Bettina Fulco
Bettina Fulco is a retired professional women's tennis player from Argentina. She reached her highest ranking of no. 23 on October 10, 1988. Fulco began playing tennis at age 10 at the University Club in her hometown of Mar Del Plata, having been inspired to start because of the increased interest in the sport in Argentina due to Guillermo Vilas' success. As a junior, Bettina was among the best in the world, reaching the finals of the Orange Bowl 18-and-under championships in 1986, and finishing second in the junior rankings in 1986. She turned professional in 1987. Like many South American players, Bettina Fulco was considered a clay court specialist, and reached the quarterfinals of the French Open in 1988. Bettina beat Martina Navratilova in Houston 1994 for her biggest career victory. She also achieved victories over Conchita Martínez, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Hana Mandlíková, Katerina Maleeva, Manuela Maleeva, Magdalena Maleeva, Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, Lori McNeil and Nathalie Tauziat. She retired from professional tennis in 1998.
Since retiring from tennis, Bettina has been the director of the School of Tennis at the Club Atletico Kimberley, based in Mar del Plata. She is also a coach, having worked with notable players such as Victoria Azarenka, Kateryna Bondarenko, Angelique Widjaja and Emma Laine. In addition, Bettina was the captain of the Argentina Fed Cup team from 2011 to 2013.
WTA Tour finals
Singles (2 runner-ups)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
Runner-up | 1. | 13 October 1986 | Tokyo, Japan | Hard | Helen Kelesi | 6–2, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 2. | 25 April 1988 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | Neige Dias | 6–3, 6–3 |
Doubles (3 titles)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
Winner | 1. | 7 November 1988 | Guaruja, Brazil | Hard | Mercedes Paz | Carin Bakkum Simone Schilder | 6–3, 6–4 |
Winner | 2. | 26 November 1990 | São Paulo, Brazil | Clay | Eva Švíglerová | Mary Pierce Luanne Spadea | 7–5, 6–4 |
Winner | 3. | 15 July 1991 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | Nicole Muns | Sandra Cecchini Patricia Tarabini | 7–5, 6–4 |
ITF Finals
Singles Finals: 6 (2-4)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Runner-up | 1. | 9 June 1986 | Lyon, France | Clay | Mariana Pérez Roldán | 4–6, 6–3, 1–6 |
Winner | 2. | 21 July 1986 | Philadelphia, United States | Hard | Susan Leo | 3–6, 6–2, 6–0 |
Winner | 3. | 20 September 1993 | Capua, Italy | Clay | Maja Palaveršić | 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 4. | 11 July 1994 | Darmstadt, Germany | Clay | Svetlana Komleva | 4–6, 1–6 |
Runner-up | 5. | 29 September 1997 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | María Fernanda Landa | 4–6, 1–6 |
Runner-up | 6. | 3 August 1998 | Catania, Italy | Clay | Romina Ottoboni | 4–6, 6–7 |