1996 IN REVIEW

-The Cat+ was hindered by a left knee injury from April on and had arthroscopic surgery Sept. 19...Got off to a 7-4 start, highlighted by 3rd RD at the Australian Open and 3-0 Davis Cup record...Hurt knee in Davis Cup match vs. Uruguay in early April and returned a month later but went just 1-3...Success in Challengers at home in Colombia, where he won Medellin (d. Oncins), Cali (d. Craca) and reached the QF in Bogota (l. to El Sawy) in a three-week span, boosting him briefly back into the Top 100...Two wins give him eight career Challenger titles in Colombia...On hardcourts, reached 3rd RD at Washington Tour event, but then went just 1-4 in Tour play through the U.S. Open...Returned home to reach the SF at Bogota Tour event (d. Schalken, l. to Lapentti) and then had surgery...Returned in November in Santiago.