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Catalina Castano

Col
Residence: Pereira, Colombia
DOB: July 7, 1979
Birthplace: Pereira, Colombia
Height: 5' 7 1/2" (1.71 m)
Weight: 132 lbs. (60 kg)
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Status: Pro (January 1998)
JANUARY - Fell in Brisbane and Australian Open qualifying.

FEBRUARY - Fell 1r at Bogota (l. to No.6 seed Johansson in 3s).
1994 - Played first events of career on ITF Circuit in Colombia.

1995 - Continued to play on ITF Circuit.

1996 - Continued to play on ITF Circuit.

1997 - Continued to play on ITF Circuit.

1998 - Played first Tour qualifying at Bogotá; also played on ITF Circuit.

1999 - Played first Tour main draw at Bogotá (as WC), falling 1r; won one singles title on ITF Circuit.

2000 - Reached 2r once; fell in Tour qualifying four times (incl. Roland Garros, US Open); won two singles titles on ITF Circuit.

2001 - QF at Bogotá; reached 2r three times (incl. Roland Garros); fell 1r four times (incl. Wimbledon, US Open) and in Tour qualifying four times; made Top 100 debut on April 9 (rose from No.104 to No.98).

2002 - SF at Bogotá (l. to Srebotnik); fell 1r once and in Tour qualifying eight times (incl. Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open).

2003 - QF at Bogotá; fell 1r twice (incl. US Open) and in Tour qualifying twice (incl. Australian Open); won two singles titles on ITF Circuit.

2004 - QF at Bogotá; reached 2r three times; fell 1r five times (incl. Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Olympics, US Open) and in Tour qualifying 11 times (incl. Australian Open); won one singles title on ITF Circuit.

2005 - First Top 100 season (finished at No.59); runner-up at Budapest (l. to Smashnova in final); SF at Seoul (l. to Vaidisova); QF three times, at Bogotá, Acapulco and Stockholm; reached 4r once, 3r once and 2r four times (incl. Roland Garros, US Open); fell 1r seven times (incl. other two majors) and in Tour qualifying twice; had first two Top 20 wins, at Miami (No.19 Suárez, No.13 Schnyder).

2006 - Second Top 100 season (finished at No.55); SF at Canberra (l. to Cho); QF five times, at Pattaya City, Bogotá, Charleston, Istanbul, Budapest; reached 3r once and 2r seven times (incl. Australian Open, Roland Garros); fell 1r 11 times (incl. other two majors) and in Tour qualifying twice; had two Top 20 wins, at Charleston (No.14 Vaidisova) and Berlin (No.14 Groenefeld); made Top 50 debut on January 16 (after Canberra; rose from No.53 to No.44) and reached career-high No.35 on July 10 (after Wimbledon).

2007 - QF four times, at Gold Coast, Hobart, Istanbul, Seoul; reached 2r four times (incl. Roland Garros); fell 1r 13 times (incl. other three majors) and in Tour qualifying six times.

2008 - QF at Bogotá; reached 2r three times (incl. Australian Open); fell 1r six times (incl. Roland Garros, Wimbledon) and in Tour qualifying eight times (incl. US Open).
SINGLES
Winner: 2004 - ITF/Orbetello-ITA; 2003 - ITF/Campobasso-ITA, ITF/Gorizia-ITA; 2000 - ITF/Midlothian, VA-USA, ITF/Cali-COL; 1999 - ITF/Santiago 2-CHI.
Finalist (1): 2005 - Budapest.
Semifinalist (3): 2006 - Canberra; 2005 - Seoul; 2002 - Bogotá.
Quarterfinalist (16): 2008 - Bogotá; 2007 - Gold Coast, Hobart, Istanbul, Seoul; 2006 - Pattaya City, Bogotá, Charleston, Istanbul, Budapest; 2005 - Bogotá, Acapulco, Stockholm; 2004 - Bogotá; 2003 - Bogotá; 2001 - Bogotá.

ADDITIONAL
Colombian Fed Cup Team, 1996, 1999-2003, 2005; Colombian Olympic Team, 2004.
Currently without a coach ... Full name is Catalina Castaño Alvarez ... Began playing at age 10; favorite surface is red clay ... Father, Augusto, is a lawyer; mother, Maria, is an insurance agent; older sister, Gina, is a dentist; younger sister, Valentina, is a student ... Graduated from high school in 1995 first in her class ... Favorites include movie Passion Of The Christ, book Amor En Los Tiempos Del Colera and actors Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts ... Enjoys mountain climbing, in-line skating, reading, watching movies ... Most memorable experiences were being present at her niece's birth and when she became a born-again Christian.

Official Website: www.catacastano.com