Capriati, Jennifer

▪ 2002

      In 2001 American tennis player Jennifer Capriati served up one of the greatest comeback stories in sports as she won her first Grand Slam singles titles, the Australian Open and the French Open. Though such success had once been predicted for the former child prodigy, personal problems, including burnout and alleged drug use, had seemingly ended her career.

      Jennifer Maria Capriati was born on March 29, 1976, in New York City and lived in Spain until the age of four, when her family moved to Florida so that she could pursue a tennis career. Capriati quickly attracted attention with her innate talent and bubbly personality. By the time she turned professional in 1990, she had earned more than $6 million in endorsements. During her first year on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour, Capriati set a number of records, including becoming the youngest player to reach the semifinals at a Grand Slam event (the French Open) and to win a match at Wimbledon. In late 1990 she won her first professional title, the Puerto Rico Open, and she finished the year ranked in the WTA top 10—the youngest player ever to do so. With powerful strokes and incredible consistency, Capriati continued to impress in 1991, reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. In 1992 she defeated Steffi Graf to capture the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

      The pressures of professional play and her parents' divorce, however, began to take their toll on Capriati. After an unexpected first-round loss at the U.S. Open in 1993, she took a break from the tour. Her troubles continued, however, as she was arrested for shoplifting and later for possession of marijuana; she was not convicted in either case. Though she returned to the tour in 1994, she lacked commitment and fitness and faced intense media scrutiny. Playing well only sporadically, Capriati managed to win just one match at a Grand Slam tournament between 1994 and 1998.

      In 1999 Capriati regained her focus. Dedicating herself to getting into shape, she lost some 14 kg (30 lbs) and that year claimed her first title since 1993. She finished 1999 ranked number 23 in the world, and the following year, with her father as her coach, Capriati climbed in the rankings to number 14. At the 2001 Australian Open, in her first Grand Slam final, she upset top-seeded Martina Hingis 6–4, 6–3. With the victory, Capriati entered the top 10 for the first time in seven years. Her astonishing comeback continued at the French Open. Two points from defeat, she rallied to overcome Kim Clijsters in a three-set thriller (1–6, 6–4, 12–10) to take the title. Her bid for a Grand Slam (winning all four major events in one year), however, ended with a semifinal loss at Wimbledon.

Amy Tikkanen

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