CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1994 - Won first ATP match in Florence (d. Sanguinetti) before losing in 2nd RD...1995 - Reached 2nd RD at Siracusa Challenger and reached doubles final at Merano Challenger (w/Rovai)...1997 - Advanced to QF at Cali and Pilzen Challengers and won doubles title at Venice Challenger (w/Valeri)...1998 - Reached finals at Italy #5, #8 Futures and doubles winner at Italy #5, #7 Futures...Also doubles finalist at ATP stop in Bologna and at Merano Challenger (all w/Valeri)...1999 - Advanced to first Challenger final at Olbia (l. to Pescosolido) and SF at Venice Challenger...2000 - Reached SF at Oberstaufen Challenger and QF at three other Challengers...In doubles, won title at Milan Challenger (w/Bastl) and runner-up at Lubeck Challenger (w/Nargiso)...2001 - Captured first Challenger title in Budapest (d. Nieminen) and runner-up at Sassuolo (l. to Savolt)...In doubles, won title at Brindisi Challenger (w/Bracciali) and runner-up at Chandigarh (w/Welgreen)...2002 - Posted biggest win of his career over No. 19 Corretja in 1st RD of TMS Rome before losing in next round...Qualified for first Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros and lost to Davydenko in four sets...Reached final at U.S. #2 Futures and Lugano Challenger (l. to Coria)...Also advanced to SF at Magdeburg, Furth and Milan-1 Challengers and QF in six other Challengers...In doubles, won five titles with five different partners.

PERSONAL

Nicknamed "Galimba"...Comes from family of five...Father Fiore, is an enterpreneur; mother, Ines, is a housewife...Has two brothers, Diego and Walter...Speaks four languages -- Italian, English, Spanish and French...Enjoys all sports and likes boating...Considers clay as favorite surface and backhand as best shot...Made Davis Cup debut in 2002 and lost to Finland's Nieminen...Coached by Maurizio Riva.