1998 IN REVIEW

The Spaniard finished out of Top 100 ATP Tour Rankings for first time since 1994...Began year with 2nd RD at Australian Open, defeating Sargis Sargsian in five sets (l. to Pioline)...Slumped during European claycourt season, compiling an 0-5 record...On grass, reached 3rd RD at Queen's (l. to Enqvist), 2nd RD in Nottingham and 1st RD at Wimbledon (l. to Goellner in five sets after leading 2-0)...In August, advanced to final at Segovia Challenger (l. to Stepanek)...Did not win consecutive matches again until a QF effort in Mexico City in late October...In doubles, reached 3rd RD at French Open (w/Goellner) and SF at Segovia (w/Berasategui) and Barcelona (w/Roig) Challengers.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1990-Reached the final in his first Tour doubles event in San Marino (w/Gorriz)...1991-Started the year on the Satellite circuit, but sampled the Challenger circuit and reached the QF in Lins, Brazil...Doubles finalist (w/de Miguel) at the Sao Paulo-6 Challenger...1992-Beat Becker in 2nd RD in Barcelona to enter the Top 200 for the first time...1993-Won first career Tour title as a qualifier in Bologna (d. Cherkasov) and reached final in Florence (l. to Muster) as qualifier...Qualified a Tour-high (tie) six times into main draws...1994-Reached QF in Scottsdale, beating Edberg in the opening round...Doubles SF in Kitzbnhel...1995-Finished a year-end best No. 52 ATP Tour Rankings...Won the Barcelona Challenger (d. Moya) and reached the final of the Tour stop in Palermo (l. to Clavet 7-6 in 3rd set)...Won Ljubljana Challenger in May...In doubles, won Agadir Challenger (w/Roig)...1996-Missed two months because of right ankle surgery on May 14 to repair two torn ligaments...Posted lone Top 10 victory of year (1-4) over Kafelnikov in 2nd RD of Barcelona...QF in Tour stop in Palermo and Barcelona...1997-Advanced to SF in Santiago and QF in Bogota...Won Challenger titles in Ostend (d. Calatrava) and Segovia (d. Escude)...In doubles, captured first Tour title in Barcelona and reached final in Marbella (both w/Berasategui). CAREER TITLES: 1993-Bologna. FINALIST (2): 1993-Florence; 1995-Palermo. CAREER DOUBLES TITLES (1). FINALIST (2). GRAND SLAM RECORD CAREER989796959493 AUS. OPEN1-32ND 1ST-- 1ST- FRENCH OPEN 0-31ST 1ST-- 1ST- WIMBLEDON 3-31ST --2ND3RD- US OPEN 1-51ST -1ST1ST2ND1ST

PERSONAL

Began playing tennis at age 7 for Mataro's Club where his father, Angel, was a basketball player...Hobbies include basketball, watching science fiction movies...Can dunk a basketball...Bought a Rottweiler puppy in Bogota in 1997 and named it Shaq...The Spanish 16-under champion on clay...Coached by countryman Jordi Vilaro (since May 1998).