Began playing tennis at age five with his parents and used to come to the courts with them…Has one younger brother, Andreas (23)...Father, Wilhelm, works in business sales and mother, Renata is a housewife…Was among the Top 10 in Germany until age 16 and then finished No. 1 in Germany in the 18s before turning pro...Did not play many international junior tournaments û only Grand Slams were Wimbledon (1st RD) and US Open (3rd RD) in 1999…In 2002, spent four-five days a month for eight months in the German army, which reduced his playing schedule to two tourn. a month (normal time for German citizens is 10 months but athletes are given special consideration)…Favorite surfaces are hard and clay courts and considers his forehand and serve as strengths…
Idol growing up was countryman Boris Becker.
2000 -- Played in eight Futures tournaments and won title at Japan #8 and semifinalist at Japan #6…
2001--Played in 14 Futures level tournaments and captured titles in India and Dominican Republic and reached final in Korea…
2002-- Played in nine Futures and nine Challenger tournaments with his best result the quarterfinals three times…Began season with title in Dubai Futures…Qualified for his first ATP tournament in Copenhagen and lost in the 1st RD…
2003-- Played in 18 tournaments (9 Futures, 9 Challengers) and won Netherlands Futures title…Reached two quarterfinals in two German Challengers…Struggled on and off during the season with a left shoulder injury…
2004-- Suffered a torn ligament in his right wrist in January and played in four tournaments in the first four months…Was sidelined for four months due to the injury and returned in late August…Finished the year strong with a 22-5 record in Futures events, winning a title, reaching two finals and three semifinals…
2005-- For the first time in three years played injury-free and improved 222 ranking positions to finish at a year-end best No. 196…On ATP circuit, went 1-3 and qualified in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. to Llodra), Bangkok (d. Karanusic, l. to Federer) and Tokyo (l. to Kim)…Also won two Futures titles in July and reached his first Challenger final in Calabasas, Calif. (l. to Vahaly)...
2006-- Finished in Top 150 for first time with 9-9 record in ATP level tournaments...Opened season with Grand Slam-best 3rd RD at Australian Open, defeating No. 18 Ginepri in five sets (from two sets down) before losing to eventual finalist Baghdatis...Also advanced to 3rd RD in Kitzbuhel (l. to Gaudio) and Washington (l. to Hewitt)...
2007--Compiled solid Challenger results with 35-22 record, collecting titles in Eckental (d. Karanusic) and Dusseldorf (d. Haider-Maurer) to finish in Top 125 for first time...Also a runner-up at Kosice Challenger (l. to Chardy)...Went 0-4 in ATP singles play (0-1 in doubles action).
2008
The German finished in Top 100 for first time, with a career-best 15 match wins highlighted by three ATP SF...Qualified into Australian Open and reached 2nd RD (d. Roitman, l. to Spadea)...Also made debut at other three Grand Slams...In April, reached first ATP SF at Estoril (l. to eventual champion Federer)...Followed with SF in next tournament appearance at Barcelona, posting wins over No. 8 Blake in 2nd RD and ‘08 clay wins leader Almagro in QF before falling to Nadal...Afterwards, reached a career-high No. 59 ranking on May 5...Lost next seven ATP-level matches before reaching SF in Los Angeles in August (d. Safin in QF, l. to Roddick)...Closed season with title at Eckental Challenger (d. Karanusic)...In doubles, runner-up at Monza Challenger (w/Greul)... Earned a career-high $350,226.
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