1997 HIGHLIGHTS
Prize money: $183,893
Matches won-lost: Tour: 2-3 (singles), 25-16 (doubles) Challenger: 0-6 (singles), 2-4 (doubles)
Doubles Winner: Halle(w/STICH). Finalist: Hong Kong(w/TARANGO), Munich(w/KNIPPSCHILD), Basel(w/GRABB). Semifinalist: Doha(w/GROEN), Tashkent(w/SMITH).
1997 IN REVIEW
Rebounded from a back injury in 1996, which hampered him most of the season...Enjoyed his best career year in doubles on the ATP Tour, winning his first title and reaching three other finals, all on different surfaces...Began year strongly in singles with a 3RD showing at the Australian Open (d. O'Brien, Gustafsson, l. to Bjorkman) after coming in with an 0-4 career mark in Melbourne...Did not win another singles match rest of year, going 0-8 between Tour and Challenger action...In April on hardcourt, advanced to his first Tour final in Hong Kong (w/Tarango), losing to Damm-Vacek...The following month, on clay, reached final in Munich and QF at French Open (both w/Knippschild)...On grass, won his first ATP Tour title in Halle (w/Stich) without dropping a set...During indoor season, advanced to final on carpet in Basel (w/Grabb), losing three tie-breaker match to Henman-Rosset...Finished a year-end best No. 36 in doubles (from 131 in 96).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1989 - Reached finals in singles and doubles at Chicoutimi Challenger (w/Otten)...1990 - Won the doubles title at Estoril Challenger (w/Davids)...1991 - Reached final at Zaragoza Challenger...1992 - Cracked the Top 100 thanks in part to a SF showing at Cologne and QF effort at San Francisco...Won Heilbronn and Rennes Challengers...1993 - Won Naples Challenger (d. Schaller) and reached finals at Dresden and Eisenach Challengers...Best Tour results were SF in Moscow and QF in Halle...Beat Medvedev in Lyon for first career Top 10 win...1994 - In singles, reached SF in Auckland, San Jose and Scottsdale...Recorded Top 10 victory over Chang in Memphis en route to QF...Beat Lendl in Hamburg to reach RD 16...Reached first ATP Tour final in Rosmalen (l. to Krajicek)...Represented his country in Davis Cup play vs. Spain and Russia (w/Stich) and helped Germany to Peugeot World Team Cup title...Earned a career-high $317,232...1995 - Advanced to QF in Bermuda...1996 - Best results came in Challenger play, winning four doubles titles in Germany (all w/Knippschild) and finalist in two others.
CAREER FINALIST: 1994 - Rosmalen.
CAREER DOUBLES TITLES (1). FINALIST (3).
GRAND SLAM HISTORY
CAREER95949392
AUS. OPEN 0-4 1ST1ST1ST1ST
FRENCH OPEN 0-3 1ST1ST-- 1ST
WIMBLEDON 2-4 1ST2ND1ST2ND
US OPEN 3-4 2ND1ST3RD1ST
PERSONAL
Started playing tennis at age 6...Enjoys billiards, playing cards, and folk music...Also a big NBA fan and favorite team is the Charlotte Hornets...On his unorthodox serving motion, "When I see my serve on TV, I have to laugh at myself. As long as it is effective, I don't have to change anything."...Coached by Carsten Skielka, who works regularly at home with him...Elected as vice president of 1995-96 ATP Tour Player Council after serving one previous term.
