Career titles 1 Weight 59 kg Plays Right-handed Name Kristina Brandi Turned pro 1995 | Prize money $ 1,248,528 Role Tennis player Handed Right-handed Career record 441–333 Height 1.68 m | |
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Highest ranking No. 27 (4 December 2000) | ||
Kristina Brandi (born March 29, 1977) is a Puerto Rican tennis player. She was the first tennis player representing Puerto Rico to win a singles match in an Olympic tennis match.
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Early years
Brandi was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she became interested in the sport of tennis at an early age. She made her professional debut in 1995 when she was 17 years old. Her father is Joe Brandi, who coached Pete Sampras.
USTA Circuit
In 2003, Brandi won the most titles of any woman on the "USTA Circuit". She took home trophies from six events. Brandi was a member of the 2003 Puerto Rican Fed Cup Team where she captured the singles championship at the $75,000 event in Albuquerque, New Mexico plus, the $50,000 event in Troy, Alabama and $25,000 in Peachtree City, Georgia.
2004 Olympics
Brandi represented Puerto Rico in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. She became the first tennis player representing Puerto Rico to win a singles match in an Olympic when she beat Jelena Kostanić from Croatia (7–5 and 6–1). She lost in the second round to Russian Anastasia Myskina.
Some of Brandi's career highlights are: High rank for singles 27 on January 1, 2001; High rank for doubles on June 19, 1995; Career titles for singles: 1; Career matches won: 79; Career matches lost: 99; Career prize money $845, 170.
Later years
Kristina Brandi resides in Tampa, Florida and continued to be active in the WTA tours for many years after the 2004 Olympic Games.
Brandi defended her ITF-Surbiton title defeating Laura Granville from the USA. Brandi's grass season plans for 2006 included the Main Draw of the Birmingham Tournament at the WTA Tour level as well as the qualifying tournament at Eastbourne before heading to compete in the Wimbledon main draw.
Brandi, who has since retired, is the niece of Andy Brandi who played for the Trinity Tigers men's tennis team in NCAA Division I competition.