2004 IN REVIEW

This Frenchman improved his INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking by over 200 positions to finish in Top 100 for first time…Also captured his first career ATP title in just his third career tournament…Made a name for himself at Roland Garros where at No. 271 he qualified into main draw then took out Agassi in straight sets in 1st RD in his first-ever ATP level match…Played mostly Challengers and Futures events, but did go 7-3 in ATP matches…In October, claimed his first ATP title in Metz with wins over Acasuso, Gicquel, Clement, Mathieu and Gasquet…His best Challenger result came after Roland Garros as he reached the final at Lugano (l. to Calatrava)…Also a finalist at Futures events at Germany #2 (l. to Kubot) and France #2 (l. to Gicquel)…Was 15-10 in Futures and 12-11 in Challengers…Earned a career-high $128,336.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1998-Earned first career ATP points as he reached finals of Germany Futures #3 (l. to Elsner)…Won first career Futures title at France #1 (d. Armando)…Was 17-11 in Futures for year…1999-Played only three Futures event and was 6-3 …2000-Won back-to-back Futures events in October, claiming title at France #20 (d. Behr) and #21 (d. Demilani)…Reached final at France #4 (l. to Auffray)…Reached SF at Austria #3 (l. to Pless)…Won 10 of his last 11 matches of the year…Was 29-16 overall… Reached doubles final at France #4 (w/ Trimmel) and #11 (w/ Lavergne)…Reached five doubles SF…2001-Opened year by reaching SF at France #1 Futures (l. to Serra) and advanced to final at France #5 Futures (l. to Masson)…Reached SF at Tampere and Monchengladbach Challengers…Reached final of France #20 Futures in October (l. to Kokta)…Finished year at 14-14 in Futures and 7-7 in Challengers… 2002-Reached SF at France #5 and final at France #6 Futures (l. to Vliegen)…Was 16-14 in Futures and 1-2 in Challengers…2003-In second event of the year reached SF at France #2 Futures…Claimed title at France #5 Futures (d. Vico)…Also finalist at Germany #5 Futures…Reached QF at Freudenstadt Challenger…Was 29-17 in Futures and 4-8 in Challengers…Doubles finalist at France #3 Futures (w/Ascione).

PERSONAL

Began playing tennis at age five...Father Jean-Claude is an engineer and mother Claudette is an accountant...Has one older sister named Sophie who is a dentist assistant...Growing up he admired Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Stefan Edberg...Regarded as one of top French junior players and trained at French Federation since he 13...Won French junior championship and Sunshine Cup along with Llodra, Patience and Jeanpierre...Likes PlayStation...Speaks French, English and a little German...He does not like flying and prefers driving or taking a train...He flew only once in 2004 to travel to Italy.