Angélica Gavaldón: Teaching
the Game She Loves

At six years old in 1981, Angélica Gavaldón sat wide-eyed and transfixed before the television, captivated by the clash of titans in the Wimbledon women’s singles final between Chris Evert and Hana Mandlikova. The crack of each serve, the rhythmic thwack of racquet against ball, and the graceful yet fierce intensity of the players seared themselves into her imagination. Turning to her father, Sergio, with a spark of determination in her gaze, she whispered with unwavering certainty, “One day, I will be out there, playing against them at Wimbledon.”

Just a decade later, at 16, Gavaldón lived up to her statement, walking onto the grounds at the All-England Club as her dream became a reality, competing in the main draw against some of the world’s best WTA players, carrying the influence of a family deeply rooted in tennis and a love for the game passed down by her father.

“It’s very important to me to follow in my dad’s footsteps as he was so instrumental in starting so many in tennis where I’m from,” Gavaldón said. Today, she carries forward that passion, teaching children the game she’s loved since that fateful day as a little girl, sharing her skills, experience, and life lessons learned from a life devoted to tennis.

From Tijuana to the WTA Tour

Born north of the U.S.-Mexican border in El Centro, Gavaldón grew up in Tijuana, where she first picked up a tennis racquet at Club Britania Tijuana and Club Campestre, Tijuana. Her mother was her first coach, and Angélica instantly fell in love with the sport. She spent her childhood tagging along with her parents and siblings, soaking in the game and competing early. By eight, she played her first international tournament, losing the singles final to Monica Seles but winning doubles alongside her.

“My father passed away six years ago, and he was very, very involved with tennis in both Mexico and San Diego for many years. As a successful businessman, he was able to sponsor and donate so much of his time and money because he loved tennis so much,” Gavaldón reflected.

At 12, the family moved to San Diego so she and her siblings could compete in Southern California tennis tournaments. Weekends were spent at the Hotel Del Coronado or traveling to local competitions, and through hard work, Angélica rose to No. 1 in Southern California and top three in the nation. She attended the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, winning CIF titles as a freshman and sophomore. By 14, she played her first professional tournament in San Diego, defeating a player ranked No. 80 in the world. At 16, she reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, a milestone that prompted her decision to turn pro and represent Mexico.

The Pressure of Early Success

Gavaldón’s meteoric rise to the professional tour was not without challenges.

“I think the challenges that I had early on honestly was because I had success at such a young age,” she said. “The results came really fast, and I feel there’s a lot of pressure on the tour. I think for me it was just dealing with a lot of the expectations and I felt a lot of stress. A lot of players have come out talking about depression and anxiety and it’s very real and I went through it, but it’s not something we really spoke about.”

Among her proudest moments, Gavaldón, often called “the greatest women’s tennis player to ever come out of Mexico,” stunned the tennis world multiple times. At 16, she was thrust into the spotlight as a junior prodigy when she traveled to Australia to compete in the juniors and qualify for the women’s event. In 1990, she shocked fans by defeating two-time Australian Open champion Hana Mandlikova to reach the quarterfinals—a remarkable feat she would repeat five years later against No. 3 Jana Novotna. Over her 13-year WTA career, she also represented Mexico in the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympics, cementing her place as the most accomplished female Mexican tennis player in history.

Mentoring the Next Generation

After retiring, Gavaldón remained connected to tennis through television, clinics, and exhibition matches. Since 2002, she has run a tennis program in Coronado, working under director Joel Myers at the Coronado Tennis Center. She leads after-school programs and community clinics, bringing the sport’s joy to children and adults alike near her residence at Coronado Cays.  

“I work with a lot of kids and do a lot of after-school programs,” Gavaldón said. “I really have fallen in love with teaching. I set up a net on a black top at the schools and the kids love it.” 

Some of her most rewarding work comes from weekly clinics she leads for children at a private school in Tijuana, witnessing the same spark in children’s eyes that first drew her to tennis. 

Gavaldón has also been able to pass on her knowledge and experiences to rising Mexican stars, including Renata Zarazúa, the current No. 1 WTA player from Mexico. Drawing on her own journey, Gavaldón has focused on helping Zarazúa develop mental strength and resilience, guiding her through the pressures of the professional tour. Their work together recently made headlines when Zarazúa defeated this year’s Australian Open champion and No. 6 seed Madison Keys in the first round at the US Open. It was a historic win as Zarazúa became the first Mexican woman to beat a Top-10 opponent at a Grand Slam since Gavaldón herself accomplished the feat in 1995 when she beat No. 3 Jana Novotna down under. 

Zarazúa is currently No. 79 in the world, with her highest ranking reaching No. 51 in 2024, with Gavaldón still holding the record for the highest WTA ranking ever achieved by a Mexican player at No. 34.

“I’ve been mentoring Renata a little bit, mostly on the mental aspect of the game, which I think is the toughest at that level,” Gavaldón said. “My main challenge was the mental side.” 

Gavaldón is also in touch with her former student Midori Castillo Meza, the recent University of Arizona graduate and former junior national champion who is now in her rookie season on the pro tour. Gavaldón said Midori and her sister Naomi reminded her a lot of herself.

“They came to me pretty much as beginners,” Gavaldón recalled. “Oh my gosh, they were feisty and very hard-working, disciplined and determined. Midori is one of the hardest working students I’ve ever had.”

As a high school senior, Midori asked Gavaldón about the decision to go to college or turn professional. Gavaldón was adamant in her advice, and Midori followed it by signing on to play for the Wildcats. “I said go to college and don’t miss out on the chance of getting your education because you know you have that, and you can still go pro and college is not gonna stop you from that.”

Reflecting on Heritage and Opportunity 

Gavaldón is often posed a question she has likely been asked many times before: Why has a location like San Diego produced multiple major champions and enjoyed so much success in professional tennis over the years, while just a few miles south, across the border in Tijuana and beyond, the same level of achievement has not been seen? Why hasn’t there ever been a champion or even a player to ever reach the world top 30?

She has often pondered this herself, pointing to cultural differences, accessibility, and the importance of personal belief.

“You can’t blame circumstances,” she said. “Yes, they are real, but if you look at the people who make it, they look beyond all the limits. Look at the Williams sisters. They’re the perfect example.” Gavaldón emphasized that you can’t blame a federation or make excuses—you often have to look within and cultivate the belief that you can become a true champion.

Gavaldón continued: “I think Mexico is a country that doesn’t have the cultural aspect that sports are that important like we do in the United States, and I think that’s very sad. In Mexico, tennis is considered a sport that only the rich play and it’s very expensive to play tennis because you have to belong to a country club. Tennis is just not a priority like soccer is.”

Through her work as a mentor, teacher, and speaker, Gavaldón has appeared at various Hispanic Heritage events over the years, continuing to inspire and give back to the community. “I’m always very supportive of my culture and I see a lot of people who grow up without having the same opportunities I had,” she observed. “I always felt that my results in tennis opened up a lot of doors for me. Now, I want to give back to the Latino and Hispanic community who need the support and recognition. I think we’ve done a lot of amazing things and there’s a lot of talent and potential and I just hope I can support and be involved any way I can.”

Legacy in Motion

From dreaming of Wimbledon as a child to shaping the future of young players in Tijuana and Southern California, Angélica Gavaldón embodies passion, perseverance, and giving back. Representing Mexico on the world stage and now teaching the next generation, her journey celebrates Hispanic heritage, family influence, and the game she loves, a story that continues to inspire.