Daniele Bracciali

2006 IN REVIEW

The Italian No. 2 (behind Volandri) compiled his best season with a year-end high ATP Ranking of No. 67...Won a career-high 18 matches and captured his first career ATP title...His best results came in first half of season as he compiled a 13-13 match record through his 3rd RD showing at Wimbledon (l. to Bjorkman)...In February, advanced to QF in Rotterdam with wins over Andreev and Calatrava (l. to Davydenko)...Two months later, biggest week came in Casablanca where he dropped only one set en route to his first ATP title (d. Massu)... Struggled in second half of year with a 5-11 record, failing to win back-to-back matches...Compiled records of 7-6 on clay, 5-11 on hard and 4-3 on grass...Earned a career-high $372,885.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1995 – As a 17-year-old, made ATP debut with wild card in St. Poelten (l. to Gilber)…1996 – Reached 2nd RD at Olbia Challenger…Made ATP doubles debut at Bologna (w/Sabau)…1998 – Won first tour-level match after qualifying into Wimbledon…Defeated Lee in five-sets, then defeated Ulihrach to reach 3rd RD (l. to Philippoussis)…Won Challenger title in Olbia (d. Ran)…Finalist at two Futures events…Reached one doubles final in Futures…1999 – Reached SF at Trani Futures (l. to Tarallo)…In doubles, won three Futures titles…2000 – Reached four Challenger QFs…In doubles, reached two Challenger finals, winning one…2001 – Best result was SF at Glasgow Futures…Claimed one Challenger and one Futures title in doubles…2002 – Claimed one Italian Futures title…In doubles, won San Remo Challenger (w/Gilimberti)…Reached two other Challenger finals….2003--Won Challenger title in Recanati (d. Dell’Acqua)…Also finalist at Ischgl Challenger (l. to J. Johansson)…Reached one Futures final… Won doubles titles at Wrexham Challenger (w/Luzzi), San Remo (w/Hadad) and Genova (w/Santopadre)…Also claimed on Futures doubles title…2004 – Played first tour-level event since 1998 Wimbledon as lucky loser at Milan (l. to Sluiter)…Qualified at Wimbledon and reached 2nd RD, beating Hernych in five sets before falling to Gambill in four…Reached four Challenger finals, claiming the title in San Benedetto (d. Villagran)…In doubles, teamed with Galimberti to reach Milan final (l. to Palmer-Vizner)…Made Grand Slam doubles debut at Wimbledon (w/Galimberti)… 2005 – Finished in Top 100 for first time in his career...Posted wins over Rusedski, Delgado, Moodie and Dupuis before winning title against Karlovic 6-7(0), 7-6(5), 7-6(4) at Surbiton Challenger... Reached final round of Wimbledon qualifying before retiring against Garcia in fifth set... Entered main draw as lucky loser to get rematch against Karlovic... Withstood a record 51 aces from the Croat to win 12-10 in fifth set in 4 hours, 17 minutes... Fired 31 aces himself and got his only break of the match in 21st game of fifth... In 2nd RD, faced Roddick and fell behind by two sets before rallying to force a fifth set which was delayed overnight by darkness before lsoing 6-3 in fifth...Qualified and made debuts at Australian Open (l. to Tipsarevic), Roland Garros (l. to Gasquet) and US Open (l. to Robredo)...Reached QF at Amersfoort (l. to Gonzalez) and Moscow (l. to Andreev)...Made Davis Cup debut against Luxembourg in March, defeating Muller in four sets...Fell in straight sets in World Group Play-off against Spain to Nadal and Ferrero... Claimed Challenger title in Manchester (d. Zelenay) and finalist at Bratislava (l. to Hrbaty)...In doubles, won first career ATP title at Milan (w/Galimberti)... Was 3-0 in Davis Cup doubles.

PERSONAL

Began playing at age seven...Parents, Giuliano and Ilia, own a butchery...Has an older brother, Luca...Suffered groin injuries between age 20 and 24...As a junior, won Australian Open and Wimbledon junior titles (w/Jocelyn Robichaud)...Considers his five-set 2nd RD loss to Andy Roddick on Wimbledon Centre Court in 2005 and his Davis Cup doubles win over Feliciano Lopez and Rafael Nadal (also in ‘05) as highlights in his career...Likes soccer (supports the Juventus Turin club) and going to movies (Al Pacino his favorite)...Favorite surfaces are hard and grass courts and considers serve as best part of his game...Has a 5-3 career Davis Cup record (4-1 in doubles) in five ties...Trains in Arezzo, Tuscany and coached by Umberto Rianna (since October 2004) as member of Blue Team that also includes countrymen Potito Starace and Federico Luzzi.