Full name is Thiago Hernandez Alves...Grew up playing on clay at age five with his father, Joao Luis Alves, who took his son to local Pallestra Sport Club...Father owns a marble/granite company...Mother, Marcia Regina Rodrigues Hernandez, is a housewife...Has one older sister Larissa, who is a lawyer...Uncle, Geraldo, was a pro soccer player in Division I in Brazil...A big supporter of Sao Paulo soccer club and used to play for city's junior team (Sao Jose do Rio Preto) until age 10...Was a big fan of Romario (retired famous Brazilian soccer player)... Childhood idol was Andre Agassi and countryman Gustavo Kuerten...As a junior, practiced/warmed up with Kuerten in Paris when he won Roland Garros in 2000...As a junior, won four titles in 1999, including three in a row (in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia) in January-February...Considers best shot his forehand and favorite surface hard courts...Coached by Edvaldo Oliveira and physical trainer is Georges Bezas.
