Julien Boutter

2003 IN REVIEW

The Frenchman had mixed fortunes during year, capturing his first ATP singles title but missing last four months through a shoulder injury…Underwent surgery on right shoulder on Sept. 11…After slow start to season, reached SF at Cagliari Challenger in March…Following month, enjoyed biggest week of his career in Casablanca, winning first career ATP title…Defeated Sanguinetti, Horna, Saretta, Hrbaty in SF and local favorite El Aynaoui in F…Following week, advanced to QF at TMS Monte-Carlo, equaling his best performance at TMS level (Hamburg 2002)…Posted wins over Mirnyi, Srichaphan and Schalken before losing to former champion Moya…Did not win a match on ATP circuit in rest of year, going 0-5 including 1st RD losses at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open…Did not play after loss to Schalken at Flushing Meadows before undergoing surgery…Compiled 8-4 record on clay, 0-2 on hard, 0-1 on grass.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1996-Finished in Top 5 in Greece #2 and France #5 Satellites... 1997-Played in three Satellites and two Challengers with best result a first place finish at Belgium/ Luxembourg circuit (49 points)...Reached first doubles final at Ostend Challenger (w/Benhabiles)... 1998-Reached final at Austria #2 and Germany #4 Futures events and first Challenger final in Mumbai (l. to Dupuis)...Also a QF at Bristol and Binghamton Challengers...Qualified for first Grand Slam at Roland Garros and defeated Vinck in 1st RD before losing to countryman Pioline in four sets in 2nd RD...1999-Won first Challenger title in Grenoble (d. Dupuis), reached final in Zagreb (l. to Gaudenzi) and QF at two others...2000-Finished in Top 100 in singles and doubles for first time in his career...Reached his first ATP SF in Tashkent...Captured Challenger titles in Cherbourg and Besancon...Captured first ATP doubles title in Chennai (w/C. Rochus) and second in Toulouse (w/Santoro)...2001 - Improved his year-end ranking for a sixth straight year, reaching first ATP final in Milan...Did not drop a set en route to final with wins over Gambill in QF and Rusedski in SF before losing to Federer in final...Also advanced to SF in Basel (l. to Federer) and QF in Marseille (l. to Mirnyi)...In doubles, captured titles in Marseille (w/Santoro) and Tashkent (w/Hrbaty)...Earned a career-high $424,203 and won a personal best 25 matches in singles...2002 - Advanced to singles SF in Casablanca and reached QF at TMS Hamburg, Sydney, and Munich...In doubles, reached back-to-back finals in Milan and Marseille (both w/Mirnyi)...Also advanced to SF at Australian Open (w/Clement).

PERSONAL

Full name is Julien Marc Boutter...Nicknamed "Jules" or "Boots" Began playing at age 10...Father, Michel, is a businessman; mother, Marie Paule, is a teacher...Considers his father as person he admires most...Competed in handball, fencing, judo and skiing as a youth...Completed his degree in Applied Mechanics at the university in his hometown of Metz in 1995, and believes he is only now just beginning his tennis career...Enjoys soccer, woodworking and restoring vintage cars...Considers serve as best part of his game...Nicknamed "Boots" or "Jules"...Fitness trainer is David Martin and coached by former ATP pro Jerome Potier through French Tennis Federation.