Josh Goffi Explained

Josh Goffi
Fullname:Joshua Goffi
Birth Date:24 January 1979
Birth Place:São Paulo, Brazil
Residence:South Carolina, United States
Plays:Right-handed
Careerprizemoney:$39,165
Highestsinglesranking:No. 488 (16 June 2003)
Doublesrecord:2–2
Doublestitles:0
Highestdoublesranking:No. 121 (5 July 2004)

Joshua "Josh" Goffi (born 24 January 1979) is a former professional tennis player from Brazil.

Biography

Early years

Goffi is the son of tennis coach Carlos Goffi, who coached the McEnroe brothers through his academy. He was born in São Paulo on 24 January 1979. When he was very young the family moved to South Carolina. His mother is an American.[1]

In his younger days he favoured soccer as his sport and it was only at the age of 14 that he began to play tennis, at his own insistence rather than his father's, who was adamant not to pressure his son into the sport.[2]

Tennis career

From 1998 to 2001 he attended Clemson University and was on three occasions named in the All-ACC first team. He made it into the top-10 of the collegiate rankings for both singles and doubles. After graduating with a finance degree in 2001, he competed professionally for four years, most successfully as a doubles player.[3]

His biggest tournament win on the professional tour came when he partnered with Travis Parrott to win a Challenger event at Birmingham, Alabama in 2003. He also notably had a singles win over one-time doubles partner Stan Wawrinka in the qualifying rounds of the 2004 Turin Challenger.

At ATP Tour level he was a quarter-finalist with Ricardo Mello at the 2003 Brasil Open in São Paulo and appeared in the main draw of the Kitzbühel doubles in 2004.

Goffi represented his birth country during his career and in 2004 was called up to Brazil's Davis Cup team, which had been hit by a boycott from its top players.[4] The tie, an Americas Zone match against Paraguay, took place in Bahia. Speaking only a little Portuguese, Goffi played in the doubles beside Alexandre Simoni, a match they won in four sets, versus Paulo Carvallo and Ramón Delgado.[5]

Coaching

His coaching career started in 2006, at Arizona State University, where he worked as an assistant coach for two seasons. This was followed by two years at Duke University, also as an assistant coach.

Since 2011 he has been the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks men's tennis team.[6]

Personal life

Goffi is married to the former professional soccer player Nancy Augustyniak Goffi, who he met while they were both at Clemson University. His sister in-law, Julie Augustyniak, also played soccer professionally.[7]

Challenger titles

Doubles

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Getting to Know Josh Goffi. University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site. 22 April 2017.
  2. News: Tennis gives Goffi plenty of stories to tell - News -. 25 April 2003. GoUpstate.com. 22 April 2017.
  3. News: Gamecocks tab Josh Goffi to lead men's tennis program. 15 June 2010. The State. 22 April 2017.
  4. News: Boycott-hit Brazil name new Davis Cup team. 26 March 2004. The Star. 22 April 2017.
  5. News: Com roupas de inverno na Bahia, Josh Goffi corre para "virar brasileiro". 7 April 2004. Universo Online. Portuguese. 22 April 2017.
  6. Web site: Josh Goffi Bio. University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site. 22 April 2017.
  7. Web site: One On One With U.S. WNT Defender Nancy Augustyniak. 21 October 2005. United States Soccer Federation. 22 April 2017.