2000 IN REVIEW

The Frenchman finished a year-end best with good ATP and Challenger play…Began year with run to final at Heilbronn Challenger (l. to Larsson) and followed with QF showing in Wroclaw…First ATP win of year came in Atlanta (d. Russell, l. to Ilie)…After reaching QF in Maia, lost in 1st RD in next four events…Advanced to 2nd RD at Wimbledon for first time in his career (d. Bhupathi, l. to Prinosil), followed by QF in Venice Challenger on clay…Did not win another match until Tashkent in September (d. Moya)…Followed with second ATP QF of career at Palermo (l. to Bruguera)…Went 2-5 in rest of year…Earned a career-high $159,542.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1990 -- Picked up four points at France #2 Satellite to record first ATP Tour Ranking...1991 -- Played in four Satellites and picked up 18 points...1992 -- Reached QF at Yvetot Challenger...1993 -- Finished third at France #1 Satellite (39 points)...In first career Grand Slam-Tour level match, ranked No. 297 and defeated No. 7 Lendl in 1st RD at Roland Garros before losing to Meligeni in next round…His only match victory rest of season came over Benhabiles at Montauban Challenger...1994 -- Finished fourth at Spain #3 Satellite (24 points) and went 0-3 in Challenger play...In doubles, reached first SF at Prostejov Challenger (w/Svetlik)...1995 -- Placed second at France #5 Satellite (32 points) and third at Morocco Satellite (32 points)...Broke through to reach first Challenger final in Montauban (l. to Pavel) followed by SF at Ostend Challenger...1996 -- Placed third at France #1 Satellite (21 points) and reached QF at Budapest-2 and Sevilla and SF at Brest Challengers…In doubles, advanced to SF at Budva Challenger (w/Luxa)...1997 -- Finished second at France #3 Satellite (46 points)...Reached final at Espinho (l. to Safin) and QF at Split and Ulm Challengers...1998 -- Won his first Tour level match since '93 (Lendl) by advancing to 3rd RD in Kitzbuhel with wins over Calatrava, C. Costa (l. to A. Costa)...Advanced to first career Tour QF in Toulouse with victories over Larsson and Sargsian (l. to Johansson)…Also reached SF at Brasov Challenger and QF at Bronx Challenger…In doubles, won first Challenger title in Segovia (w/Stepanek) and reached SF at San Luis Potosi (w/Aramburu) Challenger...1999-Qualified an ATP best seven times into main draw (along w/Mirnyi), including Australian and US Opens…Won Challenger titles in Budapest-2 and Hong Kong.

PERSONAL

Began playing tennis at age nine years old...Father, Claude, is a comptroller; mother, Jeanine, is a housewife; brothers, Didier and Herve...Hobbies include Formula I racing, visiting museums and exploring the internet...Considers clay as favorite surface...Coached by former Tour player Jerome Potier.