1999 IN REVIEW

The Swiss No. 4 (behind Rosset, Federer, Bastl) finished with a year-end best ATP Tour Ranking...Highlight of season came at Wimbledon where he qualified and advanced to 4th RD…Played early part of year in Challengers and reached SF at Kyoto Challenger in March…During grasscourt season in June, advanced to 2nd RD at Surbiton Challenger, then surprised field by reaching a Grand Slam-best 4th RD at All England Club…After qualifying, defeated Spinks in four sets, Gambill and No. 5 Krajicek for biggest career victory, both in five sets, before losing to No. 7 Kuerten in four sets…His win over Spinks was first career in a Tour-level event….Afterward, ranking jmped from 196 to No. 112 on July 5…Played well in first U.S. Open, defeating Schalken in 1st RD before losing to Krajicek…Reached a career-high No. 105 shortly after on Sept. 20…Also reached 2nd RD in Washington and Tashkent…In doubles, won Challenger title in Kyoto (w/Knowle) and reached first ATP Tour final in Tashkent (w/Keil)…Went 0-1 in singles Davis Cup play, 2-0 in doubles…Earned a career-best $126,133.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1993 -- Finished fifth at Finnish Satellite (15 points) and Swiss Satellite (21 points)....In doubles, reached SF at Geneva Challenger...1994 -- Placed fourth at British #1 Satellite (29 points) and advanced to first Challenger SF in Prostejov…In first Tour match in Gstaad, lost to No. 10 Muster in 1st RD...1995 -- Made Davis Cup debut, replacing an injured Rosset, and lost to Krajicek...Reached QF at Rogaska Challenger…Won first career doubles Challenger in Istanbul (w/Camporese)…Also reached the finals in Obertstaufen (w/Mohr) and Newcastle (w/Djordjevic)...1996 -- Finished second at Portugal #4 Satellite (29 points)...Reached SF at Velenje Challenger…Qualified for first Grand Slam at Wimbledon and lost to Volkov in 1st RD...Won Heilbronn Challenger doubles title (w/Vizner) and reached final at Hamburen (w/Rehmann)...1997 -- Finished fourth at Italy #1 Satellite (16 points) and fifth at Greece #2 Satellite (14 points)...Went 0-2 in Davis Cup singles play, 1-1 in doubles…Reached doubles final at Granby Challenger (w/E. Erlich)...1998 -- Opened season with second place finish at Italy #1 Satellite (32 points)...Reached final at Greece #2 Futures and won France #6 Futures...Also runner-up at Great Britain #1 Satellite (41 points)...Advanced to back-to-back Challenger SF in Olbia and Tel Aviv and made QF in Urbana and Eckental…In doubles, won Lubeck Challenger title (w/Richardson) and went 2-0 in Davis Cup doubles play.

PERSONAL

Began playing tennis with his father, Leonardo, who played Davis Cup for Switzerland...Mother, Cornelia; sister, Joana... Hobbies include golf, chess, skiing and soccer...Member of Swiss Davis Cup team and has a 5-6 career record (5-2 in doubles) in seven ties...Coached by his father.