2003 IN REVIEW

The young Ecuadorian improved his year-end ATP Entry Ranking 151 positions by capturing a circuit-best four Challenger titles...Compiled a 25-10 match record in Challengers and 3-5 in ATP level play...Opened season with impressive Davis Cup win over former No. 1 Rios and defeated Gamonal in fifth and decisive match to lead his country to a 3-2 verdict over Chile...Qualified for his first ATP tournament in Scottsdale and defeated No. 12 Srichaphan in opening round before losing to D. Sanchez in 2nd RD...Followed with first career Challenger title in Salinas without dropping a set (d. Miranda)...In May, advanced to QF at Forest Hills Challenger...Two months later, captured title at Campos do Jordao Challenger (d. Motomura)...In September Davis Cup World Group playoff tie in Quito, lost five-set marathon matches to Romania's Hanescu in opening rubber and Sabau in fifth and decisive rubber...Rebounded back in last two months of season to win titles at Quito Challenger (d. Mello)and Waco Challenger (d. Goldstein)...Earned a career-high $86,938.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1998- Made Davis Cup debut at age 15 and played in three ties...1999- Lone pro event was at U.S. Futures #4 stop and lost in 1st RD...2000- Won his first Challenger match in Salinas (d. Diaz) before losing in 2nd RD...Biggest moment came in Davis Cup play in England where he rallied from a two-sets deficit to defeat Parmar in five sets and lift his country to a 3-2 win and into next year's World Group...In doubles, won first title at Colombia Futures #1 (w/Torres)...2001- Captured first pro title at Peru Futures #1 (d. Di Cesare) and closed season with title at Venezuela Futures #2 (d. Neunteibl)...Also advanced to QF at Quito Challenger...In doubles, won back-to-back titles at Venezuela Futures #1 and #2 (w/De Armas)...2002- Compiled a 12-10 match record in Challengers and reached his first final in Quito (l. to D. Norman) and advanced to QF at Joplin, Birmingham and Tyler Challengers.

PERSONAL

Full name is Giovanni Carlo Lapentti...Nickname is "Giova"...Younger brother of ATP pro Nicolas Lapentti...Father, Nicolas, is a politican and former basketball star at St. Thomas College in Minnesota; mother, Maria-Cecilia, is a housewife...Countryman Andres Gomez is his godfather and mother's cousin...Considers his serve as strength and enjoys playing on all surfaces, especially grass...Plays soccer, basketball and Play Station...Admired Patrick Rafter and Michael Jordan while growing up...Listens to various music, from classical to rock 'n roll...Speaks Spanish, Portuguese and English...As a junior, captured Orange Bowl 16s title in 1999 and won Wimbledon junior doubles title in 2001 (w/Dancevic)...Won three European junior titles in 14s age group and South American 12s champion...A member of his country's Davis Cup team since 1998 and has a career record of 8-13 in 12 ties (3-4 in doubles)...Coached by countryman Raul Viver (since May 2001) and fitness trainer is Hermes Romero.