Residence: Santiago, Chile Wife, Margarita; Daughter, Margarita
Singles titles: 4, 1982--(1) Bordeaux 1981--(1) Santiago
1979--(2) Barcelona, Santiago
Doubles titles: 25, as follows:
1987--(2) Monte Carlo, Boston (w/Gomez)
1986--(5) Indianapolis, Tournament of Champions, Boston, Washington,
Stuttgart (w/Gomez)
1985--(2) Hamburg (w/Gomez), Washington (w/Pecci)
1983--(1) Vina del Mar (w/Prajoux)
1982--(1) Bordeaux (w/Gomez)
1981--(5) Hamburg, Rome, Madrid, Quito, Santiago (w/Gomez)
1980--(5) Hamburg, Washington Star, Madrid, Quito, Buenos Aires (w/Gomez)
1979--(2) Barcelona (w/Franulovic), Santiago (w/Pecci)
1977--(2) Berlin, Bogota (w/Prajoux)
1989- Doubles Winner at Vina del Mar Ch. (w/Clerc).
1986- Winner at Vina del Mar Ch.
1985- R16 at French Open; Doubles Semifinalist at Buenos Aires (w/Prajoux)
1984- Quarterfinalist at Indianapolis; Doubles runner-up at Nice (w/Gomez)
Best Grand Slam result: QF at 1978/79/80 French Open; Doubles runner-up at
1982 French (w/Prajoux).
Won the 1986 ATP Doubles Team of the Year Award (w/Gomez).
Qualified for the 1986 Masters Doubles (w/Gomez).
Qualified for the 1981 Masters Doubles (w/Gomez) but withdrew due to
injury.
Gildemeister is a man whose career record--though substantial--is not
nearly as impressive as his hospitalization chart. The Chilean has overcome
various physical and viral ailments the past few years to continue his
playing career. He missed the initial segment of the 1984 campaign while
recovering from appendicitis, that struck just as he was rebounding from a
five-month layoff with a back injury so severe one doctor suggested he retire
before doing permanent damage; and in 1981 typhus was the unseen enemy. It
is easy to see why Gildemeister might feel he has earned his place on the
tour perhaps more than any other player.
Gildemeister hits both his forehand and backhand with a two-fisted
stroke, and although competing as a collegian on the cement courts of the
University of Southern California, these days he practically refuses to step
on any court not made of slow clay.
Gildemeister has had credible success in singles over the years, but it
is in doubles that he has excelled. He and Andres Gomez won five Grand Prix
doubles titles in 1980, earning a spot in the Masters, only to be forced to
withdraw when he was bed-ridden with typhus.
He is also a devoted family man, enjoying nothing better than spending
time with his wife and daughter.