Maria Emilia Salerni, “La Pitu” retired from professional tennis,

Maria Emilia Salerni, “La Pitu”, retired from professional tennis

Maria Emilia Salerni, born in Rafaela (Santa Fe, Argentina) 26 years ago, will be announcing her retirement from professioanl tennis on November 10th 2009.

Salerni represented Argentina in various competitions organized by the AAT (Argentine tennis Association) and also at the Fed Cup and the Olympics Games.

Salerni became No. 1 junior in 2000 when she won the Grand Slam Titles at Wimbledon and U.S. Open, and her best ranking as a professional WTA tennis player was in February 2008, when she climbed to position 65th.

Maria Emilia Salerni’s Career
Junior
She finished No. 1 world ranking in the ITF junior in 2000 (Junior ITF World Champion). That year she won the junior singles titles at Wimbledon and U.S. Open, and was a finalist at Roland Garros. In doubles, won the event at Wimbledon in 1999 (with Bedanova) and U.S. Open in 2000 (with Gisela Dulko).

Professional
She won the first 3 ITF events in which debuted in 1999 (Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay). She won another 9 ITF tournaments, the last one in this 2009 (Lima, Peru). Finalist in a WTA tournament (Bogotá 2008) and semifinalist in three WTA tournaments (Hobart 2004, Québec 2004 and Fes 2007), her best ranking was in 2008, when she reached the 65th position. And in doubles in 2002, climbed to 45th place.

As a doubles player
She won tournaments in Casablanca and Quebec WTA Tour. The first, in 2003, paired with compatriot Gisela Dulko, and the second in 2004, teaming up with American Carly Gullickson. She was also finalist in four tournaments between 2001 and 2005 (Casablanca, Amelia Island, Quebec City and Cincinnati).

Professional teams
She represented Argentina in the Fed Cup from 2000 to 2003 in 2005 and 2008. She joined the Argentine Olympic team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.