June 19, 2018
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
Fernanda Contreras hails from a tennis-crazed family. Her father, uncle and grandfather all played the sport, with her grandfather, Francisco Contreras, authoring a NCAA championship career at the University of Southern California. He was a two-time NCAA doubles champion at USC in 1955 and 1956, and he reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in mixed doubles as a professional. Fernanda Contreras’ father, Javier, was a top-300 player on the ATP tour during his career, as well.
That family connection helped spark an interest in tennis in the younger Contreras, who began playing the game as a nine-year-old.
“I love hearing my grandfather talk about his tennis memories,” Contreras said. “He always says to enjoy it, because you never know when it’s going to end.”
This week Contreras, a rising senior for reigning two-time SEC champion Vanderbilt tennis, will follow in her family’s footsteps in international play. She is set to compete for her native Mexico in the Fed Cup in Metepec, Mexico. Francisco and Javier Contreras both played for Mexico in the Davis Cup – the men’s equivalent of the Fed Cup — during their pro tennis careers.
Fernanda Contreras, a native of San Luis PotosÃÂ, Mexico, said she looks forward to hitting the court for her country and her family.
“I’m really excited,” Contreras said. “The tournament is going to be a lot of fun. It’s different because you’re not just playing for a team, you’re representing your country. I’m proud to represent Mexico.”
Contreras has been a key player in a dominant stretch for Vanderbilt women’s tennis. In 2018 the Commodores clinched the SEC regular-season and tournament titles for the second straight year, and they capped the campaign as national runner-up following a successful run in the NCAA Tournament in May. This season Contreras, a two-time All-American and first team All-SEC honoree, ranked as high as No. 3 nationally in singles and No. 4 in doubles alongside Astra Sharma. Contreras also set a new Vanderbilt record with 44 singles victories on the year.
Contreras reached the semifinal round of every individual tournament in which she competed during the 2017-18 season. She earned her first individual title last October, navigating through qualifier rounds to clinch the Riviera/ITA All-American Singles Tournament title, a first for a Vanderbilt player. Following the Dores’ NCAA runner-up finish last month, Contreras became just the second Commodore to reach the NCAA singles semifinals in program history.
Vanderbilt head coach Geoff Macdonald said he is proud of Contreras for adding another recognition to her already stellar career.
“It’s an incredible honor for Fernanda,” Macdonald said. “It’s playing for your country. And with her family connection, it’s almost a burden she’s had to overcome. They’re a remarkable tennis family, and there was not a lot of pressure from them. But I think in the back of her mind, it’s something she’s wanted to achieve. I could see her playing world-class tennis after college and continuing on the Mexican Federation Cup team.”
Contreras and Mexico begin their Fed Cup appearance Thursday at 9 a.m. CT against Barbados. As Contreras has prepared for her Fed Cup stint, she has sought the advice of her grandfather along the way.
“I talked to him a little bit, and he told me not to feel pressure, just go out and play my best,” Contreras said. “He told me to keep it simple and control what I can control.”
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.
