Personal

Currently without a coach ... Full name is Catalina Castaño Alvarez ... Began playing at age 10; favorite surface is red clay ... Father, Augusto, is a lawyer; mother, Maria, is an insurance agent; older sister, Gina, is a dentist; younger sister, Valentina, is a psychologist; also has a nephew and loves spending time with her family in hometown of Pereira ... Graduated from high school in 1995 first in her class ... Favorites include movie Passion Of The Christ, book Amor En Los Tiempos Del Colera and actors Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts ... Enjoys mountain climbing, in-line skating, reading, watching movies, visiting friends and talking to them with a good cup of cappuccino, and dancing (salsa, merengue, bachata, vallento and others) ... Most memorable experiences were being present at her niece’s birth and when she became a born-again Christian.

Career Highlights

SINGLES
Finalist (1): 2005 - Budapest.

DOUBLES
Winner (1): 2013 - 125/Cali (w/Duque-Mariño); 2012 - Bastad (w/Duque-Mariño).
Finalist (1): 2013 - Acapulco (w/Duque-Mariño).

ADDITIONAL
Colombian Fed Cup Team, 1996, 1999-2003, 2005; Colombian Olympic Team, 2004.

Career in Review

2014 - Announced retirement in February.

2013 - Fell 1r twice and in qualifying nine times (incl. Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open); won one WTA 125K Series doubles title.

2012 - Reached 2r once; fell 1r once and in qualifying nine times (incl. US Open); won first WTA doubles title; won three doubles titles on ITF Circuit.

2011 - QF at Bogotá; fell in qualifying five times; won one doubles title on ITF Circuit.

2010 - Reached 2r five times; fell in qualifying eight times (incl. Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open).

2009 - Fell 1r twice and in qualifying eight times (incl. Australian Open, Roland Garros, US Open).

2008 - QF at Bogotá; reached 2r three times (incl. Australian Open); fell 1r six times (incl. Roland Garros, Wimbledon) and in qualifying eight times (incl. US Open).

2007 - QF four times at Gold Coast, Hobart, Istanbul, Seoul; reached 2r four times (incl. Roland Garros); fell 1r 13 times (incl. other three majors) and in qualifying six times.

2006 - Another Top 100 season (finishing No.55); SF at Canberra (l. to Cho); QF five times at Pattaya City, Bogotá, Charleston, Istanbul, Budapest; reached 3r once and 2r seven times (incl. Australian Open, Roland Garros); fell 1r 11 times (incl. other two majors) and in qualifying twice; made Top 50 debut on January 16 (after Canberra; rose from No.53 to No.44) and reached career-high No.35 on July 10 (after Wimbledon).

2005 - First Top 100 season (finishing No.59); runner-up at Budapest (l. to Smashnova in final); SF at Seoul (l. to Vaidisova); QF three times, at Bogotá, Acapulco and Stockholm; reached 4r once, 3r once and 2r four times (incl. Roland Garros, US Open); fell 1r seven times (incl. other two majors) and in qualifying twice.

2004 - QF at Bogotá; reached 2r three times; fell 1r five times (incl. Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Olympics, US Open) and in qualifying 11 times (incl. Australian Open); won one singles title on ITF Circuit.

2003 - QF at Bogotá; fell 1r twice (incl. US Open) and in qualifying twice (incl. Australian Open); won two singles titles on ITF Circuit.

2002 - SF at Bogotá (l. to Srebotnik); fell 1r once and in qualifying eight times (incl. Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open).

2001 - QF at Bogotá; reached 2r three times (incl. Roland Garros); fell 1r four times (incl. Wimbledon, US Open) and in qualifying four times; made Top 100 debut on April 9 (rose from No.104 to No.98).

2000 - Reached 2r once; fell in qualifying four times (incl. Roland Garros, US Open); won two singles titles on ITF Circuit.

1999 - Played first WTA main draw at Bogotá, falling 1r (as WC); won one singles title on ITF Circuit.

1998 - Played first WTA qualifying at Bogotá.

1997 - Continued to play on ITF Circuit.

1996 - Continued to play on ITF Circuit.

1995 - Continued to play on ITF Circuit.

1994 - Played first events of career on ITF Circuit in Colombia.