Gigi Fernandez understands athletic competition better than most: In her Hall of Fame tennis career, the Puerto Rico native won 17 Grand Slam doubles titles (fourth-most in the open era) and climbed into the top-20 as a singles player, competing in one Wimbledon semifinal and two U.S. Open quarterfinals.
Fernandez, together with partner and former LPGA golfer Jane Geddes—who both work in Stamford, as Chelsea Piers director of tennis and senior vice president of talent relations and development at WWE, respectively—just closed on a New Canaan home not far from the Stamford line.
In an interview with NewCanaanite.com, Fernandez said the couple’s twins—who turn five next month—would enter the kindergarten at West School in the fall.
Gigi Fernandez with twins Karson and Madison, who will turn five in April 2014. Photo posted with permission from Gigi Fernandez
Asked whether New Canaan kids may some day avail themselves of her youth coaching abilities—as they are now with former NFL quarterback Terry Hanratty and NBA standout Pat Garrity—Fernandez laughed and said: “Oh, I don’t know. My son just went through the baseball tryouts for the town league, so he’ll be playing baseball. I opted not to coach. I was already getting competitive in the tryouts.”
(We told Fernandez she’ll fit right in.)
Since coming to Fairfield County about two years ago, the family has lived in Stamford and then Darien—but settled on New Canaan for a number of reasons, Fernandez said.
“We like Darien, but we like the sizes of houses and lots in New Canaan better, so in the end that swayed us,” she said.
They’ve had plenty of chances to explore the area and Fernandez said she has some local favorites awaiting her in New Canaan already, including Rosie, South End, Le Pain Quotidien, “and of course Chicken Joe’s, but don’t tell anyone,” she said.
Fernandez said she hadn’t lived in this area before and likes it.
“It’s different. It’s clearly different from Florida—not just the weather,” she added with an easy laugh. “Also the culture. It’s a little conservative. We generally speaking have felt very welcome in the communities we’ve lived in. I’m looking forward to getting to know New Canaan and the people. Our neighbors have been very welcoming.”
The couple now is researching country clubs, Fernandez said, “so we can have a place for the kids to go in the summer and be outdoors.”
Asked whether she knew of any local organizations that she’d get involved with, Fernandez said she’s still learning about New Canaan and already has a connection to Norwalk Grassroots Tennis.
“It’s about supporting tennis from the grassroots level, which I like,” Fernandez said.