Fernandez serves as an analyst on women's tennis events for ESPN and ESPN2. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Miami, Fernandez has enjoyed a successful career on the WTA Tour since 1985.

On the court, Fernandez has seven career victories and has been ranked as high as #4 in the world (three times). In addition, she was a member of the winning United States' 1996 Fed Cup squad. In 1985, she became the youngest player to ever win a U.S. Open match when she defeated Sara Gomer. She has appeared in a Grand Slam final three times - Australian Open (1990 & 1992) and French Open (1993). She also experienced success in doubles, winning two Grand Slam events (1996 French Open and the 1991 Australian Open) with two different partners (Lindsay Davenport and Patty Fendick). In addition, she and Gigi Fernandez (no relation) won the Gold Medal in Doubles at the 1992 Olympic Games.

For a list of upcoming ESPN.com chat guests, visit the Community section.

CHAT

Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:04pm ET
I think it's real. It's disappointing everyone was looking forward to the sistes playing again. She's had knee problems in the past. Apparently she reinjured her knee in Nice a few weeks ago.

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Tom from [24.168.201.120], at 2:05pm ET
Despite Hingis' success, may people question her ranking because of her not winning a grand slam last year. Don't you think it's a little unfair considering she wins more then anyone else and still can beat the so called "power players" on any given day.

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:06pm ET
I think it is a little bit unfair. She won nine events last year and was in 7 or so finals. But people view the Grand Slams as important, so they criticize her for not winning. However, she did beat the top players last year, it just wasn't at the Grand Slams.

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banderson from [209.118.245.132], at 2:07pm ET
Mary Jo...marriage agrees with you. You look great now that you've put some weight on....
whats with the Williams sisters...is DAD really manipulating who wins and who doesn't. It's just TOO convenient when all these little things happen.

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:08pm ET
Thank you. I don't know what goes on in Richard Williams head. I think Serena Williams made a good point last night that if her dad was deciding the matches would be closer. Even if he'd wanted Serena to win they would have played because Venus gets no bonus points for not playing last night.

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Kristin from [217.80.140.72], at 2:08pm ET
What are your plans for the future? Do you enjoy life without tennis, or do you miss it much?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:09pm ET
I'm enjoying my life very much now. I got married and we're coming up on my one year anniversary. I think commentating with ESPN keeps me involved with tennis. I've been involved with tennis since I was 3 years old and the work at ESPN keeps me involved with it. I love my work here and enjoy it a lot.

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dcb from [151.197.240.157], at 2:10pm ET
Who is your pick to win the womens final and why?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:11pm ET
I think Kim Clijsters played the best I've seen her play. She has the weapons and the attitude. Serena played well she served a lot of aces and kept her mistakes down. If Serena plays her best, I think it's better than the young Clijsters, who still has room to improve.

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Tristan from [209.85.99.175], at 2:11pm ET
Other than being a commentator what else have you been working on? Any tennis exhibitions involved in?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:12pm ET
I've played some charity events and a few exhibitions. That's about it.

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ericg286 from [205.177.24.78], at 2:12pm ET
Do you think that Clijsters tendency to hit the corners with her shots, plays into Serena's game plan, because she can hit amazing shots on the run?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:13pm ET
I think Serena likes the power and the pace -- we saw that against Davenport. Again if Serena's on her game she'll enjoy the pace that Clijsters provides her.

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Emmie from [207.69.121.245], at 2:14pm ET
Did you notice there is now another "Mary Joe" on the tour -- Maria Jose Martinez from Spain? Have you seen her play? I saw her once and was quite impressed; she plays a bit like Arantxa. Any other "up-and-comers" we should take not of?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:14pm ET
I have noticed that she's on the tour. I haven't seen her play. My name is also Maria Jose.

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Dave in NYC from [205.197.183.69], at 2:15pm ET
Hey Mary Joe,

Do you think Monica will ever get in shape and make a run for it?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:16pm ET
I think she's making a pretty good run for it. She's No. 4 in the world right now and giving the players a challenge, and I think that's what she needs to work. If she got fitter and worked on her mobility she would challenge those top players that much more.

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Sudipta Mallik from [216.163.246.5], at 2:16pm ET
Hi Mary. I'd like to know how you feel regarding the disparity in prize money between men and women players. I see both sides of the argument. Logically, women deserve to get the same amount. But then again, there is a lot more depth and competition in the atp tour. I think any top ncaa D1 level player can beat almost top women pro. Do you agree? Thank you.

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:19pm ET
That's a good question. I think that at the Grand Slams when men and women are playing the same events it should be equal prize money. I think the women have come a long way with more personality on the women's side. As long as we keep improving and not comparing ourselves to the men that's all that we can do.

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Kristin from [217.80.140.72], at 2:19pm ET
Can imagine to come back on the tour just for doubles like Navratilova?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:20pm ET
No. For me once you haven't played for a while it's hard to come back. Martina is an exception. She's so fit. I think that would be tough to do.

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Mark Thompson from [63.27.58.27], at 2:20pm ET
Any hope for a "seniors" tour for the women?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:21pm ET
We've had one for a little while that Virginia Slims sponsored, but there's nothing planned for one right now.

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Sav from [141.213.205.88], at 2:21pm ET
I once wrote a paper about you and got an A!!!!!!

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:21pm ET
All right! Congrats.

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Jason C. from [24.4.252.17], at 2:22pm ET
Every year Pam Shriver throws a charity Tennis Event in Baltimore MD. There are usually some really good tennis stars the play...Is there any chance you would play if offered the spot

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:22pm ET
Yes. I have played in the past. I played against Pam once and against Monica Seles one year. I think Pam tries to get new names every year for the crowd, but it's something I would do.

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Marilyn from [192.43.235.18], at 2:23pm ET
Are you going to coach in the future?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:23pm ET
As of now. I'm enjoying my commentating. We'll see one day down the road.

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Mark from [24.69.48.14], at 2:24pm ET
why isn't mixed doubles played at these combined tour events?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:24pm ET
Well, that's a good question. They just do it at the Grand Slams. It's a lot of tennis for the men and women and I don't think they get a lot of people playing.

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Valeria from [213.213.32.18], at 2:25pm ET
Do u think Lindsay has chance to win French Open this year?she is my fave player and I'd love her win this!
Greetings from Italy!

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:27pm ET
I think I she definitely has a chance. She prefers playing on hard courts than clay. More anything it's a psychological battle that she has to overcome. But there's no reason with her serve and big groundstrokes that she shouldn't have a chance there.

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a fan in Denver from [209.181.68.236], at 2:27pm ET
Why isn't Jennifer Capriati playing in Indian Wells?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:28pm ET
She just decided to take this week off to get ready for the Ericsson. She played in Oklahoma and Scottsdale after the Australian Open.

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pascal from [195.46.253.53], at 2:28pm ET
which of the young players do you think will get to the top of the ranking?
thank you a lot

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:30pm ET
I think Clijsters for you. We've seen tremendous improvement this week in Indian Wells. I also like the Belgium Justin Henin. Others I see coming up are Dementiveva, Bovina and there's a good young girl from the Czech Rep called Vedanova.

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Sal from [216.240.240.6], at 2:32pm ET
Do you feel there should be an age limit for when players turn pro? They start so young, make all this money and they are done at in their early 20's, is that fair to them and the spectator to put a child on the spotlight at such an early age?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:33pm ET
I don't think you can limit it. If you're young and talented -- look at Martina Hingis she was No. 1 and 16 -- you can't limit them. It has to be an individual decision. But careers aren't as long as they were in the days of Billy Jean King. The season is longer the girls play 22 tournaments and it's tough. You have to be strong.

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Andrew from [24.28.121.206], at 2:33pm ET
Of the three remaining Slams which one do you give Hingis the decisive edge? thank you

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:35pm ET
That's a good question. I think Hingis would have a good chance at Wimbledon. She's an all-court player and serves and volleys very well. The French is the one she hasn't won. Her game suits it, but she has to be fit, which is something she's been working on to give her a better chance.

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Marat from [128.146.21.121], at 2:36pm ET
There has always been a lot of hype around Anna Kournikova concerning her looks, but do you ever think she will win a major?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:38pm ET
I don't know about a major, but definitely a tournament. She's in the top 10. She's been good for tennis drawing attention to it. She still has a lot of things that needs to improve like her serve and to play her points a little smarter, so hopefully she'll win that first tournament soon.

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Kristin from [217.80.140.72], at 2:39pm ET
Do you plan to have children?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:39pm ET
Sure. God willing, one day yes.

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tennisguy from [166.82.51.37], at 2:40pm ET
DO you think that Capriati has the tools to become number one?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:40pm ET
Definitely. She's got the power. She's got the athleticism and now it looks like she's got the belief.

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Jim Stanley from [24.4.254.163], at 2:41pm ET
Mary Joe, How come we couln't see any other matches last night after we knew the William's sisters were not going to play. I didn't like watching a match that I had already seen, and then seeing Pete Sampras playing on center court in the back ground.

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:42pm ET
We couldn't go to another match because we were scheduled to be on live and there wasn't another match to show. So we went with the show that was taped earlier.

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Chris from [205.162.32.55], at 2:43pm ET
First - I think you are being too kind on the Williams sisters and that stunt from last night, but I can understand not wanting to fan the flame or cause any more controversy. Assuming they continue this sort of tactic into the future, will this harm their "legacy"?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:44pm ET
For now, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt. If this happens five or six more times, I'll reconsider.

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Linda (Atlanta) from [38.203.64.1], at 2:45pm ET
What is going on with Chaden Rubin? Is she still playing?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:45pm ET
She's still playing. She just had knee surgery so she's off for a little while.

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a fan in Denver from [209.181.68.236], at 2:46pm ET
Will ESPN shoe the Women/s Final? When?

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:47pm ET
It will be on at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday on ESPN.

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Nick F. from [162.119.240.100], at 2:47pm ET
MJ-What do you think the chances of Serena or Venus overtaking the #1 position? It seems kind of unfair that Venus won both Wimbledon and the US Open last year, but is still stuck at #3. P.S. I have always been a big fan!

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:48pm ET
Thank you. I think that Venus is close to overtaking No. 2. Venus didn't play until May last year. If this knee clears up she'll be moving up. One played 11 and the other 10 tournaments last year, so the Grand Slams were not enough.

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gary from [206.190.11.22], at 2:49pm ET
what is your most memorable match, singles and doubles

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:49pm ET
Singles would be my comeback against Sabatini in the '93 French Open. And doubles would be winning the Olympics in Spain -- the first one there with the queen and king watching.

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Mary Joe Fernandez at 2:51pm ET
Thank you for chatting. Keep tuning in and watching the men and women at Indian Wells this week and next week at the Ericsson Open. Don't forget this afternoon's match at 3 p.m. ET.

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