1999 IN REVIEW

Finished out of Top 150 for first time since 1993 after coming off his first Top 100 season…Split his time between Tour and Challengers…On Tour, reached 2nd RD in Adelaide, Casablanca, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Munich (d. Puerta) and Hamburg (d. Ilie) to account for his six wins…Lost his final eight Tour matches…On Challenger level, reached SF at Barletta and Poznan.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1992-In only event played, picked up six points at the Bulgarian Satellite...1993-Before ever playing a Challenger, qualified for ATP Tour event in Sao Paulo (l. to Schaller in three sets) in November...1994-Broke into Top 100 in October and stayed there for seven consecutive weeks before slipping out Nov. 21...Reached first Tour final in San Marino (l. to C. Costa) one week after reaching first QF in Kitzbnhel (l. to Muster)...Excelled on Challenger level, winning in Belem (d. Rincon) and reaching Dresden final (l. to Rios) along with Ulm SF...First Tour match win came in Munich as wild card (d. Kulti)...1995-Suffered a stress fracture of his left foot in Rome while beating Korda in 1st RD...Missed one month and came back before reinjuring the same foot while practicing at Wimbledon...Sidelined three months and did not return until Sept. 18 at the Barcelona Challenger...Ranked as high as No. 60 in May...Beat No. 2 Sampras for first career Top 10 victory to reach 3rd RD in Barcelona...1996-Was briefly forced off Tour by lower back injury in August...Began year at Challenger level, reaching Agadir final (l. to Ruud)...Reached second Challenger final of the year in Geneva in August, but retired with lower back injury in final vs. Charpentier...1997-Advanced to QF in Santiago but best results came in Challenger play (20-9 record) with title in Salinas (d. Schaller), final in Napoli (l. to Pescariu), Lima (l. to Nydahl) and SF in Punte del Este and Indian Wells…1998-Finished in Top 100 for first time…Beat No. 5 Rusedski en route to QF in Munich and reached career Grand Slam-best of 4th RD at U.S. Open (d. A. Costa, Bruguera). CAREER FINALIST: 1994-San Marino. GRAND SLAM RECORD CAREER9998979594 AUS. OPEN1-31ST2ND -1ST- FRENCH OPEN0-31ST1ST1ST-- WIMBLEDON0-21ST1ST--- US OPEN3-3-4TH 1ST- 1ST

PERSONAL

Began playing tennis at age five with his father Siegsried at a local club…Won German Youth Championship in 1991, one year after finishing as runner-up...Middle child of Siegried and Monica Gross...Enjoys soccer and tries to sight-see while traveling on Tour...Coached by Nick Marschand through Niki Pilic Center in Munich.