Jennifer Capriati, born on March 29, 1976, is an American tennis player who gained early fame as a teenage prodigy. Despite personal challenges that temporarily impacted her career, she made a comeback, securing victories at the Australian Open in 2001 and 2002 and the French Open in 2001.
After turning professional in 1990, Capriati set a number of records, notably becoming the youngest player to reach the semifinals at a Grand Slam event (the French Open) and to win a match at Wimbledon. In late 1990 she won her first professional title, the Puerto Rico Open, and finished the year ranked in the WTA top 10—the youngest player ever to do so. In 1992 she won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
The pressures of professional play and her parents’ divorce, however, began to take their toll on Capriati. After an unexpected first-round loss at the U.S. Open in 1993, she took a break from the tour. Her troubles continued, however, as she was arrested for shoplifting and later for possession of marijuana; she was not convicted in either case. In 1999 she rededicated herself to tennis, and she went on to win the Australian Open (2001, 2002) and the French Open (2001). Due to injuries, Capriati retired after the 2004 season.