2007 IN REVIEW
The Italian rose to a career-high No. 68 after reaching first ATP final in Buenos Aires (l. to Monaco)… Made five first round exits at ATP events for 5-10 season record (1-3 in doubles)...On Challenger circuit, captured Mantova title (d. Ascione) in July with one SF performance in Milan and seven QF exits...In doubles, finished runner-up in Napoli (w/Crugnola)...On Nov. 10, suspended for nine months and fined $60,000 for wagering on outcome or any other aspect of an ‘Event’ under Article C.1 of the 2007 ATP Tennis Anti Corruption Program.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1998 – Was 12-7 in Futures, reaching one final…1999 – Reached four Futures SF for a 12-6 record…2000 – Appeared in two Futures finals while compiling a 23-9 record…2001 – Claimed first career Challenger title in July at Campinas (d. Delgado)…Two weeks later, won first career Futures title in Italy (d. Scala)…Just two weeks later, was finalist at Bressanone Challenger (l. to Furlan)…Was 19-14 in Challengers…2002 – Posted a 9-17 Challenger mark…2003 – Made ATP debut at Palermo (l. to Squillari) as wild card…Won title at San Marino Challenger…Also reached to Challenger SFs…Finished with 26-18 Challenger record…Reached two Challenger doubles finals, winning title at Olbia (w/Santopadre)…2004 – Made Davis Cup debut in April against Georgia (d. Ushangishvili)…In AMS debut, lost in three sets to Srichaphan in Rome…Also played ATP events in Kitzbuhel and Palermo…Won Challenger title in Rimini (d. Tenconi)…Finalist in Sassuolo (l. to Starace)…2005 – Reached three Challenger finals in first six events of the year…Won title at Monza (d. Devilder)…
Runner-up at Barletta (l. to Gasquet) and Olbia (l. to Behrend)…In May, finalist at Turin (l. to Berlocq)…Made Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon and reached 2nd RD (d. Goodall, l. to Kiefer)…Played four straight summer ATP clay events, reaching 2nd RD at Gstaad and Kitzbuhel…Posted 36-19 Challenger record…Doubles finalist at Olbia and Turin Challengers...2006-- Finished in Top 100 for first time in his career highlighted by his first ATP QF...Enjoyed his most successful ATP season with seven match wins and also compiled a 20-12 record in Challenger play...After opening season with SF at Santiago Challenger, reached 2nd RD at Vi�a del Mar (d. A. Garcia, l. to Pashanski)...In late February, reached first career QF at Acapulco with first Top 10 win over No. 7 Coria before falling to Chela...In March, reached Napoli Challenger final (l. to Starace)...Reached 3rd RD at AMS Monte-Carlo with wins over Wawrinka and Stepanek before falling to Gaudio...Reached 2nd RD at ATP stop in Casablanca...Made Roland Garros debut (l. to Gicquel)...Made US Open debut, reaching 2nd RD (d. Melzer, l. to Murray)...During year, reached Challenger SF or better four times...In doubles, made Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon (w/Azzaro)...Earned a career-high $205,095.
PERSONAL
Began playing tennis at age six with older brothers, Germano and Fabio, who both played professional tennis...Father, Salvatore, used to run a hotel business, mother, Fernanda is a hairdresser...Finished accounting school...Began taking tennis seriously when he moved to Palermo at age 15 together with his brother Germano...Favorite surface is clay, favorite shot is the backhand...Big fan of the Juventus soccer team and likes to read thriller books...Coached by countryman Fabio Rizzo.
