By Chris Oddo
(March 9, 2012) In honor of his recent induction into the International Tennis Hall of fame, Flashback Friday will take a look back at the beauty of Gustavo Kuerten—man, myth, and now legend. Known simply as “Guga,” Kuerten was the first South American to finish No. 1 in the history of the ATP’s world rankings, and of course, he’s known for his three French Open titles (’97, ’00, and ’01), 43 weeks at No. 1, and 20 ATP titles.
But more telling than any stats was Guga’s propensity for wearing his heart on his sleeve. Ask any die-hard tennis fan and you’ll find that this is what he’s really known for. Well, that and the smoothness with which he played his powerful brand of tennis. Oh, and the gorgeous one-hander, can’t forget that.
A rare combination of grace, power, emotional depth, and flair, Kuerten was instantly revered in tennis circles when he burst onto the scene in Roland Garros, coming from relative obscurity to win the 1997 French Open at a ranking of No. 66 and defeating three former champions in the process. From that moment on, throughout the late 90’s and early 00’s, the tennis world—not just Brazil or South America because Guga was truly transcendent—had a new object of desire.
Surely Kuerten’s family life had a direct impact on his life, his sensibilities, and benevolence. His father died of a heart attack while umpiring a junior tennis match when Gustavo was only eight, and his youngest brother suffered irreparable brain damage during birth, eventually dying in 2007.
He talked about those issues in an interview with Tennis.com’s Richard Pagliaro, after Kuerten’s acceptance to the hall was made public yesterday. “My father was and still is the biggest inspiration of my life even losing him at an early age,” Kuerten told Pagliaro. “My mother is also my greatest inspiration. My mother took on this incredible responsibility of raising a family by herself. Everyone in my family was an example to me: The bravery of my mother, the will of my handicapped brother to always try to overcome limitations and to truly appreciate the simple things in life, the sense of calm my older brother provided me, and my coach, Larri [Passos], who taught me how to be competitive and never give up. I got massive inspiration from a lot of people, who gave me the spirit to face everything that faced me. Even though some experiences were very sad, such as losing my father on the tennis court, I believe every experience helps us to build something greater in us. For me, this love of tennis became like an obsession, and my family inspired me and gave me qualities to achieve things.”
Shaped by the trauma, and forged by the desire to overcome, Kuerten’s presence became a beacon of pride and joy to his fans. He was a symbol of transcendence, of compassion, and he resonated with the common people. Kuerten’s whole being seemed to shine on the tennis court, his smile his message and his effortless, joyous physicality the outward representation of the soul of a man that was so much more than just a tennis player.
That was his aura. With Guga tennis was more than forehands, backhands, volleys, and serves. It was emotion, spirituality, and the will not just to win, but to live.
Enjoy the video above. It features some great footage of some of the finest moments of Kuerten’s career, a career that brought joy to so many tennis fans around the world.