2000 IN REVIEW
The Spaniard finished in Top 100 for first time in his career after reaching first ATP final…Played mainly on Challenger circuit for first six months, reaching one QF in Weiden in June…Turned things around Kitzbuhel, losing just one set en route to first ATP final with wins over Lapentti (QF) and Clavet (SF) before retiring against countryman Corretja in final due to muscular contraction in right shoulder rotator cuff…After reaching QF in Monchengladbach Challenger in August, failed to win consecutive matches for remainder of year on ATP and Challenger circuits.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1989 - Finished third in Portugal #1 Satellite (18 points) and reached first career QF at Nicosia Challenger...1990 - Finished fifth at Portugal #1 Satellite (11 points)...1991 - Won Spain #4 Satellite (40 points)...1992 - Advanced to first career Challenger singles final at Salerno (l. to Markus), and reached doubles finals at Geneva and Recife Challengers (w/Rascon)...1993 - Won first Challenger title at Riemerling (d. Daufresne) and first doubles title at the Sevilla Challenger (w/Imaz)...Posted first Tour-level win (d. Schaffl) as a qualifier in Kitzbuehel...1994 - Reached SF at Merano Challenger and first career QF at ATP Tour stop in Umag...Repeated doubles title at Sevilla Challenger (w/Imaz)...1995 - Advanced to SF at Merano Challenger...Reached doubles finals at Weiden (w/B. Larkham), Scheveningen (w/Rikl) and Graz (w/Imaz) Challengers...1996 - Got into Kitzbuehel draw after losing in the last round of qualifying and beat Santoro, Clavet, Medvedev and top seed Muster before losing in three sets to Berasategui in the SF...Qualified into Mercedes Super 9 stops in Hamburg and Rome in May, winning a round at each...One of just three players to beat Muster on clay in 1996…1997-Enjoyed best year of his career, finishing in Top 100 for the first time...Advanced to SF in Prague and QF in Casablanca, Mexico City and Bogota…Compiled 14 of his 15 ATP Tour victories on claycourts…Earned a career-high $175,501…1998-Reached Bucharest QF in singles and three Challenger doubles SF...Career Highlights
1999-Underwent arthroscopic surgery on left knee on Jan. 20 and missed first four months of year…Won Scheveningen Challenger title in July and reached final at Sylt Challenger (l. to Kratochvil).
PERSONAL
Began playing tennis at age nine...Father, Emilio, and mother, Carmen Aida, are both architects; has one younger sister, Amaya...Played rollerskate hockey on Spanish national team until age 11 and also competed in soccer...The 16s and 18s Spanish singles and doubles champion...Enjoys table tennis, billiards, golf, snowboarding...A talented singer and has frequently used his vocals at player parties on Tour...Nicknamed "Vampus"...Favorite surface is clay...Girlfriend, Catarina is German and moved to Munich in July 1999; son, Alvaro (born Oct. 15, 1999).
