Monica Puig Marchán, born on September 27, 1993, is a trailblazing former professional tennis player from Puerto Rico. She etched her name in history by becoming the first Puerto Rican to win an Olympic gold medal while representing her beloved island in the 2016 Rio Olympics women’s singles event.

Throughout her impressive career, she was a Central American and Caribbean champion and a Pan American silver medalist, showcasing her dominance in the sport on multiple fronts. Puig turned professional in 2010 and went on to secure two WTA Tour singles titles and six ITF singles titles. Her remarkable skill and determination led her to reach a career-high singles ranking of world No. 27 on September 26, 2016, and No. 210 in the doubles rankings on May 25, 2015.

Puig’s remarkable career was marked by victories against some of the world’s top-ten players, including Sara Errani, Caroline Garcia, Angelique Kerber, Garbiñe Muguruza, Aryna Sabalenka, and Caroline Wozniacki. After announcing her retirement from the professional tour on June 13, 2022, Puig embarked on a new journey, finding a newfound passion in marathon running. Her resilience, determination, and groundbreaking achievements have left an indelible mark on Puerto Rican sports history.