Mercedes María Paz (Spanish pronunciation: [meɾˈseðesmaˈɾi.aˈpas]; born 27 June 1966) is a former professional tennis player from Argentina. She won three singles titles on the WTA Tour and reached a career-high ranking of world No. 28 in April 1991. Her best Grand Slam result was the fourth round at the 1986 French Open and the 1990 French Open.

Paz unexpectedly defeated defending champion Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the second round of the 1990 French Open. Later that year, at the Virginia Slims of Worcester, Paz also defeated Sánchez Vicario in the round of 16. Five years before, in the semifinals of the 1985 Brazil Open, she beat top-seeded Gabriela Sabatini en route to beating Peruvian Laura Arraya for the title. In so doing, Paz became the first Argentinian woman to capture a major WTA event. In addition to wins over Sánchez Vicario and Sabatini, she also defeated top-seeded Jana Novotná in three sets to reach the semifinals of the Belgian Ladies Open in Brussels in 1989. The previous year, at the 1988 Hilton Head tournament, Paz had defeated Novotná in the round of 32 for the first time.

WTA career finals

Singles 6 (3 titles, 3 runner-ups)

Legend
Virginia Slims (1–1)
Tier I (0–0)
Tier II (0–0)
Tier III (0–0)
Tier IV & V (2–2)
ResultW-LDateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Mar 1985São Paulo Open, BrazilClayPeru Laura Arraya5–7, 6–1, 6–4
Loss1–1Oct 1986Singapore OpenHard (i)United States Gigi Fernández6–4, 2–6, 6–4
Loss1–2Oct 1988Puerto Rico OpenHardAustralia Anne Minter2–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win2–2Nov 1988Guarujá Cup, BrazilHardCanada Rene Simpson7–5, 6–2
Loss2–3Jul 1989Belgian OpenClayCzechoslovakia Radka Zrubáková7–6(8–6), 6–4
Win3–3May 1990Strasbourg, FranceClayUnited States Ann Grossman6–2, 6–3

Doubles 40 (22 titles, 18 runner-ups)

Legend
WTA Championships (0–1)
Virginia Slims (7–2)
Tier I (0–1)
Tier II (1–5)
Tier III (2–1)
Tier IV & V (12–8)
ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1.Oct 1984Japan OpenHardUnited States Ronni ReisArgentina Emilse Raponi-Longo Argentina Adriana Villagrán6–4, 7–5
Win2.Mar 1985São Paulo Open, BrazilClayArgentina Gabriela SabatiniHungary Csilla Bartos Brazil Niege Dias7–5, 6–4
Win3.Aug 1985VS New York, U.S.HardArgentina Gabriela SabatiniCzechoslovakia Kateřina Böhmová Czechoslovakia Andrea Holíková5–7, 6–4, 6–3
Win4.Nov 1986Puerto Rico OpenHardUnited States Lori McNeilUnited States Gigi Fernández United States Robin White6–2, 3–6, 6–4
Win5.Dec 1986Argentine OpenClayUnited States Lori McNeilNetherlands Manon Bollegraf Netherlands Nicole Muns-Jagerman6–1, 2–6, 6–1
Loss1.Mar 1987South Carolina Open, U.S.ClayUnited States Candy ReynoldsPeru Laura Arraya Denmark Tine Scheuer-Larsen6–4, 6–4
Win6.Apr 1987Family Circle Cup, U.S.ClayWest Germany Eva PfaffUnited States Zina Garrison United States Lori McNeil7–6(8–6), 7–5
Win7.Nov 1987Argentine OpenClayArgentina Gabriela SabatiniCanada Jill Hetherington Switzerland Christiane Jolissaint6–2, 6–2
Loss2.Dec 1987Brasil OpenHardCanada Jill HetheringtonUnited States Katrina Adams United States Cheryl Jones6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Win8.Jul 1988Swedish OpenClayItaly Sandra CecchiniItaly Linda Ferrando Italy Silvia La Fratta6–0, 6–2
Win9.Jul 1988Belgian OpenClayDenmark Tine Scheuer-LarsenBulgaria Katerina Maleeva Italy Raffaella Reggi7–6(7–3), 6–1
Win10.Nov 1988Guarujá Cup, BrazilHardArgentina Bettina FulcoNetherlands Carin Bakkum Netherlands Simone Schilder6–3, 6–4
Win11.May 1989Ilva Trophy, ItalyClaySocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sabrina GolešFrance Sophie Amiach France Emmanuelle Derly6–2, 6–2
Loss3.May 1989Italian OpenClayNetherlands Manon BollegrafAustralia Elizabeth Smylie Australia Janine Thompson6–4, 6–3
Win12.May 1989Internationaux de Strasbourg, FranceClayAustria Judith WiesnerSouth Africa Lise Gregory United States Gretchen Magers6–3, 6–3
Loss4.Jul 1989Arcachon Cup, FranceClayNetherlands Brenda Schultz-McCarthyItaly Sandra Cecchini Argentina Patricia Tarabini6–3, 7–6(7–5)
Winner13.Jul 1989Belgian OpenClayNetherlands Manon BollegrafNetherlands Carin Bakkum Netherlands Simone Schilder6–1, 6–2
Win14.Jul 1989Swedish OpenClayDenmark Tine Scheuer-LarsenSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sabrina Goleš Bulgaria Katerina Maleeva6–2, 7–5
Win15.Dec 1989Guarujá Cup, BrazilHardArgentina Patricia TarabiniBrazil Cláudia Chabalgoity Brazil Luciana Corsato6–2, 6–2
Loss5.Apr 1990Family Circle Cup, U.S.ClaySoviet Union Natasha ZverevaUnited States Martina Navratilova Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario6–2, 6–1
Win16.Apr 1990Amelia Island Championships, U.S.ClaySpain Arantxa Sánchez VicarioCzechoslovakia Regina Kordová Hungary Andrea Temesvári7–6(7–5), 6–4
Win17.Apr 1990Tampa Open, U.S.ClaySpain Arantxa Sánchez VicarioPeru Laura Arraya Italy Sandra Cecchini6–2, 6–0
Win18.Apr 1990Barcelona Open, SpainClaySpain Arantxa Sánchez VicarioSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sabrina Goleš Argentina Patricia Tarabini6–7(7–9), 6–2, 6–1
Win19.Jul 1990Swedish OpenClayDenmark Tine Scheuer-LarsenNetherlands Carin Bakkum Netherlands Nicole Muns-Jagerman6–3, 6–7(10–12), 6–2
Loss6.Aug 1990LA Championships, U.S.HardArgentina Gabriela SabatiniUnited States Gigi Fernández Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná6–3, 4–6, 6–4
Loss7.Oct 1990Filderstadt Grand Prix, West GermanyHard (i)Spain Arantxa Sánchez VicarioUnited States Mary Joe Fernández United States Zina Garrison7–5, 6–3
Loss8.Nov 1990WTA Championships, New YorkCarpet (i)Spain Arantxa Sánchez VicarioUnited States Kathy Jordan Australia Elizabeth Smylie7–6(7–4), 6–4
Loss9.Apr 1991Amelia Island Championships, U.S.ClaySoviet Union Natasha ZverevaSpain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Czechoslovakia Helena Suková4–6, 6–2, 6–2
Loss10.May 1991Internationaux de Strasbourg, FranceClayNetherlands Manon BollegrafUnited States Lori McNeil United States Stephanie Rehe6–7(2–7), 6–4, 6–4
Loss11.Jul 1991Internazionali di Palermo, ItalyClayItaly Laura GarroneCzechoslovakia Petra Langrová France Mary Pierce6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–3
Loss12.Jul 1991San Marino OpenClayItaly Laura GarroneAustralia Kerry-Anne Guse Japan Akemi Nishiya6–0, 6–3
Loss13.Nov 1991VS Indianapolis, U.S.Hard (i)United States Katrina AdamsUnited States Patty Fendick United States Gigi Fernández6–4, 6–2
Win20.Dec 1991São Paulo Open, BrazilClayArgentina Inés GorrochateguiUnited States Renata Baranski United States Laura Glitz6–2, 6–2
Loss14.May 1992Internationaux de Strasbourg, FranceClayUnited States Lori McNeilUnited States Patty Fendick Czechoslovakia Andrea Strnadová6–3, 6–4
Loss15.Aug 1992San Diego Open, U.S.HardSpain Conchita MartínezCzechoslovakia Jana Novotná Latvia Larisa Neiland6–1, 6–4
Loss16.Apr 1993Ilva Trophy, ItalyClayCzech Republic Petra LangrováUnited States Debbie Graham Netherlands Brenda Schultz-McCarthy6–0, 6–4
Loss17.Jul 1993New Haven Open, U.S.HardSwitzerland Manuela Maleeva-FragniereAustralia Elizabeth Smylie Czech Republic Helena Suková6–1, 6–2
Win21.Jan 1994Auckland Open, New ZealandHardCanada Patricia HyAustralia Jenny Byrne Australia Julie Richardson6–4, 7–6(7–3)
Win22.Apr 1995Bol Open, CroatiaClayCanada Rene SimpsonItaly Laura Golarsa Romania Irina Spîrlea7–5, 6–2
Loss18.Jul 1997Internazionali di Palermo, ItalyClayArgentina Florencia LabatItaly Silvia Farina Elia Austria Barbara Schett2–6, 6–1, 6–4

ITF Circuit finals

$75,000 tournaments
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments
$10,000 tournaments

Singles (2–3)

OutcomeNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Runner-up1.11 June 1984ITF Lyon, FranceClayBulgaria Katerina Maleeva6–7, 6–3, 2–6
Runner-up2.25 February 1985ITF São Paulo, BrazilClaySweden Helena Dahlström7–5, 4–6, 4–6
Winner1.10 March 1985ITF Curitiba, BrazilClayUnited States Renee Blount6–1, 6–2
Winner2.1 April 1985ITF Buenos Aires, ArgentinaClayArgentina Mariana Pérez Roldán6–3, 6–2
Runner-up3.30 September 1996ITF Newport Beach, United StatesHardUkraine Elena Brioukhovets2–6, 4–6

Doubles (9–3)

OutcomeNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Runner-up1.29 January 1984ITF Miami, United StatesHardUnited States Ronni ReisUnited States Heather Crowe South Africa Rene Mentz4–6, 3–6
Winner1.11 June 1984Lyon, FranceClayUnited States Ronni ReisFrance Isabelle Demongeot France Nathalie Tauziat1–6, 6–3, 6–3
Winner2.15 November 1993La Plata, ArgentinaClayArgentina Laura MontalvoBrazil Cláudia Chabalgoity Paraguay Larissa Schaerer6–1, 6–4
Winner3.14 November 1994Buenos Aires, ArgentinaClayArgentina Laura MontalvoSlovakia Patrícia Marková Japan Yuka Tanaka6–4, 6–3
Winner4.25 February 1996Bogotá, ColombiaClayGreece Christína PapadákiHungary Virág Csurgó Czech Republic Kateřina Kroupová-Šišková7–6, 6–2
Winner5.30 September 1996Newport Beach, United StatesHardCanada Rene SimpsonUnited States Erika deLone Australia Nicole Pratt6–3, 6–1
Runner-up2.20 October 1996Hayward, United StatesHardAustralia Annabel EllwoodCanada Jill Hetherington United States Kathy Rinaldi5–7, 2–6
Runner-up3.23 February 1997Bogotá, ColombiaClayArgentina Laura MontalvoNetherlands Seda Noorlander Greece Christína Papadáki6–7, 6–4, 5–7
Winner6.27 July 1997Istanbul, TurkeyHardItaly Laura GolarsaAustria Sylvia Plischke Germany Marlene Weingärtner3–6, 6–3, 6–3
Winner7.5 October 1997Buenos Aires, ArgentinaClayArgentina Laura MontalvoArgentina Celeste Contín Argentina Romina Ottoboni4–6, 6–2, 6–4
Winner8.2 November 1997Mogi das Cruzes, BrazilClayArgentina Laura MontalvoBrazil Miriam D'Agostini Brazil Vanessa Menga6–2, 6–0
Winner9.27 September 1998ITF Tucumán, ArgentinaClayArgentina Patricia TarabiniArgentina Luciana Masante Argentina Laura Montalvo5–7, 6–4, 7–6

External links

Awards
Preceded byUnited States Gretchen RushKaren Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award 1990Succeeded byAustria Judith Wiesner