Máximo González
Máximo González Mereira is an Argentine professional tennis player known primarily for his success in doubles competitions. Born on July 20, 1983, in Tandil, Buenos Aires Province, he turned professional in 2002 and has achieved a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 10 on September 11, 2023.[1][2][3] González, who plays right-handed with a two-handed backhand, began his career focusing on both singles and doubles but transitioned predominantly to doubles after reaching a career-high singles ranking of No. 58 in July 2009.[4][2] His best singles result at a Grand Slam was a third-round appearance at the 2009 French Open.[4] In doubles, he has won 19 ATP titles with nine different partners, including a career-best five titles in 2023 alongside Andrés Molteni at the Rio Open, Barcelona Open, Washington Open, Cincinnati Masters, and Córdoba Open.[5] In 2024, he secured two more titles with Molteni at the Córdoba Open and Barcelona Open, both on clay.[6][7] His most notable Grand Slam performances include semifinals in doubles at the 2008 US Open with Juan Mónaco and the 2021 Wimbledon Championships with Simone Bolelli.[4] González has also represented Argentina in Davis Cup ties and competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, partnering with Molteni in men's doubles.[8] As of November 2025, he continues to compete actively on the ATP Tour, with a career doubles win-loss record of 281–218 and total prize money exceeding $4.5 million.[1][2]Early life and background
Family and upbringing
Máximo González was born on July 20, 1983, in Tandil, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.[1] His father, Juan Carlos González, passed away in 2008, while his mother, Olga, worked as a housewife.[4] He has an older brother, Gustavo, who is a doctor, and an older sister, Gabriela, who is a kindergarten teacher.[4] González grew up in Tandil, a city known for producing several prominent Argentine tennis players, including Juan Martín del Potro, Diego Junqueira, Juan Mónaco, and Mariano Zabaleta.[4] Before turning professional in 2002, he attended San José College in Tandil, where he balanced his education with early athletic pursuits.[4] During his childhood, González idolized tennis legend Pete Sampras, as well as Argentine soccer icon Diego Maradona.[4] He began training in tennis at the age of four, laying the foundation for his future career in the sport.[4]Introduction to tennis
Máximo González began playing tennis at the age of four in his hometown of Tandil, Argentina, a city with a strong local tennis culture that has produced several notable Argentine players.[4][9] He received early training at clubs in Tandil, honing a right-handed playing style with a two-handed backhand, which became foundational to his game.[1] During his junior career, González focused primarily on local and regional tournaments, achieving limited national or international recognition. He achieved a career-high ranking of No. 378 on the ITF Junior Circuit on December 3, 2001, with an overall win-loss record of 8–3.[10] This period emphasized grassroots development rather than high-profile competition, reflecting the supportive yet modest tennis environment in Tandil. Inspired by the town's rich tennis heritage, González turned professional in 2002 at the age of 19, marking his transition from amateur play to the ATP circuit.[2] He is known by the nickname "Machi," a moniker given by childhood friends that has persisted throughout his career.[4]Professional career
Singles career
González turned professional in 2002, beginning his career on the ITF Futures circuit.[2] He earned his first ATP points in 2004 after strong performances in lower-level events.[11] Between 2004 and 2005, he secured six ITF Futures singles titles, building momentum on clay courts in South America.[12] This success led to his first ATP Tour main draw appearance as a qualifier at the 2005 Buenos Aires event, where he notched a notable second-round upset over fourth seed Carlos Moyá.[13] In 2006, González achieved his first ATP quarterfinal at the Viña del Mar tournament, defeating higher-ranked opponents before falling to José Acasuso.[14] He ended the year ranked No. 144, reflecting steady progress on the Challenger circuit.[11] The following year, 2007, marked his direct entry debut at the Costa do Sauípe ATP event. Later that season, he captured his first Challenger singles title at the Asunción event, defeating strong local competition on clay. This victory propelled him to a career-high ranking of No. 107 by year's end.[11] González's form peaked in 2008 and 2009, with his best Grand Slam result coming in the form of a third-round appearance at the 2009 French Open, where he pushed higher seeds before exiting.[4] He reached the semifinals at the Kitzbühel ATP event in 2009, a run that contributed to his career-high singles ranking of No. 58 on July 6.[4] Over his career, he amassed 24 Challenger singles titles from 33 finals, primarily on clay surfaces.[12] From 2010 to 2014, González faced persistent challenges from injuries and inconsistent form, limiting his ATP appearances and results.[12] His last ATP main draw win came in 2014, after which he shifted focus toward doubles while occasionally competing in singles qualifiers. By 2015, he effectively retired from serious singles contention, with his final Grand Slam entry a first-round loss at the Australian Open. Overall, his ATP Tour singles record stands at 30 wins and 60 losses, with no titles claimed at that level.[4] This modest singles success paralleled his growing achievements in doubles starting around 2008.[4]Doubles career
González began his doubles career in the ITF Futures circuit in 2002, gradually building experience before making his ATP Tour debut in 2005.[4] His early efforts laid the foundation for net play skills honed from his singles background, where he competed primarily on clay courts.[15] From 2008 to 2014, González established himself as a reliable doubles player, often partnering with compatriot Juan Mónaco and others like Eduardo Schwank and Diego Schwartzman. This period saw his breakthrough at the 2008 US Open, where he and Mónaco reached the semifinals, defeating strong pairs en route before falling to Leander Paes and Lukáš Dlouhy 6-2, 6-0.[4] In 2011, he advanced to the French Open quarterfinals with Juan Mónaco, showcasing improved consistency on clay. During these years, he secured one ATP title (2008 Valencia with Mónaco), highlighting his adaptability across surfaces.[5] Between 2015 and 2020, González's doubles results were inconsistent as he prioritized singles, though he still claimed four titles, such as the 2015 Croatia Open Umag with André Sá and the 2016 Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech with Guillermo Durán. His best Grand Slam showing in this span was a third-round appearance at the 2017 Australian Open.[5] In 2021, González formed a successful new partnership with Italian Simone Bolelli, marking a resurgence. They reached the Wimbledon semifinals, their deepest Grand Slam run together, after upsetting higher seeds on grass.[4] The duo won three titles that year— the Chile Open in Santiago, the Emilia-Romagna Open in Parma, and the Mallorca Championships—plus a runner-up finish in Eastbourne, propelling González into the top 25 in doubles rankings for the first time.[5] From 2022 to 2023, González teamed up with countryman Andrés Molteni, forming one of the tour's most consistent pairs. They captured six titles, starting with the 2022 Gijón Open and including the 2023 Rio Open and a breakthrough ATP Masters 1000 victory at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, where they defeated Jamie Murray and Michael Venus 6-2, 6-3 in the final.[16] Grand Slam highlights included a quarterfinal at the 2022 Australian Open and quarterfinals at both the 2023 French Open and US Open. This success peaked with a career-high doubles ranking of No. 10 in September 2023.[1] The partnership with Molteni continued strongly into 2024, yielding two titles at the Córdoba Open and Barcelona Open, both on clay, and consistent deep runs, such as quarterfinals at the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open. In 2024, González and Molteni represented Argentina at the Paris Olympics, where they lost in the first round to Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-4.[8] They reached the final of the Shanghai Masters 1000, losing to Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektić 6-4, 6-4, which underscored their competitiveness at the elite level.[17] As of November 2025, González and Molteni remain a formidable team, though they fell in the Chile Open final to Nicolás Barrientos and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli 6-3, 6-2. González holds a current doubles ranking of No. 36, with an overall ATP doubles record of 281 wins and 218 losses across 19 titles from 27 finals. Since his 2021 resurgence, he has been coached by Cristian Genessio and Martín Rodríguez, who have refined his tactical approach and endurance.[1][18][19]Playing style
González is a right-handed player who uses a two-handed backhand. He considers clay his best surface and identifies his forehand as his primary strength. His favorite tournament is the French Open.[4]Career achievements and statistics
Grand Slam and Masters performances
González has achieved his deepest runs in Grand Slam doubles at the semifinals of the 2008 US Open partnering Juan Mónaco and the 2021 Wimbledon Championships with Simone Bolelli.[4] He also reached the quarterfinals at the 2024 Australian Open with Andrés Molteni, and at the French Open in 2011 with Mónaco and in 2023 with Molteni.[20] His overall Grand Slam doubles record stands at 59–45 across 21 appearances from 2008 to 2025. In singles, González never advanced beyond the third round at any Grand Slam.| Tournament | Best Result | Year | Partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | Quarterfinals | 2024 | Andrés Molteni |
| French Open | Quarterfinals | 2011, 2023 | Juan Mónaco (2011), Andrés Molteni (2023) |
| Wimbledon | Semifinals | 2021 | Simone Bolelli |
| US Open | Semifinals | 2008 | Juan Mónaco |
ATP Tour finals
González has contested 27 ATP Tour doubles finals, achieving a record of 19 titles and 8 runner-up finishes, with no singles finals reached.[1] His doubles success spans multiple partners and surfaces, contributing significantly to his career earnings, which exceed $4.5 million in combined singles and doubles prize money as of 2025.[22] He won titles in 12 different years, including three in 2021, one in 2022, a career-best five in 2023, and two in 2024. Among his runner-up finishes, notable ones include the 2008 Umag Open, the 2021 Acapulco Open, the 2024 Rolex Shanghai Masters, and the 2025 Chile Open.[21][24] His career-high doubles ranking of No. 10 was attained in September 2023 after winning the Cincinnati Masters 1000 with Andrés Molteni.[16]Challenger and ITF finals
González achieved significant success on the Challenger and ITF circuits during the early stages of his professional career, using these tournaments as foundational building blocks to accumulate ranking points and gain experience. In singles, he reached 33 finals across Challenger and ITF events, recording 24 wins and 9 losses. His breakthrough came in 2007 with his first Challenger title at the Como Challenger, where he defeated Simone Vagnozzi in the final on clay. This victory, along with multiple titles in 2008 and 2009—such as wins in San Benedetto and other clay-court events—helped propel him into the ATP top 100 for the first time.[25][12] In doubles, González was particularly dominant at the lower levels, reaching 70 finals with a 37–33 record. He secured his initial titles in ITF Futures tournaments between 2002 and 2006, often partnering with fellow Argentines on clay surfaces to hone his net skills and baseline consistency. Notable Challenger successes included reaching the final at the 2007 Montevideo Challenger, where he gained valuable exposure against higher-ranked pairs. These performances laid the groundwork for his transition to the ATP Tour in 2007 by providing essential ranking points and confidence.[15][12] Following his rise on the main tour, González ceased participation in Challenger and ITF events after 2015, focusing instead on ATP-level competitions.[22]Performance timelines
Singles
Máximo González's singles career on the ATP Tour featured limited main draw success, peaking in 2009 with a career-high ranking of No. 58 and a 13–13 record that year.[4] His overall ATP-level singles record stands at 30–60, with his final main draw appearance in 2020.[4] After 2014, he shifted focus to doubles while occasionally attempting singles qualifying rounds.[26] The following table summarizes his main draw performances in key tournament categories year by year, using standard abbreviations (1R for first round, 2R for second round, 3R for third round; – indicates no main draw participation).| Tournament / Category | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1R | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| French Open | – | – | – | – | 3R | – | 1R | – | – | – | 1R | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Wimbledon | – | – | – | – | 1R | – | 1R | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| US Open | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1R | – | 2R | 1R | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Masters 1000 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| ATP 500 / 250 | – | – | – | – | QF | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Win–Loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 4–5 | 13–13 | 3–9 | 3–13 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–4 | 0–6 | 2–5 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 |
Doubles
Máximo González has demonstrated remarkable longevity in doubles tennis, competing at the ATP level from 2005 through 2025, with his career marked by steady progression from early-round appearances to deep runs in major events during his 30s and 40s. Partnering primarily with Andrés Molteni since 2022, and earlier with players like Juan Mónaco and Simone Bolelli, González achieved his peak form in the 2020s, including his first Masters 1000 title and multiple Grand Slam semifinals. His overall Grand Slam doubles record stands at 59–43 as of November 2025.[4][28] The following table summarizes González's key doubles results year by year, highlighting best performances in major categories. Early career entries reflect typical second- and third-round exits, while later years show quarterfinals and beyond. ATP 500 and 250 notations indicate wins (W) or finals (F), representative of his 19 career titles across these levels.[1][16][32]| Year | Grand Slams | Masters 1000 | ATP 500/250 | Win-Loss (Doubles) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1R | Did not play | - | 0–1 |
| 2006 | 1R | Did not play | - | 0–1 |
| 2007 | 2R | Did not play | - | 1–1 |
| 2008 | SF (USO w/Mónaco) | 2R | - | 5–2 |
| 2009 | 2R | 1R | W (Kitzbühel) | 12–8 |
| 2010 | 2R | 1R | - | 8–10 |
| 2011 | 3R | 2R | F (Nice) | 15–12 |
| 2012 | 2R | Did not play | - | 10–9 |
| 2013 | 2R | 1R | - | 9–11 |
| 2014 | QF (FO w/Mónaco) | 2R | W (Bordeaux Challenger, but ATP: -) | 14–13 |
| 2015 | 1R | 1R | W (Umag) | 18–14 |
| 2016 | 2R | 1R | W (Marrakech) | 22–15 |
| 2017 | 1R | Did not play | - | 11–16 |
| 2018 | QF (FO w/Jarry) | 2R | W (São Paulo) | 25–18 |
| 2019 | 2R | 1R | W (Bastad) | 28–20 |
| 2020 | 2R | QF (Cincinnati) | W (Marseille) | 30–19 |
| 2021 | SF (Wimbledon w/Bolelli) | 2R | W (Mallorca, Umag) | 35–22 |
| 2022 | 3R | 3R | W (Rio, Córdoba) | 40–25 |
| 2023 | QF (USO w/Molteni; QF FO) | W (Cincinnati w/Molteni) | W (5 titles: Córdoba, Rio, Barcelona, Washington, Cincinnati) | 52–24 |
| 2024 | QF (AO w/Molteni) | F (Shanghai w/Molteni) | W (2 titles: Córdoba, Barcelona) | 48–28 |
| 2025 | 3R (Wimbledon w/Molteni, USO w/Molteni) | 2R | SF (Rio) | 30–25 (as of November 2025) |