Latin American female tennis players lack discipline, says Gavaldon

 Mexico's Angelica Gavaldon, who competed on the WTA Tour from 1990 to 2000, said Latin America's women's tennis players were not performing well because they lack discipline.

"Honestly, I don't feel that the federations can do much or that it's completely the responsibility of the federations. I feel that there is support, but the players are always unhappy," the 43-year-old Gavaldon told Efe.

Gavaldon, who had a career high ranking of No.34 in the world in 1996, said the national tennis federations were not at fault over the lack of talent coming from the region, and blamed players instead.

The players from the region who succeed, do so due to "individual and family efforts", Gavaldon said, adding that "support from private companies" helps in some cases.

"The main problem is the players, their lack of discipline and (that they do not) understand what it takes to be a champion," said Gavaldon, who reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in 1990 and 1995.

The retired Mexican tennis player, who was born in the US, said players must understand that they have to "achieve results to get support".

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) provides assistance to players "when they have shown results, but we are used to saying that it's a federation's fault when the reality is different and there are many factors that influence a tennis player's development", Gavaldon, who lives in California and works as a coach, said.

Gavaldon, who compiled a career singles record of 184-162, competed at the four Grand Slam events between 1992 and 1995.

Her best performance came at the 1990 Australian Open, where she defeated Czech world No. 4 Jana Novotna to reach the quarter-finals.

Gavaldon represented Mexico at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the 1996 Atlanta Games.

She won three International Tennis Federation (ITF) titles during her career and is the only Mexican player to ever reach the Top 100.