2003 IN REVIEW

The Dutchman returned to the Top 100 and won 10 matches on ATP circuit for first time since 1999…Compiled a 10-14 ATP circuit record and 19-8 in Challenger play…Made it to QF twice in ATP events and 2nd RD of two Grand Slams…Reached QF at 's-Hertogenbosch, defeating Acasuso and Cermak before losing to Sluiter…Also made QF in Bucharest with victories against Montanes and Blanco (l. to Acasuso)…Advanced to 2nd RD in Roland Garros for second time in career, winning five-set match with Dick Norman but lost to Spadea in four sets…Retired from 1st RD match at Wimbledon against Kuerten with back injury…Reached 2nd RD at US Open for second consecutive year and fourth time in seven trips by knocking out Christophe Rochus in 1st RD before losing five set match with Tursunov in next round…Was runner-up in Challenger events twice this year in July at Hilversum (l. to Verkerk) once in October at Nottingham (l. to J. Johansson) and again in November in Bratislava (l. to Rosset)…Started off year on winning note, defeating Patience in 1st RD at Chennai before losing to Srichaphan…Upset defending champion Srichaphan in Stockholm 1st RD (l. to Bjorkman in 2nd RD).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1994 - Played in three Satellites and picked up 16 ATP points...1995 - Won Egypt #2 Satellite (48 points) and fourth at Poland #2 circuit (24 points)...Finished third in doubles at Croatia #1 (32 points)...1996 - Won Bulgaria #2 Satellite (48 points) and advanced to first QF at Cherbourg Challenger...1997 - Improved his ATP Ranking by 90 positions by reaching his first ATP QF in Amsterdam and advancing to 3rd RD at Wimbledon as a qualifier...Also went to 3rd RD at US Open...1998 - Finished in Top 100 for first time (one of five Dutchmen)...Reached his first ATP SF in San Jose, defeating T. Martin in a third-set tiebreak before losing to No. 1 Sampras in three sets...Reached Grand Slam best 4th RD at Wimbledon (l. to Korda)...Also reached QF in Newport and Singapore...Made his Davis Cup debut against Belgium in 1st RD tie and lost to Dewulf...1999 - Improved his year-end ATP Ranking for a fifth consecutive year with a career-high in match wins (21) and earnings ($271,521)...His best results of year were SF in Memphis (l. to Courier) and Chennai (l. to B. Black)...Also QF in Singapore (l. to Hewitt)...In limited Challenger play, won title in Ho Chi Minh (d. Hipfl) without dropping a set...Underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery to repair cartilage on Nov. 9 in Amsterdam...2000 - In Davis Cup 1st RD tie against Germany lost to Haas in four sets and Prinosil in dead rubber...Reached SF at Jerusalem Challenger and QF in three other Challengers...2001 - Compiled his best results in Challenger play (20-12), winning titles in Kyoto (d. Kohlmann) and Bukhara (d. Ogorodov) while reaching finals in Costa Rica (l. to Kohlmann) and Bangkok (l. to Srichaphan)...2002 - His best results came in Challenger play (21-14), winning titles in Bukhara (d. Mazarakis) and Bangkok (d. Moser) while reaching finals at Samarkand (l. to Mazarakis) and Yokohama (l. to Lee)...His best ATP result came in Amersfoort where he reached his fourth career SF (l. to Chela).

PERSONAL

Began playing tennis at age eight...Reached final of Dutch 18-under Nationals in 1993...Father, Chris; mother, Marie Claude, is an architect...Has an older sister, Noelle (born July 12, 1972), who played on the WTA Tour circuit from 1987-99 (ranked a career-high No. 57 in singles on Jan. 11, 1993)...Her best Grand Slam result was 3rd RD at 1992 US Open...Has a 1-3 career record in three Davis Cup ties -- 1998 (vs. Belgium), 2000 (vs. Germany) and 2003 (vs. India).