Who is Monica Puig the Puerto Rico player who won the gold medal in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games women's tennis final?

By Rio 2016 14/08/2016 16H41

Puerto Rican beat German Angelique Kerber 6-4,4-6,6-1 in the Olympic tennis final

Who is Monica Puig?

Monica Puig is the new star of the Olympic Games after beating no.2 seed Angelique Kerber in the final of the women's tennis final at the Olympic Tennis Centre.

Mónica Puig Marchán was born on 27 September 1993 in Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her father is Cuban American of Spanish origin and her mother is Puerto Rican also of Spanish descent.

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At Rio 2016, Puig became the first woman in history to win a medal for Puerto Rico at the Olympic Games, and the third Puerto Rican overall to compete for a gold medal at an individual sport.

Jumping for joy: Puig reacts after guaranteeing at least a silver medal (Clive Brunskill)

Boxer Luis Ortiz won a silver medal in 1984 and and freestyle wrestler Jaime Espinal secured silver at the London 2012 games.

How good at tennis is she?

Puig, who turned pro in 2010 won her first, and so far only, WTA singles title at the 2014 Internationaux de Strasbourg. She has also six singles titles on the international Tennis Federation circuit during her career.

Puerto Rican powerhouse: Monica Puig has set the Olympic tennis alight (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

On July 11, 2016, she achieved her best singles ranking of world number 33. and peaked at world number 263 in the doubles rankings on July 23, 2012. The 22 year-old began the year ranked 92nd and is currently ranked 34 in the world.

Who did Puig beat to win Olympic gold?

Puig defeated Polona Hercog, Garbiñe Muguruza, Laura Siegemund, Petra Kvitova and finally Angelique Kerber (6-4,4-6,6-1) in the final at the Olympic Tennis Stadium. As a result, Puig is Puerto Rico's first female Olympic medalist.

How is her name pronounced?

Her name looks like 'POO-IG' but is actually prounounced 'POOTCH'. Puig is a Catalan name.

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A Puerto Rican woman has won Olympic gold before

Monica Puig isn't the first Puerto Rican women's tennis player to win a gold medal at the Olympics. She's just the first to win one for Puerto Rico. Gigi Fernandez, a Puerto Rican who won Olympic gold in doubles in 1992 and 1996, did so while representing the USA.

Monica was excited to be in the final...

And these famous Puerto Ricans were happy too...

Del Potro knocks out Nadal to set up men's final match with Murray

Great Britain's Andy Murray defeated Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-4 in their semi-final. Photo: (Getty Images/Clive Brunskill)
Defending champion Murray advanced to the final having only dropped one set during Rio 2016. Photo: (Getty Images/Clive Brunskill)
Argentina's Juan del Potro defeated Spain's Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (5) to advance to the final. Photo: (Getty Images/Clive Brunskill)
Juan del Potro continued his streak of upsets, defeating no.3 seed Rafael Nadal. The Argentinian knocked out no.1 seed Novak Djokovic in the opening round. Photo: (Getty Images/Clive Drunskill)
Monica Puig won Puerto Rico's first-ever gold, defeating German Angelique Kerber 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. Photo: (Getty Images/Clive Drunskill)
Monica Puig won gold, Angelique Kerber took silver, and Petra Kvitova claimed bronze after defeating Madison Keys 7-5, 2-6, 6-2. Photo: (Getty Images/Clive Drunskill)