Mariana Duque Mariño

Mariana Duque Mariño, born on August twelfth, nineteen eighty-nine, is a distinguished former Colombian tennis player who turned professional in two thousand five. Her career reached a significant milestone when she achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. sixty-six in October two thousand fifteen.

Duque's journey in tennis began on the ITF Junior Circuit in two thousand four. She made a remarkable impact as a junior player, notably reaching the final of the girls' singles tournament at the two thousand seven French Open. In a thrilling semifinal, she triumphed over the then world No. one junior, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, after defeating the tenth-seeded Ksenia Pervak in the first round. Despite facing challenges, including losing her tennis rackets at the airport and having to compete with borrowed equipment, she showcased her resilience by reaching the final, where she ultimately lost to Alizé Cornet in a closely contested three-set match.

In May two thousand six, Duque celebrated her first professional tournament victory in Mazatlán, Mexico. This win marked the beginning of her ascent in the professional ranks. One of her most notable achievements came during the two thousand nine French Open, where she stunned the tennis world by defeating the twenty-sixth seed, Anna Chakvetadze, in the opening round, again in a gripping three-set match.