Plays with one-handed backhand...Nickname is "Basti" or "Knaitel"...Speaks German, English and French...Started playing tennis aged six...Father, Hans-Joachim, is a pensions advisor and got him started playing tennis; mother, Waltraud, is a secretary; brother, Jorg...Favourite surface is clay...Favourite shot is backhand...Idol growing up was Marcelo Rios...Hobbies include soccer (supports VfB Stuttgart), music and going to the cinema...Wants to break into the Top 100, "everything after that is a bonus"...Has trained since 1989 at the First-Line Tennis Academy in Murr, near Stuttgart...Physical trainer is Frieder Schomezler (since 2008)...Coached by Robert Lopez (since 1989)...
