2003 IN REVIEW
The Spaniard finished in Top 100 for seventh consecutive year and played best tennis at Challenger level, including first title in two years…Finished with a 10-20 record on ATP circuit and 23-7 mark in Challenger play…Reached 2nd RD at Roland Garros for fifth time in seven efforts by defeating Ascione before losing to Gonzalez in next match…Defeated Roddick in 1st RD at Monte Carlo for first clay court win in TMS event since winning Hamburg in 2001…Won Challenger title in Barcelona in October, dropping only one set and defeating Montanes in final…Reached Szczecin Challenger final in September, losing to Massu in final…Reached 2nd RD in ATP events at Chennai, Vina del Mar, Barcelona, Valencia, Bastad, Kitzbuhel, Sopot and Bucharest…Lost to Ljubicic in 2nd RD…Reached SF at Cagliari (l. to Volandri) and final in Barletta (l. to Nadal) in Challenger action in March.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1995-Advanced to first ATP SF in Prague (d. Kucera, Alami)...Underwent right knee surgery in December... 1996-Returned to action in May ...In doubles, reached first ATP final in Santiago (w/Pescariu)...1997-Reached his first ATP final in Barcelona (d. No. 9 Rios, l. to A. Costa)...Won title at Prague Challenger (d. Vicente)...In first Grand Slam at Roland Garros, lost 8-6 in fifth set to Dewulf in 3rd RD...Advanced to SF in Stuttgart (d. No. 4 Muster)...1998-Won Cairo Challenger (d. A. Martin) and reached SF at Barcelona ATP event...Also reached finals at the Graz and Barcelona Challengers...1999-Reached second ATP final in San Marino (l. to Blanco)...2000-Reached SF in Santiago and St. Poelten and 3rd RD at Wimbledon...Won back-to-back Challengers in Barcelona and Cairo...In doubles, captured first ATP title in Umag (w/Lopez-Moron) and won two Challenger titles...2001 - Compiled his best season on ATP circuit, winning first career title at a Tennis Masters Series event and finishing a career-best No. 20...Won a personal best 32 matches during season and was one of four Spaniards in year-end Top 20...After reaching SF in Vina del Mar and Estoril as well as QF in Barcelona, captured title at TMS Hamburg in biggest week of his career...Qualified into main draw and posted wins over Voltchkov, Norman, Grosjean, A. Martin and Hewitt in SF before defeating countryman Ferrero in five-set battle lasting 3 hours, 37 minutes...Became first qualifier to win a TMS event since countryman Roberto Carretero won Hamburg in 1996...After QF in Bastad and reached final in Sopot (l. to countryman Robredo)...Lost to eventual champion Hewitt in 3rd RD at US Open...Also advanced to SF in Palermo...Compiled a career-best 29-15 record on clay...Earned a career-high $841,804...2002-Finished year with strong performances on Challenger circuit, reaching three consecutive finals and finishing with 17-5 match record...His best ATP result was QF in Bastad...Reached three consecutive clay finals in Challengers -- Seville (l. to Mutis), Barcelona (l. to Ramirez Hidalgo) and Cairo (l. to Galvani)...In doubles, reached third ATP final in Umag (w/Vicente) and runner-up in Seville and Cairo (both w/Lopez Moron).
PERSONAL
Full name is Albert Portas Soy...Began playing tennis at age eight...Father, Jaime, is a representative for a chemical company; mother, Ana-Maria, is a housewife; twin brother Jose Maria and younger brother Nacho... younger sister, Cristina...Enjoys soccer (supports Barcelona FC) and basketball...Favorite music is Catalan music, Roxette and Bon Jovi...Admired Wilander, Noah, McEnroe and Connors as a youngster... Considers clay as favorite surface and forehand as best shot...Coached by former ATP pro Marcos Aurelio Gorriz.
