2007 IN REVIEW

The Argentine native finished in Top 100 for first time in his career by improving his year-end ATP Ranking for third straight year...Won a career-high 14 matches, including his first in a Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros...After opening season with a runner-up at Sao Paulo Challenger (l. to Canas), advanced to his first ATP SF in his hometown of Buenos Aires (l. to DiMauro) in February...Three months later, reached SF at Prague Challenger and followed with QF at ATP stop in Poertschach (l. to Hewitt)...In Paris, defeated Ginepri in five sets in opening round before losing to Ferrer in 2nd RD...In July, made 3rd RD (l. to Calleri) in Kitzbuhel and followed with SF at San Marino Challenger (l. to Montanes)...In last two months, went 2-4 with first career indoor QF in Lyon (d. Mahut, Monaco, l. to Gicquel)...Compiled marks of 12-14 on clay, 0-2 on hard and 0-2 on grass...Earned a career-high $262,420.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2000 – Went 13-13 in Futures, reaching one SF…2001 – Reached first career Futures final in Argentina (l. to Carry)…Doubles finalist at three Futures events, claiming one title…2002 – Claimed first career Futures title in Chile (d. Neunteibl)…Also reached one final in Bolivia (l. to Villagran)…Won two doubles title and reach one other final at Futures events…2003 – Won a Chilean Futures title (d. Dabul)…Reached two other finals…Claimed one Futures doubles title in three finals appearances…2004 – Claimed Futures title at Santiago (d. Neunteibl)…Won three Futures doubles title…2005 – Reached first career Challenger final in Buenos Aires (l. to Berlocq)... Claimed one title in a pair of Futures finals appearances…Doubles finalist at Nashville Challenger…Won a Futures doubles title...2006-- Claimed a trio of Challenger titles to break into the Top 125 for the first time...Was 5-7 in first four months of the year at Challenger events, reaching SF at Florianopplis (l. to Fraile)...Broke through in May for first career Challenger title, winning in Atlanta (d. Dancevic)...Claimed second title the following week at Tunica (d. Fish)...Reached QF in Forest Hills Challenger (l. to Kendrick) before qualifying into Roland Garros... Made ATP and Grand Slam debut there, falling to World No. 1 Federer...Lost three straight Challenger matches before reaching 3rd RD at ATP stop in Stuttgart (d. Vik and Almagro, l. to Lapentti)...Late in the season, reached Gramado SF (l. to Alves), won title in Bogota (d. Koellerer) and QF in Acunsion (l. to Berlocq)...Reached a pair of doubles SF at Challenger events...2007--Finished in Top 100 for first time at No. 86 by improving his year-end ATP Ranking for third straight year...Won a career-high 14 matches, including his first in a Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros...After opening season with a runner-up at Sao Paulo Challenger (l. to Canas), advanced to his first ATP SF in his hometown of Buenos Aires (l. to DiMauro) in February...Three months later, reached SF at Prague Challenger and followed with QF at ATP stop in Poertschach (l. to Hewitt)...In Paris, defeated Ginepri in five sets in opening round before losing to Ferrer in 2nd RD...In July, made 3rd RD (l. to Calleri) in Kitzbuhel and followed with SF at San Marino Challenger (l. to Montanes)...In last two months, went 2-4 with first career indoor QF in Lyon (d. Mahut, Monaco, l. to Gicquel)...Compiled marks of 12-14 on clay, 0-2 on hard and 0-2 on grass...Earned a career-high $262,420.

PERSONAL

Began playing tennis at age five...Has been nicknamed “Gato” (Cat) since he was a kid – which is the same nickname of countryman Gaston Gaudio...Father, Ernesto, is a dentist; mother, Susana, is a teacher...Has one brother, Guillermo, and two sisters, Tany and Cybil...No idols growing up, but followed Sampras and Rafter... Now follows Gaudio and was “really happy” when Gaudio won Roland Garros in 2004...Good friend of fellow ATP pro Jose Acasuso...Grew up swimming and playing basketball as well as tennis at Obera Tennis Club...At 14, took a bus 100 km to Posados to train with Acasuso and two years later moved to Buenos Aires and played Futures events for two years...In 2002, the Argentine dollar devalued which caused him hard times...At 22, he spent four months in Italy and Germany at clubs...He came with just $500, and had to stay with families and at cheap hotels...It was hard for him to be away from his family, but he is proud to have done it...His objectives for 2006 were to travel with his coaches and physical trainer – coached by Hernan Suarez and Oscar Rodriguez...Also works with fitness trainer Daniel Nizzero.