Kristina Brandi
Kristina Brandi is a former Puerto Rican tennis player. She was the first tennis player representing Puerto Rico to win a singles match in an Olympic tennis match.
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. 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.
WTA Tour finals
Singles (1 title)
ITF Singles Finals 25 (16-9)
Outcome | No. | Date | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
Winner | 1. | 4 July 1994 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | Mashona Washington | 6–1, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 2. | 25 July 1994 | Roanoke, United States | Hard | Keiko Nagatomi | 6–7, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 3. | 9 October 1995 | Sedona, United States | Hard | Tami Whitlinger | 4–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 4. | 6 April 1997 | Phoenix, United States | Hard | Li Fang | 1–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 5. | 26 January 1998 | Clearwater, United States | Hard | Mashona Washington | 6–1, 6–2 |
Winner | 6. | 5 April 1998 | Phoenix, United States | Hard | Lilia Osterloh | 6–0, 6–4 |
Winner | 7. | 20 July 1998 | Peachtree, United States | Hard | Anne Kremer | 6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 8. | 2 August 1998 | Salt Lake City, United States | Hard | Mariaan de Swardt | 2–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 9. | 1 November 1998 | Austin, United States | Hard | Meilen Tu | 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
Winner | 10. | 1 August 1999 | Salt Lake City, United States | Hard | Li Fang | 6–4, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 11. | 30 April 2000 | Sarasota, United States | Hard | Meghann Shaughnessy | 1–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 12. | 4 June 2001 | Surbiton, United Kingdom | Grass | Rika Fujiwara | 3–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 13. | 13 May 2003 | Charlottesville, United States | Clay | Christina Wheeler | 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
Winner | 14. | 8 June 2003 | Surbiton, United Kingdom | Grass | Cho Yoon-jeong | 6–1, 6–3 |
Winner | 15. | 08 July 2003 | College Park, United States | Hard | Lioudmila Skavronskaia | 6–1, 6–1 |
Winner | 16. | 28 July 2003 | Louisville, United States | Hard | Shenay Perry | 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
Winner | 17. | 14 September 2003 | Peachtree, United States | Hard | Allison Bradshaw | 6–0, 6–1 |
Winner | 18. | 22 September 2003 | Albuquerque, United States | Hard | Milagros Sequera | 6–2, 6–2 |
Winner | 19. | 5 October 2003 | Troy, United States | Hard | Maria Elena Camerin | 7–6, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 20. | 19 October 2003 | Sedona, United States | Hard | Samantha Reeves | 5–7, 6–1, 4–6 |
Winner | 21. | 4 June 2005 | Surbiton, United Kingdom | Grass | Laura Granville | 6–3, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 22. | 2 October 2005 | Ashland, United States | Hard | Napaporn Tongsalee | 4–6, 6–2, 4–6 |
Winner | 23. | 16 October 2005 | San Francisco, United States | Hard | Lilia Osterloh | 5–7, 6–4, 6–4 |
Winner | 24. | 10 June 2006 | Surbiton, United Kingdom | Grass | Laura Granville | 7–5, 6–0 |
Runner-up | 25. | 19 September 2006 | Albuquerque, United States | Hard | Ahsha Rolle | 2–6, 4–6 |
Doubles: 6 (1–5)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score |
Runner-up | 1. | 20 June 1994 | Hilton Head Island, United States | Clay | Karin Miller | Angela Lettiere Stacy Sheppard | 6–4, 2–6, 6–7 |
Winner | 2. | 4 July 1994 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | Karin Miller | Angela Lettiere Vera Vitels | 6–2, 4–6, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 3. | 25 July 1994 | Roanoke, United States | Hard | Karin Miller | Gail Biggs Claudine Toleafoa | 6–4, 3–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 4. | 1 February 1998 | Clearwater, United States | Hard | Karin Miller | Maureen Drake Renata Kolbovic | 6–4, 3–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 5. | 10 September 2002 | Peachtree, United States | Hard | Allison Baker | Jennifer Russell Christina Wheeler | 2–6, 6–7 |
Runner-up | 6. | 8 July 2003 | College Park, United States | Hard | Kim Grant | Jennifer Russell Lisa McShea | 2–6, 6–4, 5–7 |