By Chris Oddo | Thursday, May 1, 2014

 

Former World No. 5 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile will join the gang of celebrity coaches, as Colombian Santiago Giraldo has hired him as an advisor.

Photo Source: Reuters

Former World No. 5 and Australian Open finalist Fernando Gonzalez has been hired to coach rising Colombian star Santiago Giraldo, the web site El Tiempo reports.

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Gonzalez, who in 2007 became the first Chilean to play back-to-back top ten seasons since Marcelo Rios, was a former Australian Open finalist and winner of eleven ATP titles. He also owns three Olympic medals, including the gold in doubles at the Athens Olympics in 2004. He retired in 2012 when knee injuries had hampered his ability to compete.

Giraldo will still be coached by Felipe Beron, and will use Gonzalez primarily as an advisor. After a final appearance in Barcelona, Giraldo sits eight spots shy of his career-high ranking, at No. 47 in the world. The 26-year-old became just the third Colombian in ATP history to reach multiple ATP finals after he upset Nicolas Almagro last week in Barcelona.