Mercedes Paz
{{short description|Argentine tennis player}}
{{BLP sources|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox tennis biography
| name = Mercedes Paz
| image = 2021 Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs – Argentina vs Kazakhstan (61) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Paz at the 2021 Billie Jean King Cup play-offs
| country = {{ARG}}
| residence = Tucumán, Argentina
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1966|06|27}}
| birth_place = Tucumán
| height = {{height|m=1.80}}
| turnedpro = 1984
| retired = 1998
| plays = Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
| careerprizemoney = $1,154,319
| singlesrecord = {{tennis record|won=280|lost=279}}
| singlestitles = 3
| highestsinglesranking = No. 28 (29 April 1991)
| AustralianOpenresult = 1R (1991, 1992, 1995)
| FrenchOpenresult = 4R (1986, 1990)
| Wimbledonresult = 2R (1994, 1996)
| USOpenresult = 2R (1985, 1987, 1988)
| doublesrecord = {{tennis record|won=385|lost=245}}
| doublestitles = 22
| highestdoublesranking = No. 12 (24 September 1990)
| AustralianOpenDoublesresult = 3R (1991, 1992)
| FrenchOpenDoublesresult = SF (1991)
| WimbledonDoublesresult = QF (1990)
| USOpenDoublesresult = SF (1991)
}}
Mercedes María Paz ({{IPA|es|meɾˈseðes maˈɾi.a ˈpas}}; born 27 June 1966) is a former professional tennis player from Argentina. She won three singles titles on the WTA Tour and reached a career-high ranking of world No. 28 in April 1991. Her best Grand Slam result was the fourth round at the 1986 French Open and the 1990 French Open.
Paz unexpectedly defeated defending champion Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the second round of the 1990 French Open. Later that year, at the Virginia Slims of Worcester, Paz also defeated Sánchez Vicario in the round of 16. Five years before, in the semifinals of the 1985 Brazil Open, she beat top-seeded Gabriela Sabatini en route to beating Peruvian Laura Arraya for the title. In so doing, Paz became the first Argentinian woman to capture a major WTA event. In addition to wins over Sánchez Vicario and Sabatini, she also defeated top-seeded Jana Novotná in three sets to reach the semifinals of the Belgian Ladies Open in Brussels in 1989. The previous year, at the 1988 Hilton Head tournament, Paz had defeated Novotná in the round of 32 for the first time.
WTA career finals
=Singles 6 (3 titles, 3 runner-ups)=
class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" |
Legend |
---|
Virginia Slims (1–1) |
style="background:#fcc;"| Tier I (0–0) |
style="background:#ccf;"| Tier II (0–0) |
style="background:cfc;"| Tier III (0–0) |
style="background:6cf;"| Tier IV & V (2–2) |
class="sortable wikitable"
!Result !style="width:30px"|W-L !style="width:60px"|Date !style="width:200px"|Tournament !style="width:50px"|Surface !style="width:160px"|Opponent !style="width:120px" class="unsortable"|Score |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 1–0 | Mar 1985 | São Paulo Open, Brazil | Clay | {{flagicon|PER}} Laura Arraya | 5–7, 6–1, 6–4 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 1–1 | Oct 1986 | Hard (i) | {{flagicon|USA}} Gigi Fernández | 6–4, 2–6, 6–4 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 1–2 | Oct 1988 | Hard | {{flagicon|AUS}} Anne Minter | 2–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 2–2 | Nov 1988 | Guarujá Cup, Brazil | Hard | {{flagicon|CAN}} Rene Simpson | 7–5, 6–2 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 2–3 | Jul 1989 | Clay | {{flagicon|TCH}} Radka Zrubáková | 7–6(8–6), 6–4 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 3–3 | May 1990 | Strasbourg, France | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Ann Grossman | 6–2, 6–3 |
=Doubles 40 (22 titles, 18 runner-ups)=
class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" |
Legend |
---|
style="background:#ffc;"| WTA Championships (0–1) |
Virginia Slims (7–2) |
style="background:#fcc;"| Tier I (0–1) |
style="background:#ccf;"| Tier II (1–5) |
style="background:cfc;"| Tier III (2–1) |
style="background:6cf;"| Tier IV & V (12–8) |
class="sortable wikitable"
!style="width:40px"|Result !style="width:20px"|No. !style="width:60px"|Date !style="width:200px"|Tournament !style="width:50px"|Surface !style="width:200px"|Partner !style="width:200px"|Opponents !style="width:130px" class="unsortable"|Score |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 1. | Oct 1984 | Japan Open | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Ronni Reis | {{flagicon|ARG}} Emilse Raponi-Longo | 6–4, 7–5 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 2. | Mar 1985 | São Paulo Open, Brazil | Clay | {{flagicon|ARG}} Gabriela Sabatini | {{flagicon|HUN}} Csilla Bartos | 7–5, 6–4 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 3. | Aug 1985 | VS New York, U.S. | Hard | {{flagicon|ARG}} Gabriela Sabatini | {{flagicon|TCH}} Kateřina Böhmová | 5–7, 6–4, 6–3 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 4. | Nov 1986 | Puerto Rico Open | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Lori McNeil | {{flagicon|USA}} Gigi Fernández | 6–2, 3–6, 6–4 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 5. | Dec 1986 | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Lori McNeil | {{flagicon|NED}} Manon Bollegraf | 6–1, 2–6, 6–1 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 1. | Mar 1987 | South Carolina Open, U.S. | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Candy Reynolds | {{flagicon|PER}} Laura Arraya | 6–4, 6–4 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 6. | Apr 1987 | Family Circle Cup, U.S. | Clay | {{flagicon|FRG}} Eva Pfaff | {{flagicon|USA}} Zina Garrison | 7–6(8–6), 7–5 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 7. | Nov 1987 | Argentine Open | Clay | {{flagicon|ARG}} Gabriela Sabatini | {{flagicon|CAN}} Jill Hetherington | 6–2, 6–2 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 2. | Dec 1987 | Hard | {{flagicon|CAN}} Jill Hetherington | {{flagicon|USA}} Katrina Adams | 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 8. | Jul 1988 | Clay | {{flagicon|ITA}} Sandra Cecchini | {{flagicon|ITA}} Linda Ferrando | 6–0, 6–2 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 9. | Jul 1988 | Belgian Open | Clay | {{flagicon|DEN}} Tine Scheuer-Larsen | {{flagicon|BUL|1971}} Katerina Maleeva | 7–6(7–3), 6–1 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 10. | Nov 1988 | Guarujá Cup, Brazil | Hard | {{flagicon|ARG}} Bettina Fulco | {{flagicon|NED}} Carin Bakkum | 6–3, 6–4 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 11. | May 1989 | Ilva Trophy, Italy | Clay | {{flagicon|YUG}} Sabrina Goleš | {{flagicon|FRA}} Sophie Amiach | 6–2, 6–2 |
style="background:#ccf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 3. | May 1989 | Clay | {{flagicon|NED}} Manon Bollegraf | {{flagicon|AUS}} Elizabeth Smylie | 6–4, 6–3 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 12. | May 1989 | Internationaux de Strasbourg, France | Clay | {{flagicon|AUT}} Judith Wiesner | {{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Lise Gregory | 6–3, 6–3 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 4. | Jul 1989 | Arcachon Cup, France | Clay | {{flagicon|NED}} Brenda Schultz-McCarthy | {{flagicon|ITA}} Sandra Cecchini | 6–3, 7–6(7–5) |
bgcolor="66CCFF"
| bgcolor="98FB98"|Winner | 13. | Jul 1989 | Belgian Open | Clay | {{flagicon|NED}} Manon Bollegraf | {{flagicon|NED}} Carin Bakkum | 6–1, 6–2 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 14. | Jul 1989 | Swedish Open | Clay | {{flagicon|DEN}} Tine Scheuer-Larsen | {{flagicon|YUG}} Sabrina Goleš | 6–2, 7–5 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 15. | Dec 1989 | Guarujá Cup, Brazil | Hard | {{flagicon|ARG}} Patricia Tarabini | {{flagicon|BRA}} Cláudia Chabalgoity | 6–2, 6–2 |
style="background:#fcc;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 5. | Apr 1990 | Family Circle Cup, U.S. | Clay | {{flagicon|URS}} Natasha Zvereva | {{flagicon|USA}} Martina Navratilova | 6–2, 6–1 |
style="background:#ccf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 16. | Apr 1990 | Amelia Island Championships, U.S. | Clay | {{flagicon|ESP}} Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | {{flagicon|TCH}} Regina Kordová | 7–6(7–5), 6–4 |
style="background:cfc;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 17. | Apr 1990 | Tampa Open, U.S. | Clay | {{flagicon|ESP}} Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | {{flagicon|PER}} Laura Arraya | 6–2, 6–0 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 18. | Apr 1990 | Barcelona Open, Spain | Clay | {{flagicon|ESP}} Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | {{flagicon|YUG}} Sabrina Goleš | 6–7(7–9), 6–2, 6–1 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 19. | Jul 1990 | Swedish Open | Clay | {{flagicon|DEN}} Tine Scheuer-Larsen | {{flagicon|NED}} Carin Bakkum | 6–3, 6–7(10–12), 6–2 |
style="background:#ccf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 6. | Aug 1990 | LA Championships, U.S. | Hard | {{flagicon|ARG}} Gabriela Sabatini | {{flagicon|USA}} Gigi Fernández | 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 |
style="background:#ccf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 7. | Oct 1990 | Filderstadt Grand Prix, West Germany | Hard (i) | {{flagicon|ESP}} Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | {{flagicon|USA}} Mary Joe Fernández | 7–5, 6–3 |
style="background:#ffffcc;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 8. | Nov 1990 | WTA Championships, New York | Carpet (i) | {{flagicon|ESP}} Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | {{flagicon|USA}} Kathy Jordan | 7–6(7–4), 6–4 |
style="background:#ccf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 9. | Apr 1991 | Amelia Island Championships, U.S. | Clay | {{flagicon|URS}} Natasha Zvereva | {{flagicon|ESP}} Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 4–6, 6–2, 6–2 |
bgcolor="66CCFF"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 10. | May 1991 | Internationaux de Strasbourg, France | Clay | {{flagicon|NED}} Manon Bollegraf | {{flagicon|USA}} Lori McNeil | 6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–4 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 11. | Jul 1991 | Internazionali di Palermo, Italy | Clay | {{flagicon|ITA}} Laura Garrone | {{flagicon|TCH}} Petra Langrová | 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–3 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 12. | Jul 1991 | San Marino Open | Clay | {{flagicon|ITA}} Laura Garrone | {{flagicon|AUS}} Kerry-Anne Guse | 6–0, 6–3 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 13. | Nov 1991 | VS Indianapolis, U.S. | Hard (i) | {{flagicon|USA}} Katrina Adams | {{flagicon|USA}} Patty Fendick | 6–4, 6–2 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 20. | Dec 1991 | São Paulo Open, Brazil | Clay | {{flagicon|ARG}} Inés Gorrochategui | {{flagicon|USA}} Renata Baranski | 6–2, 6–2 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 14. | May 1992 | Internationaux de Strasbourg, France | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Lori McNeil | {{flagicon|USA}} Patty Fendick | 6–3, 6–4 |
style="background:cfc;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 15. | Aug 1992 | San Diego Open, U.S. | Hard | {{flagicon|ESP}} Conchita Martínez | {{flagicon|TCH}} Jana Novotná | 6–1, 6–4 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 16. | Apr 1993 | Ilva Trophy, Italy | Clay | {{flagicon|CZE}} Petra Langrová | {{flagicon|USA}} Debbie Graham | 6–0, 6–4 |
style="background:#ccf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 17. | Jul 1993 | New Haven Open, U.S. | Hard | {{flagicon|SUI}} Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere | {{flagicon|AUS}} Elizabeth Smylie | 6–1, 6–2 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 21. | Jan 1994 | Auckland Open, New Zealand | Hard | {{flagicon|CAN}} Patricia Hy | {{flagicon|AUS}} Jenny Byrne | 6–4, 7–6(7–3) |
style="background:cfc;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Win | 22. | Apr 1995 | Bol Open, Croatia | Clay | {{flagicon|CAN}} Rene Simpson | {{flagicon|ITA}} Laura Golarsa | 7–5, 6–2 |
style="background:6cf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss | 18. | Jul 1997 | Internazionali di Palermo, Italy | Clay | {{flagicon|ARG}} Florencia Labat | {{flagicon|ITA}} Silvia Farina Elia | 2–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
ITF Circuit finals
class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%; width:12%;" |
style="background:#f7e98e;"
| $75,000 tournaments |
style="background:#addfad;"
| $50,000 tournaments |
style="background:lightblue;"
| $25,000 tournaments |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| $10,000 tournaments |
=Singles (2–3)=
class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%;" width="850" |
Outcome
!No. !Date !Tournament !Surface !Opponent !Score |
---|
bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| bgcolor="FFA07A"|Runner-up | 1. | 11 June 1984 | ITF Lyon, France | Clay | {{flagicon|BUL}} Katerina Maleeva | 6–7, 6–3, 2–6 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| bgcolor="FFA07A"|Runner-up | 2. | 25 February 1985 | ITF São Paulo, Brazil | Clay | {{flagicon|SWE}} Helena Dahlström | 7–5, 4–6, 4–6 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner | 1. | 10 March 1985 | ITF Curitiba, Brazil | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Renee Blount | 6–1, 6–2 |
bgcolor="#f0f8ff"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner | 2. | 1 April 1985 | ITF Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | {{flagicon|ARG}} Mariana Pérez Roldán | 6–3, 6–2 |
style="background:lightblue;"
| bgcolor="FFA07A"|Runner-up | 3. | 30 September 1996 | ITF Newport Beach, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|UKR}} Elena Brioukhovets | 2–6, 4–6 |
=Doubles (9–3)=
class="sortable wikitable" style=font-size:97% |
Outcome
! No. ! Date ! Tournament ! Surface ! Partner ! Opponents ! Score |
---|
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| bgcolor="FFA07A"|Runner-up | 1. | 29 January 1984 | ITF Miami, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|USA}} Ronni Reis | {{flagicon|USA}} Heather Crowe | 4–6, 3–6 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner | 1. | 11 June 1984 | Lyon, France | Clay | {{flagicon|USA}} Ronni Reis | {{flagicon|FRA}} Isabelle Demongeot | 1–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
style="background:lightblue;"
| bgcolor="98FB98"|Winner | 2. | 15 November 1993 | La Plata, Argentina | Clay | {{flagicon|ARG}} Laura Montalvo | {{flagicon|BRA}} Cláudia Chabalgoity | 6–1, 6–4 |
style="background:lightblue;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner | 3. | 14 November 1994 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | {{flagicon|ARG}} Laura Montalvo | {{flagicon|SVK}} Patrícia Marková | 6–4, 6–3 |
style="background:#addfad;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner | 4. | 25 February 1996 | Bogotá, Colombia | Clay | {{flagicon|GRE}} Christína Papadáki | {{flagicon|HUN}} Virág Csurgó | 7–6, 6–2 |
bgcolor="lightblue"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner | 5. | 30 September 1996 | Newport Beach, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|CAN}} Rene Simpson | {{flagicon|USA}} Erika deLone | 6–3, 6–1 |
style="background:#f7e98e;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up | 2. | 20 October 1996 | Hayward, United States | Hard | {{flagicon|AUS}} Annabel Ellwood | {{flagicon|CAN}} Jill Hetherington | 5–7, 2–6 |
style="background:#f7e98e;"
| bgcolor="FFA07A"| Runner-up | 3. | 23 February 1997 | Bogotá, Colombia | Clay | {{flagicon|ARG}} Laura Montalvo | {{flagicon|NED}} Seda Noorlander | 6–7, 6–4, 5–7 |
style="background:#f7e98e;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner | 6. | 27 July 1997 | Istanbul, Turkey | Hard | {{flagicon|ITA}} Laura Golarsa | {{flagicon|AUT}} Sylvia Plischke | 3–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
style="background:#f0f8ff;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner | 7. | 5 October 1997 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | {{flagicon|ARG}} Laura Montalvo | {{flagicon|ARG}} Celeste Contín | 4–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
style="background:lightblue;"
| style="background:#98fb98;"|Winner | 8. | 2 November 1997 | Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil | Clay | {{flagicon|ARG}} Laura Montalvo | {{flagicon|BRA}} Miriam D'Agostini | 6–2, 6–0 |
style="background:lightblue;"
| bgcolor="98FB98"|Winner | 9. | 27 September 1998 | ITF Tucumán, Argentina | Clay | {{flagicon|ARG}} Patricia Tarabini | {{flagicon|ARG}} Luciana Masante | 5–7, 6–4, 7–6 |
Notes
{{notelist}}
External links
- {{WTA}}
- {{ITF profile}}
- {{Billie Jean King Cup player|new_id=46b5928e-6429-4783-b0ed-f5995a19d399|id=800178275}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{succession box|
|before = {{flagicon|USA}} Gretchen Rush
|after = {{flagicon|AUT}} Judith Wiesner
|title = Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award
|years = 1990
|}}
{{s-end}}
{{US Open girls' doubles champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paz, Mercedes}}
Category:Argentine female tennis players
Category:Olympic tennis players for Argentina
Category:Sportspeople from Tucumán Province
Category:Tennis players at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Category:Tennis players at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Category:Tennis players at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Category:Tennis players at the 1995 Pan American Games
Category:US Open (tennis) junior champions
Category:Grand Slam (tennis) champions in girls' doubles
Category:Pan American Games gold medalists in tennis
Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for Argentina
Category:Competitors at the 1982 Southern Cross Games
Category:South American Games gold medalists for Argentina
Category:South American Games silver medalists for Argentina
Category:South American Games medalists in tennis