Santiago Giraldo

Began playing tennis at age five...Nicknamed "Santi"...Most inspirational people in his life are his parents, Elsa and Eduardo...Has one older brother, Daniel (28), and older sister, Carmina (31), who used to play Fed Cup for Colombia...Likes to watch movies (comedy), listen to music (reggae), and read (drama)...His idol is Colombian President Alvaro Uribe...Considers hard courts as favorite surface...Member of Colombian Davis Cup team and has a 5-3 career singles record...If he wasn't a tennis player he would be a politician or journalist...Fitness trainer is Javier Benet and coached by Ricardo Sanchez.

2005 -- Won first Futures title at Colombia #6

2006 -- Claimed two Futures titles in three finals, winning at Colombia #3 and Brazil #6...Reached two Challenger finals in home country, titling in Bogota (d. Echagaray) and finishing as runner-up in Medellin (d. Canas in SF, l. to Guccione)...In doubles, won Brazil #4 Futures title and reached Cuenca Challenger final (w/Salamanca).

2007 -- The Colombian No. 2 (behind Falla) finished in Top 150 for first time (at No. 139) and improved his year-end ranking for third straight season...Posted his lone ATP-level win in Davis Cup against Venezuela (d. Romero) in September (went 1-5)...Enjoyed an excellent season on Challenger circuit (25-11 mark), winning two titles in Bogota (d. Saretta) and Quito (d. G. Lapentti) from four finals...Also finished runner-up in San Luis Potosi (l. to Vicente) and Bogota (l. to Daniel)...Reached a career-high No. 115 in April, having started season at No. 175.

2008 -- Compiled a 19-17 match record in Challenger level play, reaching final in Furth (l. to Koellerer) and SF at Cali…Qualified into main draw five times, including back-to-back at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami…Made second straight showing at Roland Garros as a qualifier (l. to Serra)…

2009

The No. 2 Colombian (behind No. 81 Falla) finished a year-end best just outside Top 100, highlighted by three Challenger titles and a 38-14 match record…Opened campaign with title in Salinas (d. Russell) and his lone tour-level win of season came in Davis Cup play vs. Uruguay in March…Followed by qualifying into first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells (l. to N. Lapentti)…One month later, won title at San Luis Potosi Challenger (d. Lorenzi)…For third year in a row qualified at Roland Garros (l. to Istomin in four sets)…Played eight weeks in a row to finish year, winning 19 of 26 matches, highlighted by SF in Cali and Quito, title at Sacramento (d. Levine) and runner-up at Guayaquil (l. to N. Lapentti)…Earned a career-high $96,412.