2002 IN REVIEW
The Brazilian lefty is one of five active players to have finished in Top 100 for last 10 consecutive years (Sampras-15, W. Ferreira-12, T. Martin-11, Bjorkman-10)…Won at least 20 matches for first time since 1999 and reached sixth career ATP final…Lost first four matches of year and was 1-5 going into third clay court event of season in Acapulco…Turned things around there with wins over Spadea, Coutelot, D. Sanchez, and Chela in SF before losing to Moya in F…In Europe, reached SF in Estoril (l. to Nieminen)…Failed to go beyond 2nd RD in next eight tournaments including 2nd RD loss at Roland Garros to Gonzalez and 1st RD loss at Wimbledon to Novak… Found form on U.S. hard courts at Washington, reaching QF with victories over Savolt in 2nd RD and Roddick in 3rd RD before falling to Rios in three sets…After 2nd RD loss in 11th consecutive US Open to Robredo, went 2-4 in remaining ATP events at Brasil Open, Palermo, Moscow and Lyon…In Davis Cup, went 1-1 in singles play and helped Brazil maintain World Group status with victory over Canada's Dancevic in first rubber.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1993-Won three Challenger titles and doubles title...Reached QF at Sao Paulo tour event, while also advancing to 4th RD at Roland Garros...1994-Reached SF in Coral Springs...Won Ribeirao Preto Challenger...Went 1-1 in Davis Cup vs. Peru...1995-Captured first tour title in Bastad (d. Ruud)... Prior to title, reached final in Mexico City (l. to Muster)...1996-Captured second tour title in Pinehurst (d. Wilander) and QF in Atlanta, both on clay... Reached SF at Atlanta Olympics with wins over A. Costa and Philippoussis (l. to Bruguera)...Fell to Paes in bronze medal match...Won Cairo Challenger title (d. Berasategui)... Led Brazil back to Davis Cup World Group with 4-2 singles record...Won first tour doubles title in Santiago (w/Kuerten)...1997-Won a career-best four doubles titles (three w/Kuerten) and advanced to QF or better in singles six times (all on clay)...Also finalist at Prostejov (l. to Ulihrach) and Sao Paulo (l. to Arnold) Challengers...Posted first career Top 10 win over No. 2 Chang in Atlanta... 1998-Won third ATP title in Prague (d. Dosedel)...Captured doubles title in Gstaad (w/Kuerten)... 1999-Finished among Top 30 for first time after advancing to career-best SF run at Roland Garros...Defeated Rafter, Mantilla and Corretja before falling to Medvedev in four set SF... 2000-Advanced to QF in Munich and Bucharest...Won Challenger title at Guadalajara (d. Armando)... 2001-Reached first ATP final since 1998 in native Brazil, losing to J. Vacek in three sets…Came within two points of winning match in second set tie-break before losing 9-7…Advanced to 3rd RD at Roland Garros (d. Kratochvil, d. Lapentti, l. to Agassi).
PERSONAL
Full name is Fernando Ariel Meligeni...Won the 1989 Orange Bowl and finished No. 3 in the '89 world junior rankings...Father, Osvaldo, is a photographer...Nicknamed "Fino," which means thin...Born in Argentina but now a Brazilian resident and plays Davis Cup (13-16 singles record in 19 ties)...Member of 2000-01 ATP Player Council...Fitness trainer is Eduardo Faria and coached by Enrique Perez.
