Tennis legend Gigi Fernandez gives Alaska players a new doubles direction

Jul. 20—Jodi Arnold may be surprising her opponents on the tennis court with some new tactics when she returns home to Juneau this week.

Arnold was one of a few dozen tennis players who participated in clinics held by International Tennis Hall of Famer Gigi Fernandez on Sunday at The Alaska Club East in Anchorage.

Fernandez is one of the most accomplished doubles players in U.S. history. She won a total of 17 major doubles titles and notched a career Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments. She also earned two Olympic gold medals playing with Mary Joe Fernandez (no relation).

Arnold said she learned a number of new strategies, from shot selection to court coverage.

“It’s all about positioning and attacking the net,” Arnold said. “It’s just amazing to get a different view on how to play doubles. … Gigi was awesome and it was a great opportunity for us.”

Fernandez has been operating her doubles clinics for nine years and has plans to teach in every state. She is about 80% of the way there, and had hoped to stash Alaska away for her final trip.

But when her kids had a soccer tournament in Seattle this summer, the timing worked out perfectly to take a trip north.

Longtime Alaska Club tennis director Jimmy Kayongo helped organize the clinics. He said Fernandez’s approach allows players of all skill levels to be more aggressive while also playing higher percentage shots.

“This is a great opportunity for Alaska,” Kayongo said. “Obviously, you don’t get to see this (type of instruction), and we’re appreciative that she took the time to come out here and do that for us.”

Her Gigi Method is, in essence, a slightly pared-down version of the approach she used during her own playing career.

“It’s a way to play that’s tried and tested,” she said. “It works at all levels. It’s how I used to play but modified for the level of play.”

Fernandez led players through several drills and strategies. Even though the group was made up of adults, younger players will likely be getting some of the tutelage as well.

Paul Hemry, a coach at South Anchorage High School, said Fernandez took a lot of familiar concepts, reinforced them and built on them even further.

“She’s talking about creating chaos and disrupting the other team, and so that’s something we’ve learned about,” he said. “But she takes a little bit farther.”

Fernandez won her second career Grand Slam doubles title with tennis legend Martina Navratilova. But her greatest success came playing with Belarussian Natasha Zvereva. The duo won 14 Grand Slam tournaments in total from 1992-1997.

In the last decade, she said she’s taught around 4,000 people in person and as many as 10,000 online in what she called “an unexpected second career.”

“I just enjoy sharing my knowledge,” Fernandez said. “I think it would have been a real shame if I didn’t share it because I have so much of it and so many people that want to learn how to play doubles. It’s been really rewarding.”

Doug Henie is a self-described intermediate player who plays mostly doubles. He said the focus on motion and communication will help his game.

“At our level, it’s about being able to move around and work with your partner so that your partner knows where you are and you know what he should be doing,” Henie said.

Fernandez made a stop in Juneau and caught some good weather for whale watching and biking to Mendenhall Glacier. She also visited Seward to fish for salmon, but the recent persistent rain meant a trip to Denali was canceled. She hopes to return in the future to make that journey.

“I’ve just been super impressed with the Alaska spirit,” she said. “Everyone’s been very cool and welcoming, so I’m excited to be here.”