Martín Jaite


Martín Jaite is a former top-10 professional tennis player from Argentina.
Jaite's career-high Association of Tennis Professionals singles ranking was world no. 10, which he achieved in the summer of 1990, and he won a total of 12 titles and $1,873,881 in tour prize money during his career.
Jaite's playing style leveraged his consistency, speed, thoughtful use of tactics, and fitness to compensate for his lack of power.

Early life

Jaite was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is Jewish.

Tennis career

Jaite was a top junior in both Spain and Argentina. He joined Argentina's Davis Cup team. He began playing on the ATP tour in 1983, and soon was ranked among the top 20 players in the world. He reached the quarterfinals in competition at the French Open in 1985, defeating Paolo Canè, Trevor Allan, Miloslav Mečíř and Heinz Günthardt before losing to Ivan Lendl. In May 1986 at Forest Hills Jaite defeated world no. 4 Boris Becker 6–2, 7–6.
In May 1987, Jaite beat world no. 9 Henri Leconte in Germany in two tiebreaks. In September 1987, Jaite upset world no. 3 Mats Wilander in five sets to win a competition in Barcelona, Spain. In April 1989, he upset world no. 8 Jakob Hlasek in two sets in Monte Carlo.
Jaite became only the sixth South American to be ranked in the top 10 in the ATP computer rankings, reaching no. 10 in 1990. In May 1990, he defeated world no. 2 Stefan Edberg 3–6, 6–2, 6–4 in Germany. Jaite defeated world no. 4 Guy Forget 6–2, 6–2 in April 1991 in France, and then again in July, 7–6, 7–5, in Gstaad, Switzerland.

Olympics

He participated for his native country at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, but lost to Brad Gilbert, the eventual winner of the bronze medal.

Davis Cup

Jaite was 14–20 in Davis Cup play, 11–7 in singles on clay, from 1984 to 1999.
Jaite was involved in a Davis Cup tie against the US in Buenos Aires when Andre Agassi was leading 6–2, 6–2, 5–0. Jaite was leading 40–0 in the sixth game of the third set, and missed his first serve. Agassi then called out to his then-coach Nick Bollettieri, "hey watch this", and then followed by catching the second serve in his left hand to give Jaite the game. Viewed as an act of disrespect, Agassi was booed by the crowd for five minutes.

After tennis

Jaite has had an important role in Argentine tennis since his retirement. He is the tournament director for ATP Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires Challenger, and director of Futures events in Argentina. From July 2007 till December 2008, Jaite was coaching David Nalbandian, and helped lead him to titles in Madrid and Bercy, where he became the first man to defeat the top two players in the world, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, in consecutive tournaments. In 2011, Jaite was named captain of the Argentina Davis Cup team.

Career finals

Singles: 19 (12 wins – 7 losses)

ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Feb 1985Buenos Aires, ArgentinaClay Diego Pérez6–4, 6–2
Loss1–1Jul 1985Boston, U.S.Clay Mats Wilander2–6, 4–6
Loss1–2Jul 1985Washington DC, U.S.Clay Yannick Noah4–6, 3–6
Win2–2Jun 1986Bologna, ItalyClay Paolo Canè6–2, 4–6, 6–4
Loss2–3Jul 1986Boston, U.S.Clay Andrés Gómez5–7, 4–6
Win3–3Sep 1986Stuttgart, GermanyClay Jonas Svensson7–5, 6–2
Loss3–4May 1987Rome, ItalyClay Mats Wilander3–6, 4–6, 4–6
Win4–4Sep 1987Barcelona, SpainClay Mats Wilander7–6, 6–4, 4–6, 0–6, 6–4
Win5–4Sep 1987Palermo, ItalyClay Karel Nováček7–6, 6–7, 6–4
Loss5–5Apr 1988Monte Carlo, MonacoClay Ivan Lendl7–5, 4–6, 5–7, 3–6
Loss5–6Apr 1989Rio de Janeiro, BrazilCarpet Luiz Mattar4–6, 7–5, 4–6
Win6–6Jul 1989Stuttgart, GermanyClay Goran Prpić6–3, 6–2
Loss6–7Jul 1989Kitzbühel, AustriaClay Emilio Sánchez6–7-, 1–6, 6–2, 2–6
Win7–7Sep 1989Madrid, SpainClay Jordi Arrese6–3, 6–2
Win8–7Nov 1989São Paulo, BrazilClay Javier Sánchez7–6, 6–3
Win9–7Nov 1989Itaparica, BrazilHard Jay Berger6–4, 6–4
Win10–7Feb 1990Guarujá, BrazilHard Luiz Mattar3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win11–7Jul 1990Gstaad, SwitzerlandClay Sergi Bruguera6–3, 6–7, 6–2, 6–2
Win12–7Apr 1991Nice, FranceClay Goran Prpić3–6, 7–6, 6–3

Doubles: 2 (1 win – 1 loss)

ResultW/LDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Oct 1984Barcelona, SpainClay Víctor Pecci Pavel Složil
Tomáš Šmíd		2–6, 0–6
Win1–1Feb 1985Buenos Aires, ArgentinaClay Christian Miniussi Eduardo Bengoechea
Diego Pérez		6–4, 6–3