute Awards ceremony in his hometown of Florianopolis earlier this week.

The ceremony praised the efforts of people, who work for social inclusion and spread solidarity in the Santa Catarina state of Brazil.

The evening was made more poignant as less than two weeks ago his 28-year-old brother, Guilherme, who suffered from cerebral palsy, died.

“This evening, every year, is very special,” said Kuerten. “It is a moment where we can award and also enjoy everything that our projects have learnt along the year, but this time it is even more special, because we can’t help missing my brother Guilherme, who truly enjoyed the event and being handicapped, also took part in several of the projects we work on.”

Kuerten, with his older brother Rafael, presented the special trophy of the evening to his mother Alice. The trophy was dedicated to late younger brother.

“This year’s name of the event is Happiness, and Gui was the perfect translation of pure happiness,” said Kuerten. “Even without speaking he was able to show happiness all the time.”

Kuerten was invited onto the stage by popular Brazilian singer Raimundo Fagner to sing Guga’s favorite song ‘Noturno’.

“It is an honor for me to have Fagner here and it is an even bigger honor to sing with him. I hope I haven’t embarrassed him,” said Guga afterwards.

Kuerten’s girlfriend Leticia and fellow tennis players Andre Sa and Marcelo Melo also attended the event.

The Gustavo Kuerten Institute has helped more than 25,000 people since it first opened seven years ago. The Institute works with projects for people with special needs and with sports projects for children who are socially challenged.

Next week Kuerten intends to be back to Larri Passos’ Academy, to start preparing for the 2008 season. “I want to play singles and not only play doubles, so next week I am gonna be on court getting ready for the next season.”

The 31-year-old, who has been slowed by a continuing hip problem, was limited to only nine ATP level matches (2-7) this season."

(atptour.com)

Kariera Kuertena w zdjęciach:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7408729.stm

Przez chwilę zastanawiałem się , czy Kuerten byłby w stanie ograć zdrowego Nadala na cegle.
Jednak patrząc chociażby na to, jak wiele 5-setówek rozegrał Kanarek w Paryżu z nienajlepszymi rywalami, dochodzę do wniosku, że Gudze ciężko byłoby chociażby o tie-break.

The Final Kuerten

He is known universally as 'Guga' and beloved by fans worldwide as much for his frizzy hair, infectious smile and engaging personality as for his three French Open titles. Fittingly, the first South American man to ever rank year-end No. 1 will bid farewell to the sport at Roland Garros.

The abiding memory is of a stick-thin figure bedecked top-to-toe in yellow and blue, who unleashed explosive ground strokes and a monotonous groan to wear down the best clay-court players the professional circuit had to offer.

Buoyed by a title-winning run at the Curitiba Challenger in his native Brazil, Kuerten arrived at Roland Garros in May 1997 – the third Grand Slam of his career – with just eight career clay court ATP-level wins to his name. Expectations were light. After all, he’d watched more matches as a fan on his television at home in Florianopolis, Santa Caterina, a Brazilian beach resort, than he had played on the ATP circuit.

The gangly 20-year-old began his second Roland Garros appearance in obscurity, ranked No. 66 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, but dispatched 1995 winner Thomas Muster and defending champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov on the way to the first ATP-level final of his career.

By then the tennis world had fallen in love with the richly gifted player, a colorful and exciting personality. But in the final, red-dirt warrior Sergi Bruguera was favored to add to his 1993 and 1994 triumphs. Kuerten just smiled, his casual demeanor belied his intensity, and during the title match he showed no sign of nerves in ruthlessly dealing with his Spanish opponent in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 triumph over one hour and 50 minutes. It was the 52nd ATP match of his career.

While the Brazilian fans broke into the samba as they celebrated their first Grand Slam triumph since Maria Bueno’s victories more than 40 years ago, the gifted newcomer calmly explained, "I played like I do in practice and I really enjoyed it."

Nobody would ever again discount Kuerten. Each time the frizzy-haired Brazilian returned to Paris he resumed his love affair with Stade Roland Garros and recalled the fortnight he produced a rich variety of audacious winners to become the lowest-ranked Grand Slam champion since Mark Edmondson (212) at the 1976 Australian Open.

"I remember playing and losing to him in 1997 and people came up to me afterwards saying how could I lose to the guy," former clay king Thomas Muster tells DEUCE. "That year he won the first of his three French titles and that speaks volumes of the caliber of the player.

"He had a big serve, great forehand, good backhand down the line and was able to cover the court because of good footwork. He really had a good all-round game, which was boosted by a large amount of confidence built up over the years. He was a tremendously fit guy, a great player and always had an ability to win the big points."

Under the guidance of long-time coach Larri Passos, Kuerten regained his crown as the unrivalled master of European clay-courts with victory over Swede Magnus Norman in the 2000 Roland Garros final, when his demoralizing power and divine touch helped him secure his second title on his 11th match point.

Twelve months later he drew a heart on the clay of Philippe Chatrier Court when he became only the fourth player since the Second World War to win the most mentally demanding of all the Grand Slams more than twice.

Spaniard Alex Corretja, whom Kuerten beat that day, tells DEUCE: "It was a very difficult day, as it was windy. My plan was to target Guga's forehand and play deep," recalled the former World No. 2. "I was particularly wary of not hitting three or four crosscourt strokes to the same side, as he had a knack of ripping winners down the line. After he won the second set for one set apiece, all my energy went out of me.

"We both had a single-handed backhand and although I had two wins over him in 1998, his serve and ground strokes always had more bite than mine. He was also taller than me so his reach during long rallies was greater.

"Throughout his career, Kuerten was supportive and easy-going. Certainly no one knew him before his 1997 triumph, but immediately afterwards the feeling in the locker room was that you no longer had to be ranked the Top 10 to win a Grand Slam. His win gave players a tremendous amount of inspiration in future years."

Again, as in 1997 and 2000, he dedicated each of his triumphs to his father, Aldo, who died while umpiring a junior match when Kuerten was eight years old in 1985. In November 2007 his achievements would once again be tempered by the loss of his greatest supporter: his brother Guilherme, who suffered from cerebral palsy.

"I always thought that the bigger the challenge, the more you learn," Kuerten said at ATP Masters Series Monte-Carlo last month. "I was able to overcome every challenge that I faced in tennis. I had to learn over the years to deal with [my injury] and also to appreciate it more and the things that happen to me.

"I think life is always a lesson. You're always learning something new. For me I think I really learnt a lot over the last few years and I am also very grateful that I could maintain myself in the kind of condition that I could play some tournaments, maintain my happiness – although never the way I would have liked – and try to remain positive."

Of course Guga, as he is universally known, will forever be associated with his Roland Garros successes but another defining moment came in November 2000 on a fast indoor court at the Tennis Masters Cup in Lisbon, Portugal.

After almost pulling out of the circuit finale because of severe thigh spasms and back pain, he went on to beat Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi in succession to win the elite eight-player championships and become the first South American to finish the season ranked No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings.

Kuerten spent a total of 43 weeks at the summit of the ATP circuit and captured five ATP Masters Series shields (1999, 2001-Monte-Carlo; 1999-Rome; 2000-Hamburg; 2001-Cincinnati) before his peak performance days were curtailed when a right hip injury first required surgery in February 2002.

In 2000 he launched the Guga Kuerten Institute that helps the handicapped and provides support for projects that promote the integral development of children and adolescents through sporting activities. The Institute has assisted more than 25,000 people in Santa Catarina and has raised more than $2 million. For more information, click here.

Today Kuerten is revered by a sports mad nation in the same light as the late Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna and legendary soccer player Pele.

"Guga is a very popular sports personality in Brazil and his victories at Roland Garros, with all the media available now, have made him into a real idol," Brazil's first tennis idol Bueno, the three-time Wimbledon champion, told DEUCE.

His countrymen and women empathize with the boy who came from a simple family and overcame numerous obstacles with just the same attitude as he had when he was a wide-eyed child dreaming of success in sport and life.

"He has plenty of other interests outside tennis, including his clothing line, coaching institutions and, of course, his love of surfing," added Bueno. "The people of Brazil will, of course, miss him on the tennis courts but for sure will continue to keep him in their hearts."

ATP STARS PAY TRIBUTE TO GUGA

ROGER FEDERER: "I'm a big fan of Guga; he's one of the great characters who you don't want to see retire, like Pat Rafter. It has been sad to see him struggling with injuries, but we enjoyed some great matches and I'm sure our paths will cross again in the future."

RAFAEL NADAL: "He will always be remembered as an amazing tennis player, No. 1 in the world and the winner of three Roland Garros titles. It was a pleasure to watch him on television when I was growing up, to eventually practise with him and be in the same locker room."

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: "He's always smiling, always positive and is a fantastic guy. He's left the best possible impression on me. The two times I practised [with him] I have always done well at tournaments. I guess he’s my lucky charm. It was always a pleasure to watch him on clay and everyone will miss him."

IVAN LJUBICIC: "The locker room always buzzes when he is around. His love for the sport is unique."

DAVID NALBANDIAN: "He is such a great player and person too. So it will be sad when he does play his final match. He was one of the best on clay."

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE- … erten.aspx

Stary wywiad z Gugą, z 2007 roku.

Argentinean Reporter: Costa de Sauípe is finished. How many hours (without stop) do you spend surfing?

Gustavo Kuerten: 6 when I was young. But now I'm too old! (laughing)

AR: Which are the best beaches to surf in Brazil?

GR: Mar Del Plata (everybody laugh becouse it's an Argentinean beach)... the water is very warm!

AR: When you travel to play tennis, do you carry the board (is this? what they use to surf) in competitions where you know it's possible surf?

GK: No. Because I'm very professional. The true is that for me, tennis is above all.

AR: Did you invite some tennis players to surf with you?

GK: Nicolas Lapentti has talent.

AR: Is he who move better inside the water?

GK: From sand to water, he spend 1 hour (laughing). He is very slow!!!

AR: Which is the secret to don't take fungus? Dry the slippers very well?

GK: Yes... hygiene.

AR: If in the club doesn't have slippers to take shower with, what do you do?

GK: I have the Gustavo Kuertens'slippers.

AR: And this T-shirt is yours too? (Guga Kuerten clothes mark)

GK: Yes.

AR: And the shorts?

GK: Too.

AR: How many inhabitants has Florianopolis (Gustavo's city)?

GK: 300.000. But in the Summer, 700.000 Argentineans!!! (laughing)

AR: I knew it!...

AR: You won your first Roland Garros... they gave to you the microphone... speech... nervous...

GK: I didn't know what I wanted say because I never waited win!...

AR: After that, did you regret about give thanks for someone else ou say something else?

GK: Yes. I forgot something. Because it, I needed win again!!! (laughing)

AR: Choose to change one of yours tennis's trophies for one Surf's Champion World... I guess won't be the 3 RGs... maybe a Championship Series... or another...

GK: I don't like change... (laughing)

AR: With so many trophies... No one?

GK: No one!

(Ferrero left and GK ask if the Gatorade's bottles belong to him. He answered that yes, but GK can take it. GK always in a good mood, says that now he can have more...)

AR: In your free time, you choose: internet, playstation or movie's channel?

GK: Guitar. I play it a little.

AR: Do you know that Sarreta gave us a mini concert?

GK: Then the audience falled a lot!!! (laughing)

AR: No! I swear! He doesn't play badly!

AR: We present you with the best glasses from Argentina: Infinit.

GK, wearing the glasses: I'll go to the beach!...