COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M women's tennis head coach Mark Weaver announced the addition of Maria-Fernanda "Nanda" Alves to the coaching staff. Alves, who has won 21 professional tournaments during her 17-year pro career, will serve as the Aggies' volunteer assistant coach.
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"We are extremely delighted to have someone of Nanda's experience join our coaching staff," Weaver said. "Nanda has had an illustrious professional playing career, and she will have an immediate impact on our student athletes. We have known each other for quite some time, and I know that the girls are very happy to have her here contributing to our team."
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Alves, from Florianopolis, Brazil, has been as high as No. 109 in doubles and No. 132 in singles in the Women's Tennis Association's (WTA) world rankings. The top-ranked Brazilian professional player during a five-year span, Alves played in the qualifying round of 14 Grand Slam events and made the main draw of the 2005 Australian Open. During her career, she has faced off against former Grand Slam champions Martina Navratilova, Maria Sharapova, Mary Pierce, Victoria Azarenka, Daniela Hantuchova and Amelie Mauresmo.
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Alves, who has a business degree from Unisul University in Brazil, won her first professional match at age 15 and represented her country in Fed Cup play 11 times.
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"I am very excited to help coach and share some of my many experiences of the sport I love," Alves said. "I want to thank Mark and Patrick (Sullivan, Texas A&M associate head coach) for welcoming me to the program, and I am looking forward to learning more from the coaching side from each of them as well."
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Next up for the Aggies is the prestigious Riviera /ITA Women's All-American Championships, Oct. 3-11, in Palisades, Calif.
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Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M women's tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M women's tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieWTEN or on Facebook at Facebook.com/AggieWomensTennis.
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"We are extremely delighted to have someone of Nanda's experience join our coaching staff," Weaver said. "Nanda has had an illustrious professional playing career, and she will have an immediate impact on our student athletes. We have known each other for quite some time, and I know that the girls are very happy to have her here contributing to our team."
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Alves, from Florianopolis, Brazil, has been as high as No. 109 in doubles and No. 132 in singles in the Women's Tennis Association's (WTA) world rankings. The top-ranked Brazilian professional player during a five-year span, Alves played in the qualifying round of 14 Grand Slam events and made the main draw of the 2005 Australian Open. During her career, she has faced off against former Grand Slam champions Martina Navratilova, Maria Sharapova, Mary Pierce, Victoria Azarenka, Daniela Hantuchova and Amelie Mauresmo.
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Alves, who has a business degree from Unisul University in Brazil, won her first professional match at age 15 and represented her country in Fed Cup play 11 times.
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"I am very excited to help coach and share some of my many experiences of the sport I love," Alves said. "I want to thank Mark and Patrick (Sullivan, Texas A&M associate head coach) for welcoming me to the program, and I am looking forward to learning more from the coaching side from each of them as well."
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Next up for the Aggies is the prestigious Riviera /ITA Women's All-American Championships, Oct. 3-11, in Palisades, Calif.
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Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M women's tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M women's tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieWTEN or on Facebook at Facebook.com/AggieWomensTennis.