I decided to create the first González calendar, for the year 2008, maybe it will give Fernando an idea to create a real one for all his fans worldwide 
)) Hope you’ll like it
To save it on your computer, just click on the picture, click right and save
* After the Masters Cup, Fernando deserves to have a good rest, so we wish him a good rest for a couple of weeks Thank you for the great season 2007 and wish you the best for 2008 !!!
* December 6th : Exhibition in Chile, with Gisela Dulko, Carlos Moya and Martina Navratilova - CANCELLED -
* 2008 Schedule : Several weeks ago, Fernando gave his program for the first months of 2008. He’ll start his program with Kooyong classic (Jan. 9th), Melbourne (Jan. 14th) and Viña del mar (Jan. 28th)
* Maxim Español with Fernando González : if you bought the mag and want to contribute to this blog, don’t hesitate to scan me the interview. I can’t find it on the web : (
Thank you
During Fernando’s rest, the blog will be updated because I have to translate one interview published in the spanish tennis magazine “Tenis a fondo” and I also have to translate articles during the Masters Cup. Of course, there won’t be updates everyday because I also need some rest after this end of season, it’s tough to follow Fernando lol
Val (the webmaster)
[Photo Gallery updated :: 2106 Pictures]
17.11 - Russian Nikolay Davydenko avoided a 0-3 rout at Tennis Masters Cup when he defeated Fernando Gonzalez 6-4, 6-3 Friday to claim his first win of the 2007 circuit finale. The result sent the Chilean tumbling out of semifinal contention and guaranteed that Roger Federer would reach the last four, regardless of the outcome of his group match with Andy Roddick.
For Gonzalez, the Masters Cup brought mixed fortunes. He broke a career 10-match losing streak against Federer in his first match of the round-robin stage, but that performance may have taken more out of the Chilean than was first thought. He failed to win a set in his following two matches against Andy Roddick and Davydenko.
But Gonzalez still enjoyed the best year of his career, bookended by his first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open and his first appearance at the circuit finale, after which he will finish a career-best year-end No.7 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings.
Gonzalez said: “For me always is tough to play against Davydenko. He play really fast and both sides are really good, have really good return. But today I give my best, and I think wasn’t enough.
“I was really excited because I still having chances to go to the semis, but it was really tough. I didn’t feel like on the first day.”
* Here, you can download (pdf), the written interviews with Fernando during the Masters Cup, enjoy !!
[Match vs Federer.pdf] [Match vs Roddick.pdf] [Match vs Davydenko.pdf]
[To download - Video interview - english]
[To download - Video interview - spanish]
[From gonzaleztenis.com - Translation by the webmaster]
Hello friends,
I ended my participation in the Masters of Shanghai. Today, was not a good day, but I leave in peace. I think I played a good tennis this week. I gave everything and unfortunately it was not enough to arrive much further.
Today, the match against Davydenko, was a very tough match. The first set was hard and lasted more than 1 hour, and all the points were played. He’s a great player from the bottom of the court, with regular strokes. At the end, I lost, but I gave everything on the court.
Now, comes a very good rest, after a good year, and to get strengh for the events to come, and I hope that it will better than it was. Thanks to everyone for your messages of support and good luck to the chilean national team in Montevideo.
Fernando
16.11 - Here is a brief guide to who needs to what and to whom in order to reach the semi finals. If Nikolay Davydenko (who cannot qualify whatever happens) beats Fernando Gonzalez, then Roger Federer goes through to the last four. If Gonzalez beats Davydenko and Federer beats Andy Roddick (who has already qualified), Gonzalez is out and Federer is through. In order to qualify, Gonzalez needs to beat Davydenko and hope against hope that Roddick beats Federer. Right, that’s the singles sorted out.
Friday, November 16, 2007
CENTER COURT start 3:00 pm
M Knowles (BAH) / D Nestor (CAN) vs L Dlouhy (CZE) / P Vizner (CZE)
Not Before 5:00 PM
N Davydenko (RUS) vs F Gonzalez (CHI)
Not Before 7:30 PM
R Federer (SUI) vs A Roddick (USA)
S Aspelin (SWE) / J Knowle (AUT) vs A Clement (FRA) / M Llodra (FRA)
Gonzo goes wild !!
(From tennis.com)
Did you see the second set tiebreaker between Roger Federer and Fernando Gonzalez last night? The Chilean won one breathtaking point after another, the best one on a defensive block of a Federer smash that went from a sure point for the world no. 1 to a lob winner for Gonzalez. The second set began with more of the same: Gonzalez dug his way out of a 0-40 hole with a crackling backhand pass and a few monstrous forehands, and then won one of the best points I’ve seen this year (he ended a punishing rally with a running—from far, far away—backhand-slice-crosscourt-half-lob job that Federer, retreating from the net, could not return). At 5-5, 15-15 in the third set, on Federer’s serve, Gonzalez hit without doubt the most fearsome forehand I’ve ever seen in a live match, harder than the one James Blake hit against Federer at the 2006 U.S. Open or the one Gael Monfils struck at last year’s Australian Open. Federer was in position when Gonzalez unloaded crosscourt. The ball went right by him even though he was a few feet away. Gonzalez nailed another forehand to win the next point and closed out his final break with a soft forehand drop volley (he volleyed well all night).
All this begs the question: Where the heck has this Gonzalez guy been the last nine months? The second set breaker was a reprise of the Australian Open, where Gonzalez forgot how to make an error. Maybe it’s something about long haul flights. In Australia and Asia, the guy plays something fierce. Everywhere in between, he’s a kitten.
I ran down Larry Stefanki after the match to ask him what’s happened to his star pupil since his Australian romp. Here’s a sample of what he had to say:
On Gonzalez’s decline since Australia: “It’s the evolution of a top player. Everyone has to go through it. It’s a growing process. Roger went through it, he knows what it’s all about. Djokovic is gonna find out next year…. It’s not like [Fernando] just doesn’t focus on what he’s trying to do. All these practice sessions, he knows when things break down, when he can’t hit two balls in a row. He knows what’s going on. Before this tournament started is the first time he could maybe free up a little bit and have no pressure on him being the seventh ranked guy in an eight man field. He’s loose, and no one’s going to muscle Fernando Gonzalez. They’re not going to do it…. It’s a growing pain. Luckily after the horrible summer that he had for four months, he won Beijing and made three quarterfinals in a row. You know, he played very average, but he did make three quarters.” (Stefanki said the bad summer had one benefit: Gonzalez is well rested and healthy.)
The forehand at 5-5, 15-15: “Did you see how hard that thing was hit? Crosscourt. [Federer] was standing right there and he blew it right by him. He just said I just went for it.”
On beating Federer for the first time (no one beats Gonzo 11 times in a row): “He played him in the Madrid final [2006], played him in the Australia final, played him in the semis in [Toronto 2006]. He knows that when he gets his opportunity he’s got to go for his shot, but it’s just a matter of not going for it on the first ball…. If he keeps it together and hits his backhand like he did tonight, and not just slice the ball, mixes it up a lot more which we talked about after the summer. When he loses a little confidence he just tries to get the ball back and he starts playing like a clay court guy. You’re not going to play top level tennis doing that. You’re going to beat the guys ranked 20 to 50 but after that you’re going to struggle. You’ve got to return, hit over the ball, and wait for the short forehand and then nuke it. He has the style, it’s just a matter of consolidating that style and staying relaxed and trusting it. And I don’t know if you’ve looked at his serving in Australia, he served UN-BE-LIEV-ABLE.”
On playing in Shanghai: “His flight back is like—Shanghai, Tokyo, L.A., Santiago, and it’s like 27 hours in the air.”
By the time Gonzalez gets home, the off season will be over. From Shanghai, good night.
It doesn’t concern Fernando or tennis, but I heard in the news this evening, that there was an earthquake in Northern Chile today. A big thought for the chileans and hope that there won’t be a lot of casualties and a lot of damages !! Viva Chile !!!
[Photo Gallery updated :: 2085 Pictures]
14.11 - Fernando lost to Andy Roddick in straights sets 6/1 6/4. Roddick becomes the first player to qualify for the semi-finals of the Masters Cup. Fernando and Roger Federer will fight to have the second ticket for the semi-finals. Fernando has to beat Davydenko and Andy Roddick has to defeat Roger Federer. Federer won today and will be motivated to qualify, so it will be difficult for Fernando to qualify. But, we never know…
[From the Masters Cup website]
For Gonzalez, the performance was a puzzling as it was frustrating, coming just two days after his stunning performance to snap a 10-match career losing streak against Federer. Gonzalez never recovered from a very shaky start. He dropped his opening service game and fell awkwardly twice in the space of four points, ending on his backside on both occasions. The Chilean, who made 13 unforced errors in the first set, also conceded his second service game as Roddick raced to a 5-0 lead.
Fernando said :
“Today I was really, really tired. I mean, with my body, I feel really like heavy. It was really hard to me to move to one side to another. I need like maybe one or two more step to stop and go the other way.
“It wasn’t a really good day for me. And Andy plays really good. I mean, he have an early break and then he get a lot of confidence winning the match.”
[Fernando's interview - in spanish]
[Fernando's interview - in english]
13.11 - Day off for Feña – From his official website (transl. by the webmaster)
Hello friends,
First of all, I’d like to thank you for the big amount of messages you sent me through my website. One hour after the match, there was about 200.
The good thing in the Masters is that you have one day off and this gives you more time to “celebrate” the victories. Yesterday was special, except the victory against Federer, my parents were here in Shanghai. It’s not often that they come together to see me play outside Chile and yesterday was a great memory
Today, we had lunch. It was the first day that we could go out to dinner outside the hotel or the club. Since I arrived in Shanghai, we didn’t have the opportunity to go outside, because the hotel is at about 1 hour by car from the club. It’s very far.
I’m very happy but the tournament continues. Now, i have to play against Andy Roddick. It will be tough, like all the matches here. He’s just won a good match and the courts suits him well
The only deception is that my physical trainer, Carlos Burgos, didn’t have the possibility to come. They didn’t gave him the visa and he did the formalities twice 
But, I’m in contact with him everyday
I’m sending greetings to the players of the chilean team. I suppose they are together. I wish them the best of luck and I hope we’ll win in Uruguay. Le mando un gran saludo a los jugadores de la Selección. Supe que ya están todos reunidos. Les deseo la mayor de las suertes y ojalá que ganemos en Uruguay.
Fernando
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
CENTER COURT start 3:00 pm
L Dlouhy (CZE) / P Vizner (CZE) vs A Clement (FRA) / M Llodra (FRA)
Not Before 5:00 PM
R Federer (SUI) vs N Davydenko (RUS)
Not Before 7:30 PM
A Roddick (USA) vs F Gonzalez (CHI)
M Knowles (BAH) / D Nestor (CAN) vs S Aspelin (SWE) / J Knowle (AUT)
Shanghai Time
- 7 hours for Central European Time
- 13 hours for Eastern Time, USA
12.11 - Finally, Fernando defeated his black beast, Roger Federer, in a 3 sets match, 3-6, 7-6 (1) y 7-5. It’s the first victory after 11 matches. Everything is possible in tennis !!
Fernando Gonzalez ended almost four years of torment against Roger Federer at Tennis Masters Cup Monday night, snapping a 10-match career losing streak against the World No. 1 with a 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-5 victory.
Energized by a rout of Federer in an explosive second-set tie-break, Gonzalez claimed his first win in 11 career meetings with Federer in their first match-up since Federer’s straight-sets win in January’s Australian Open.
Perhaps emoldened by David Nalbandian’s use of aggression in his back-to-back ATP Masters Series wins over Federer in Madrid and Paris, Gonzalez unleashed the full force of his mighty groundsroke weaponry as he took the fight to Federer. The Swiss did win the first set after breaking Gonzalez’s opening service game and had dropped just nine points on his own serve heading into the second-set tie-break. But that’s when Gonzalez turned the match on its head.
Gonzalez began the tie-break with a big ace down the ‘T’, much to the delight of Chinese fans, who roared their approval. After claiming a mini-break to go ahead 2-0, the Chilean then produced a piece of magic to bust open the tie-break. Allowing the ball to bounce inside the service line, Federer rocketed a smash directly at Gonzalez, who was postioned behind the baseline in the center of the court. He reflexed back a forehand lob over the head of Federer, who chased it down, but was unable to slingshot the ball back into play. Gonzalez raced to a 6-0 lead and evetually closed out the tie-break 7-1.
Federer faced his first break points in the third game of the third set when he fought back from 15/40 to hold serve. He also saved one break point in his next service game. Gonzalez struck the decisive blow at 5-5 on Federer’s serve. He crushed a massive crosscourt forehand winner that eluded the outstretched Federer and followed up by dancing around a second serve to blast a clean off forehand winner that painted the line to go ahead 15/40. Another huge forehand on the next point set up a put-away volley clinched the decisive break.
Congratulations campeón !!! That’s why we love to watch you play, you always give 100 % and fight until the end of the match !!!
Few words after the match :
“It feels good. After 10 times, it’s my turn now… Now that I beat him, the group is very close because I still have two matches really hard to play, and nobody knows what is going to happen”
“I think my best match of ever was in the Australian Open against Tommy Haas in the semifinals… But today I play really good. I mean, the last two games were in the top of my level.”
“If we compare to Australia, the court, here, is faster, even if I had my opportunities in the first set, and he, at the moment, was also very tired, but I’m happy because I recovered my energy so I played very well”.
“I didn’t defeat him 6/2 6/2, but to do it, I had to work very hard during the two hours, running a lot and having luck a little bit, believing in my strokes, but I did it”
“I think [Roger] say that I kill him with my backhand because he didn’t expect that. He expect I’m going to do that with my forehand. Today I was hitting really good my backhand. I know I surprise him a lot with down the line, try to keep the cross one.”
“The first five games he plays like a real No. 1, more than No. 1. I was feeling really bad on the court. But after he went down a little bit and my level went up. So I think the key of the match was my serve and don’t be scared to go for my shots… I play like three unbelievable points to broke him in 5-all in the third…
About his double fault on the match point:
“I was a bit nervous with the double fault but I had three opportunities (40-0). When I did the double fault, it made me more nervous”
Now, Fernando will face the player from the USA, Andy Roddick :
“He’s a great player. I love playing against him, because he’s a great competitor. He has a great serve, but mine is working well”
Federer’s words about Fernando :
“Fernando played a great tennis. He served very well in the two last sets”
“I’m not surprised because I’ve known him since we are juniors (…) His great forehand, I know it since a long time, even if today, he impressed me a lot with his regularity”
[To download - Fernando's interview after the match in english]
[To download - Fernando's interview after the match in spanish]
[To download - Shanghai highlights - Day 2]
[From Fernando's official website - translation by the webmaster]
Hello friends,
What can I tell you except that I’m happy. I’m very pleased to have beaten the world number 1 and one of the best number 1 in the history, maybe the best. The good thing is that nobody will beat me 11 times in a row, ha ha !!
It has been a long time that I didn’t feel like that, with a great motivation and to feel slight (light) on the court. They asked me if it was the best victory of my life. I think that it’s one of the best, even if we can say that the hierarchy of the tournament and the opponent, it was the most brillant. The thing which make me think is the time when I defeated Andre Agassi in Washington. It’s one of my other good memories in my career, especially because I grew up seeing him play. With Roger, we did all our career together.
Federer is one of the best players in the history, with Borg, Sampras and others. And, I have a lot of proud to have defeated him. I was a little bit nervous, I was lead in the scoreboard, but I had nothing to lose and after calming down, everything worked well. Federer continues to be the world number 1 because the ranking is made on the 18 tournaments and not on 1 only. He ended 4 years in a row as the world number 1, but sometimes, he has to lose. It’s human and sometimes the opponents win great strokes and he can lose a match.
He was the favourite, according the figures, for all his career, but I had a great motivation and I was with full of dreams when I entered on the court. He played the first five games as the real world number 1 he is, and I felt very bad there. But, he went down and I went up. The key was my serve and I was confident on all my strokes, but with him, we never know, because he has always an extraordinary stroke in the important moments.
Regarding the match, I think that 2-0 in the tie-break, was one of the key points. He smashed powerfully in the middle, that I responded like a ball. It was a point that he had lost and I was leading 3-0, with two services in my advantage. It was a fast and important advantage.
This, is the most important tournament of the year and starting to win against the world number 1 is very important for me, but I still have at the moment two complicated matches to play and I want to stay focused to reach the semifinals.
Last but not the least, I’d like to thank the fans who supported me. The chileans are always with me, shouting and cheering me, and this give me a lot of help and support. I like when they shout and support because we are south americans and it’s our way to support. They supported me in the difficult moments, you feel abroad, but you can count of them. I am exactly at the furthest point from my country, I have to fly 27 hours to arrive here, so, the support was crucial.
Thank you for visiting the website and for your great support.
Fernando
11.11 – Order of play for monday
Not before 7:30 pm
Roger Federer (SUI) vs Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)
Some highlights from the opening ceremony in Shanghai
-From la Tercera – (Translation by the webmaster)
Fernando González : “I want to qualify for the semis”
Regarding his first match against Roger Federer, Fernando said : “it’s the match the most difficult, but a lot of times, it’s better to face the best player in the first match”
The Chilean tennis player, Fernando González (7th ATP), for the first time, will play the tennis masters cup after having qualified directly, before, he was there as a substitute, he has as a goal to arrive to the semi-finals.
“I want to qualify for the semi-finals, I have a very difficult group, but at the same time, it’s the same (for everyone), so I think that it will be a difficult work, but very reachable”.
The “bombardero de la Reina” will start on monday evening against the world number 1, the Swiss Roger Federer, against whom he lost 10 times.
The Chilean said that “it’s the most difficult match, with any doubts, but most of the time, it’s better to face the best player in the first match, then, the other matches may be less difficult”
“I clearly know that it’s going to be a difficult match”, but the opportunity to win against the world number 1 : “we enter with more motivation”.
Regarding the surface of the Qi Zhong stadium which will host the Masters Cup, he said that ” I’d like to hit more the ball, but it’s the same for everyone”, he insisted that “I spent several days to accostumate, so everyday, I’m feeling better”.
The Chilean showed his satisfaction regarding his qualification for the competition, and said that “it’s the goal of all the players, to arrive in a tournament where there are only the 8 best”, for him, it’s “an honour and a big opportunity”
[Video interview to download - spanish]
[From gonzaleztenis.com, translation by the webmaster]
Hello friends,
I am in Shanghai waiting here the match against Roger Federer. As I said before, we haven’t faced since the final of the Australian Open and I hope that this will be my revenge.
Except the Masters, I found out the news that has worried me a lot : It’s the state of health of Don Julito Martinez. In spite of the enormous distance that separates us, I want to send my greetings and a strong hug to him. I hope from the bottom of my heart that he’ll recover quickly.
I don’t remember exactly when it was the first time that I listened to him speaking of me, but I remember that on Sundays I didn’t miss his advises of the goals in the news. For me, the synonymous of a sport journalist was Julito Martinez. For that reason, c’mon Don Julio!
Here, in Shanghai, the inaugural ceremony of the Masters Cup was made. It was very nice. Tomorrow Sunday those of the Golden Group will make their debut and later it will be our turn, on monday.
Yesterday, I discovered my statue, the one that ATP ordered to do with copies in the style of the Chinese imperial terra-cotta soldiers. The truth is that it is impressive to see itself like a statue. Being sincere, the statue was better than I, ha ha!!
Thanks friends for visiting the page. Greetings to all !!
Fernando.
10.11 – According to the Chilean newspaper (emol), Fernando will face Roger Federer on monday, at 8.30 am (chilean time), that means 12.30 (in Europe) and at 19.30 (in Shanghai). The exact time will be confirmed later.
Here are the first pictures to promote the competition
[From la Tercera, by Fernando González]
[Translation by the webmaster]
“Here, all the opponents are difficult”
Since today (yesterday) that I’m in Shanghai and the tournament is starting to become lively, because most of the players are in China.
It’s a special championships and one feels that since the arrival in the city, when more than 6 persons arrive to pick me up at the airport and transfer me in a luxury hotel and where in the stadium, there’s a room exclusively for each player, which is the case in a very few parts of the world. One sure thing, it’s a great honor to be here.
Yesterday, I did my first training and the feeling I had was very good. I practriced with (Novak) Djokovic and the court was very good, because we can play, the same surface of the tournaments we played in Europe and less fast than 2005 when I played.
And, then, I could know about my rivals for the first stage of the tournament which will start on sunday (11 hours later than in Chile)
The chance puts me in the red group, with Roger Federer (1), Nikolay Davydenko (4) and Andy Roddick (5). As we know, the rules say that the two first of each group go to the semi finals, it won’t be easy to advance.
At the first sight, it will be a group much more close than the other, where Rafael Nadal (2), Novak Djokovic (3), David Ferrer (6) and Richard Gasquet (8) are and they will start on sunday. The truth is that in any zone I would have been, it would have been difficult. Here, are the best players in the world so it’s not possible to speak of more difficult or easier draw.
I have to start to talk about Federer, who will be my first opponent on monday. It has been two years that he won everything and nobody can win. And, in the last three weeks, he got defeats against the same player : David Nalbandian, who defeated him in Madrid and Paris-Bercy.
It’s rare when something happens to the best player in the world, but, it gives us motivation that it’s possible to defeat him.
As always, it will be entertaining to face him and each time I play against him, my goal is to try to beat him, no matter how hard I know the difficult thing that it is. I have never defeated him, but the motivation increases when I’m in front of him.
Concerning Davydenko, it’s a player very polyvalent, regular on both sides and who gives a great rythm in the game from the bottom of the court. But he got some unexpected defeats (Marin Cilic in St Petersburg and Marcos Baghdatis in Paris-Bercy) and got several physical problems, it’s the reason why he didn’t play in Madrid three weeks ago.
Roddick, finally, appeared yesterday in Shanghai, after speculations about his withdrawal of the tournament due to physical problems. It will be of course difficult to face him. His great strengh is the serve and the rest is normal.
I didn’t play much lately, which could be an advantage.
[Photo Gallery updated :: 2032 pictures]
Fernando arrived in Shanghai after a couple of days in Italy, and practriced today. Fernando practriced N. Djokovic who was the first one to arrive in China following by R. Federer.
“I like to arrive early because of the jet lag and to get used of the surface. Hopefully, everything is well”
Fernando said on his official website :
“In the Masters Cup, you can’t expect a good draw, because the best are playing. At the moment, the good thing is that I’m a in round robin, you can lose a match and qualify for the semis”
“I practriced with Djokovic. We’ve practriced for more than 1 hour and we played with a good speed. The only thing I know is that I play on monday”
Today, the draw ceremony was made in the Hilton hotel, in Shanghai. Fernando is in the Red Group with Roger Federer, Nicolay Davydenko and Andy Roddick. Fernando don’t have the best statistics against those players but N. Davydenko and A. Roddick didn’t play well lately and were injured (elbow and ankle) so let’s stay optimistic, Fernando has the possibility to win two matches and to reach the semis if both Davydenko and Roddick are not at their best.
Heads to Heads
R. Federer leads to Fernando González : 10-0
N. Davydenko leads to Fernando González : 3-0
A. Roddick leads to Fernando González : 6-3
Some advantages to be a “maestro” :
1- The tennis players have a luxurious room in the hotel Jing An Hilton Shanghai, but, in addition, the organization gives two others, free of charge to their technical staff and family In the other tournaments, each player has one double room only,
2- Each player has an exclusive driver during all the week so they don’t have to wait for the car,
3- Each player has an personal assistant, his(her) main function is to serve the player as a guide to show the surroundings during the visits,
4- Inside the stadium, each player feels unique and has a personal treatment, the towels are printed with their name
Interesting double page in La Tercera today about Fernando’s other life on tour. During his free time during the tournaments, he likes to go sightseeing. Here are the different places which have impressed him this year.
The other life of Fernando González on tour
[Source : La Tercera – Nov. 4th, 2007]
[Translation by the webmaster, written by Rodrigo Lopez H.]
The life of the tennis players can be exhausting with so many travels by plane and the life in the hotels. Nevertheless, it brings another type of satisfaction, like knowing the most impressive places in the world where the tour stops. And, the “bombardero de la Reina”, evokes the memories which had the most touched him to visit this year, including the China Wall, and the old town of Jerusalem.
The year started in Oceania and will end in Asia for Fernando González. The passeport accumulates a lot of stamps with the entrances and the exits from the different countries where he stopped for the ATP tournaments. Fernando played 21 tournaments in 2007, less than the other ATP players. The idea is to not be tired and to privilege the most important tournaments. In spite of his important fall in the middle of the season, the balance is positive. Since friday, he qualified for the Masters Cup in Shanghai, and moreover, has a secure place in the top 10 for the second consecutive year.
But, in the life of the tennis player, nothing is limited to pure results. And a lot of say with ingratitude what it is to leave far during part of the year, with a boring routine, between tennis clubs and hotels and of the ceaseless transfers by plane, but there’s a side B in the life of the players, who got also satisfactions.
“I don’t know if i could have another work where I could discover so many places, and different cultures. So, I can’t complain even if it’s difficult to travel all the year”, explains the Bombardero de la Reina.
It’s the other life of the number 1 player from Chile on the tour, with visits of historical places during his free time.
“This year, the places which impressed me the most were in two weeks, I was in two great places : the China Wall and 5 days before, we were in the old town of Jerusalem, to play the Davis Cup tie against Israel”, the player says.
This last trip even if it wasn’t a good memory on the sportive level, with the defeat against the locals, it will remain one of the great experiences of 2007.
“It’s that everyone always hear that this place has a great history. It affects the peole who come and see and the faith they have. And, above all, I had the chance to be with my family, which was very enriching. “
Beijing was also an important destination for the national player, where he has been impressed :”by the pollution, although they already told me that they are going to close the factories 6 months before the Olympic Games next year. Visiting the China Wall and the summer palace was fascinating”.
A travel which brought luck
Already, more than a year of dating, with his travel mate who is his fiancee, the Argentine Gisela Dulko. The opportunities to see eachothers is during the grand slams, when men and women compete in parallel, but they also have to make compatible their calendars when it’s possible. It was like that in May, González travelled in Budapest where the Argentine played. And, the player from Santiago brought her luck because Dulko won her first title in her career. They had the possibility to visit together the city and historical places, like the Parliament of Budapest.
A place to be with the family
Fernando González is spending most of the year far from Chile and far from his family. So, when he can and when the time allows him, members of his family join him. It allows them to know and visit the different places. New-York is one of the favorite places of the Bombardero. And, it was like that when with his father, his sister Patricia, made a typical tour on boat to the statue of liberty, from where we can see the skyscrapers of the Manhattan island. The Santiago native, was with his father in the San Pedro place, in Rome, during the MS Roma and where, this year, he reached the final, losing to Rafael Nadal.
[Photo Gallery updated :: 2026 Pictures]
[Photo Gallery updated :: 2015 Pictures]
Thanks to the victory of Rafael Nadal over M. Youzhny, Fernando is now qualified for the Tennis Masters Cup starting on November 11th !! It will be the second participation of Fernando in the Tennis Masters Cup, the first was in 2005.
Fernando Gonzalez became the first Chilean since Marcelo Rios in 1998 to qualify directly for the prestigious Tennis Masters Cup.
“I am very happy to be returning to Shanghai. I had a great time two years ago and it was one of my goals this year to be among the top eight players at the Tennis Masters Cup,” said Gonzalez
The 27-year-old Gonzalez, who will finish in the year-end Top 10 of the South African Airways ATP Rankings for the second successive year, has enjoyed a solid season that includes one title in Beijing and two runner-up finishes at the Australian Open and ATP Masters Series Rome.
According to his official website, Fernando took the time to do some sighseeing in the French capital, visiting the Orsay Museum. He will fly to Italy to visit friends this week-end and then, on tuesday, will fly to China.
Fernando said to la Tercera :”It will be a tough tournament, because we are the best players in the world”
Now, we are waiting Feña as a Terracotta warrior
Congratulations Feña, you are the best !!!
