Alex Corretja

Full name is Alex Corretja Verdegay...Parents, Luis, and Luisa; has two brothers, Sergio and Ivan...Winner of Orange Bowl 16s title in 1990...One of friendliest players on tour and a frequent participant at Kids' Day and hospital visits...Enjoys meeting children and playing with animals...Earned Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award in 1996 and '98...In 4th RD of 1997 Roland Garros (vs. Filip Dewulf), overruled a call that had been made in his favor and conceded point to Dewulf, which ultimately cost the Spaniard the match.

As a youngster, grew up a fan of Ivan Lendl and when he lost first two sets of '98 ATP Tour World Championship to Moya, thought of Lendl's comeback at '84 Roland Garros final (vs. McEnroe)...Named to Davis Cup squad in 1996 and has a 14-8 career record (9-2 in singles) in 13 ties...Named to ATP Tour Player Council in 1996-97 and served as president in 1997-98...Won the Prix Orange at Roland Garros in '99 as chosen by journalists for his pleasant demeanor...Won Spanish National Championships in July 2000...Supports Barcelona-based soccer club Barca.

Wife, Marta (married Dec. 1, 2001)...Fitness trainer is Toni Estalella, who also works with Albert Costa...Coached by Javier Duarte.

2004 -- The Spanish veteran posted his lowest match wins total (12) since 1992 and finished out of Top 100 in INDESIT ATP Entry Rankings for first time since 1991...In March, reached 3rd RD at ATP Masters Series Indian Wells with wins over countrymen Ferrer and Robredo before falling to Henman...Reached 3rd RD at Roland Garros, defeating Gambill and Srichaphan (l. to Chela)... Finished year with QF in Metz and 2nd RD at AMS Madrid and St. Petersburg.

2003 -- Finished with his lowest year-end INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking since 1991 after reaching QF or better in two tournaments all year...Missed out on a title for first time since 1999...Highlight of season came in helping Spain reach Davis Cup final (lost 3-1 to Australia) with 2-2 doubles record (1-0 in singles) during campaign...Struggled in first five months of season with 6-10 match record...His best result was QF in March in Scottsdale (l. to Hewitt)...On clay, he advanced to 3rd RD in Barcelona (l. to Robredo) and 2nd RD at TMS Roma...Advanced to first SF of season in St. Petersburg, defeating J. Vacek, Gaudio and Grosjean in third set tie-break before losing to eventual champion Kuerten...It was his first SF since Long Island in 2002...Finished season with SF at Bratislava Challenger...Compiled 7-12 record on clay and 7-10 on hard courts.

2002 -- Captured clay court titles in Gstaad (d. Gaudio) and Kitzbnhel (d. Ferrero) while reaching SF at Roland Garros and Long Island...Biggest victory of year came over Sampras (on grass) in Davis Cup QF tie in Houston...Rallied from two-sets deficit to win in five... The Spaniard finished in Top 20 for fifth time in last six years and won two ATP clay court titles...Also advanced to his third Grand Slam SF (or better) at Roland Garros… Came into Roland Garros with a 5-4 mark on clay before getting on track...Saved four match points in his five-set win over Clement in 3rd RD and did not lose a set in his four other victories...But in SF against countryman Costa, lost in four sets...One week later he served as best man at Costa's wedding...Took one month off and returned in Gstaad where he captured title without dropping a set (d. Gaudio in F)...Two weeks later in Kitzbnhel, he won title for second time in three years (d. Costa in QF, Ferrero in F), again not dropping a set...In August, he advanced to QF in Washington and SF in Long Island before losing in 3rd RD at US Open to Roddick for second straight year...Compiled a 24-8 match record on clay and 14-10 on hard.

2001 -- The Spanish No. 2 (behind No. 5 Ferrero) finished in Top 15 and won an ATP title for fourth time in last five years...Won his 15th career ATP title and reached second Grand Slam final at Roland Garros...Went 3-0 at ATP World Team Championship in Dnsseldorf, defeating Hewitt, Haas and Norman...Continued strong play by reaching Roland Garros final for second time (1998) with wins over Santoro in 4th RD, Federer in QF and Grosjean in SF before losing to defending champion Kuerten in four sets...In July, won a five-set marathon in final in Amsterdam (d. El Aynaoui)...The 53-game final was longest on tour during year...Compiled a 25-8 record on clay, 9-9 on hard and went 17-9 in tie-breaks...In limited doubles play, won title in Kitzbuehel and reached final in Amsterdam (both w/Lobo).

2000 -- The No. 1 Spaniard for second time in three years captured five titles, won over 50 matches and finished in Top 10...He also led his country to their first Davis Cup title with a 3-0 singles mark during year...In final vs. Australia's Stolle-Woodforde, won in straight sets (w/Balcells) to give Spain a 2-1 lead en route to 3-1 victory...In first Tennis Mastes Series event in Indian Wells, defeated Rafter, Santoro, Norman, Lapentti and Enqvist (F) for his second career TMS title...Opened clay court season with four-set victory over Safin in QF Davis Cup tie...Followed with QF at TMS Monte Carlo and advanced to SF at TMS Roma...Continued success on clay by reaching QF (or better) at Roland Garros for third straight year (l. to Ferrero)...In July, won Gstaad title (d. Puerta) and two weeks later captured title in Kitzbnhel (d. Alvarez)...In August, returned to hard courts and won title in Washington (d. Kiefer in SF, Agassi in F) for his second hard court title of year...In Sydney Olympics, lost in 3rd RD in singles and won bronze medal in doubles (w/A. Costa)...During indoor season, won his third career title without dropping a set in Toulouse (d. Moya)...Went 1-2 in round robin play in year-end championship in Lisbon, losing to Sampras and Safin with a victory in between over Hewitt...Played consistently on multiple surfaces, compiling a 26-5 record on clay and 26-12 mark on hard courts...Surpassed $1 million for third straight year.

1999 -- Despite finishing out of Top 20, reached three ATP finals-Sydney (l. to T. Martin), Long Island (d. Enqvist, l. to Norman) and Mallorca (l. to Ferrero)...Reached a career-best No. 2 ranking on Feb. 1...During European clay court circuit, advanced to SF at TMS Roma (l. to Kuerten), went 3-0 in round robin play at ATP World Team Championship in Dnsseldorf and reached QF at Roland Garros and SF in Stuttgart...Compiled a 24-10 record on clay and 13-10 on hard.

1998 -- Finished in Top 10 for first time at No. 3...Compiled a 57-21 record and captured a career-high five titles in seven finals, winning on three different surfaces (carpet, clay, hard)...Won titles in Dubai (d. Mantilla) and Indianapolis (d. Agassi) on hard, Gstaad (d. Becker) on clay and Lyon (d. Haas) on carpet...Also reached clay finals at Tennis Masters Series in Hamburg (l. to A. Costa) and his first Grand Slam title match at Roland Garros (l. to Moya)...Closed campaign by becoming first Spaniard to win ATP World Championship (on hard) since Manuel Orantes won 1976 Masters in Houston...Beat countryman Moya in five-set marathon, rallying from two-sets deficit to capture 4-hours, 1-minute battle...Beat No. 1 Sampras in SF and saved three match points...In 3rd RD victory over Gumy at Roland Garros, played longest match (5:31) in tournament history...Posted an 8-2 record vs. Top 10 opponents and earned a career-high $2,702,569.

1997 -- Captured three titles in five finals (all on clay), including his first TMS in Rome (d. Rios) and climbed from 15 to No. 8, his first Top 10 ranking...Compiled a 38-9 record on clay and 10-7 on hard...Went 3-2 vs. Top 10 foes and surpassed $1 million in a season for first time.

1996 -- Reached three ATP clay finals-TMS in Hamburg (l. to Carretero), Kitzbnhel (l. to Berasategui) and Marbella (l. to Goellner)...Broke into Top 20 for first time at No. 19 on Oct. 7...Reached QF in US Open where he lost an epic five-set battle (4:09) to Sampras (held one M.P.).

1995 -- Turned in 4th RD effort at Roland Garros...Defeated Muster in Gstaad (ending Austrian's 40-match winning streak on clay).

1994 -- Won first career ATP title in Buenos Aires (d. Frana).

1993 -- Advanced to SF in Florence and Sao Paulo and QF in four other clay court stops.

1992 -- Reached first ATP singles final in Guaruja (l. to Arriens) to crack Top 100.