2000 IN REVIEW
The left-handed German compiled his best pro season with successful results in Challenger and ATP level tournaments...Qualified a career-high six times in ATP level events, including at three of four Grand Slams (Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open)...Opened season in February by reaching SF at Hamburg Challenger and won his fourth career Challenger title in Lubeck (d. Fahlke)...In May, qualified at Roland Garros and beat countryman Behrend in 1st RD before losing in next round to Henman...Played well on grass at Wimbledon where he qualified and posted a five-set victory over Massu in 1st RD, straight-sets over Levy in 2nd RD before losing in five sets to Top 10 Enqvist in 3rd RD...In his next tournament, reached 2nd RD in Newport...During hard court circuit, qualified and made his US Open debut where he lost to Rosset in 1st RD...His best result rest during indoor circuit was SF at Aachen Challenger...Earned a career-high $127,017.
CAREER HIGHIGHTS
1992-93 - Played total of three Challengers and two Satellites...1994 - Advanced to his first Challenger QF in Lippstadt and added another in Cologne...Qualified for his first ATP event in Auckland and lost to Volkov in 1st RD...Also qualified in Halle and lost to Hlasek in 1st RD...1995 - Competed in seven Challengers during year and reached QF in Eisenach...1996 - Won Philippines Satellite (47 ATP points) and runner-up at Brazil #1 circuit (43 points)...Advanced to QF at Bristol, Beijing and Tanagura Challengers...1997 - Finished runner-up at Brazil #1 Satellite (43 points) and compiled his best results on Challenger level (26-15 record)...Advanced to first Challenger final in Nettingsdorf in August (l. to Vasek)...Closed season with titles in Las Vegas (d. Agassi) and Wismar (d. Heuberger)...Also SF at Kyoto Challenger and QF at Zagreb and Alpirsbach Challengers...1998 - Opened season by qualifying and advancing to his first ATP QF in Auckland (l. to B. Black)...Closed year with title at Nuembrecht Challenger (d. Wessels)...Also reached SF at Magdeburg and Rancho Mirage Challengers and QF at four other Challengers...Posted his biggest career victory over No. 11 Chang in 1st RD of Hong Kong...Qualified for his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros and lost to Boutter in 1st RD...Qualified five times in ATP level tournaments during year...1999 - His best results came in Challengers, reaching SF in Wolfsburg and QF in Furth and Caracas...His lone ATP victories came over R. Delgado in Munich and T. Blake in Newport...Qualified at Wimbledon and lost to countryman Kiefer in 1st RD in four sets.
PERSONAL
Began playing tennis at age six with his father, Malte, who is a CEO at an electronics company in Luedenscheid and mother, Ingrid, who is a housewife...Has one older sister, Julia...Finished in third place in Orange Bowl in 1989...Winner at Australian Junior Hardcourt Championships in 1993...Enjoys soccer, basketball, biking, chess and exploring stock market...Began studying business Administration at University of Hagen in Germany in 2000...Considers best shot as backhand and favorite surfaces are grass and hard courts...Coached by countryman Jan de Witt.
