Sebastien Grosjean

2008 IN REVIEW

Underwent right shoulder surgery on December 15 in Paris after being troubled most of the season...Was expected to be sidelined four to six months.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1997 – Jumped more than 250 ranking positions with success in Challenger play… Compiled 22-10 record, winning his first title as a qualifier in Bratislava (d. Vasek)… 1998 – Reached SF in Casablanca and Boston, QF in Coral Springs and Grand Slam-best 4th RD at Wimbledon (l. to Sampras)… 1999 – Reached Miami final where he beat Kuerten in 2nd RD and No. 1 Moya in 4th RD (saved three match points)… Also reached final in Atlanta (l. to Koubek) and SF in three other events… Led his country to Davis Cup final but lost 3-2 to Australia… In QF tie vs. Brazil’s Kuerten, lost 9-7 in fifth set in 4 hours, 43 minutes… Won Cherbourg Challenger title (d. Dupuis) early in season… 2000 – Won first career ATP title on grass in Nottingham (d. B.Black)… In first three months of season, reached SF in Marseille, QF in Adelaide and 3rd RD at Australian Open (l. to Henman), AMS Indian Wells (d. Henman, l. to Norman) and Ericsson Open in Miami (l. to Rafter)… Reached clay final in Casablanca (d. Puerta, l. to Vicente)… Davis Cup matches (vs. Austria) to lift France back into World Group in 2001… In August, advanced to QF at Indianapolis (l. to Safin) and at US Open, took eventual champion Safin to a fifth-set tie-break in 3rd RD… During European indoor circuit, reached SF at AMS Stuttgart and Stockholm… 2001 – Finished as No. 1 player from his country and in Top 10 for first time in his career… Became first Frenchman to finish in Top 10 since Cedric Pioline (No. 10) in 1993 and his No. 6 year-end ranking was best by a Frenchman since Henri Leconte (No. 6) in 1986… Won a career-high 51 matches, most by a Frenchman since Pioline won 51 in 1993… Also a member of country’s winning Davis Cup team (d. Australia 3-2 in final)…Qualified for his first Tennis Masters Cup by winning his lone ATP title of year in final regular season stop at ATP Masters Series Paris by defeating Haas in SF and Kafelnikov in F…Became first French champion at AMS Paris since Guy Forget in 1991 and first Frenchman to qualify for year-end championship since Forget that year… Once Down Under, he took advantage of opportunity and became first French player to reach final of year-end championship, losing to Hewitt… En route, posted wins over Agassi, Rafter and Kafelnikov… Reached SF in Sydney (d. Federer, l. to Hewitt) and Australian Open, losing to countryman Clement in five sets (after winning first two sets and holding two match points)… Finalist in his hometown of Marseille (l. to Kafelnikov)… Opened clay court season at AMS Monte-Carlo and advanced to SF (l. to Arazi)… Compiled a career-best 19-8 mark on clay, highlighted by SF run at Roland Garros where he defeated Agassi in four sets in QF before losing to Corretja… In July in Gstaad reached SF (l. to Ferrero)… On July 26, suffered a severe left ankle sprain while training in Florida and did not play a hard court event leading into US Open (1st RD)… At AMS Paris, posted wins over Hrbaty, C. Rochus, Arazi and Haas en route to final before beating Kafelnikov for first time in four meetings… Had a 1-2 record in Davis Cup play during year, winning a five-set match over Belgium’s C. Rochus in 1st RD and losing to Rafter and Hewitt in final against Australia…Earned a career-high $1,918,584… 2002 – Led his country to Davis Cup final for third time in four years by compiling a 5-3 singles mark… France lost 3-2 to Russia in final… Won third career ATP title in St. Petersburg… His streak of 17 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments played came to an end with his withdrawal at Wimbledon due to a left thigh injury… Opened European clay court circuit with SF at AMS Monte-Carlo (d. Novak, Costa, l. to Ferrero)… Turned in his best Grand Slam of season at Roland Garros with QF effort (l. to Safin)… Did not play on grass and took next six weeks off to rest his thigh injury, which first occurred in QF Davis tie in April… In second event back at AMS Toronto, reached QF… Lifted France to Davis Cup final with wins over Blake and Roddick in SF at Roland Garros… Finished season by winning title in St. Petersburg (d. Youzhny), reaching SF at AMS Madrid and QF in LyonIn doubles, captured his second career ATP title in Los Angeles (w/Kiefer)… Surpassed $1 million ($1,331,157) for second straight year… 2003 – Finished in Top 10 for second time in three years, despite not winning an ATP title for first time in four years…Reached two finals and advanced to his third career Grand Slam SF… Began season by advancing to QF at Australian Open (l. to Agassi) and one month later reached SF in Rotterdam… Reached Queen’s final with victories over three-time defending champion Hewitt (QF) and Henman (SF) before falling to Roddick … At Wimbledon, had wins over Ferrero (4th RD) and Henman (QF) before losing to Philippoussis in straight sets… Became third Frenchmen (Leconte, Pioline) to reach SF at All England Club in Open Era… Finliast in Tokyo (d. Srichaphan in SF, l. to Schuettler), QF at AMS Madrid and St. Petersburg… 2004 – Became first Frenchman to finish in Top 20 for five consecutive years since Yannick Noah from 1981-89… Despite not winning an ATP title for second straight season, turned in impressive showings in Grand Slam action at Australian Open (QF) and Wimbledon (SF)…At Australian Open, retired vs. Agassi in QF… Was sidelined in February with a thigh injury but returned in March to reach 4th RD at ATP Masters Series stops in Indian Wells (l. to Coria) and Miami (l. to Kiefer)…Did not win consecutive matches on clay but played well on grass with repeat ‘03 performances at Queen’s where he lost to Roddick in final and Wimbledon where he reached SF, losing to eventual champion Federer… Became first Frenchman to advance to Wimbledon SF in back-to-back years in Open Era… During summer hard court circuit, reached QF at Indianapolis and Athens Olympics… After losing in 2nd RD at US Open, did not play rest of season due to a left thigh injury…2005 – Continued streak of reaching at least one ATP final every year since 1999 with a runner-up in Houston... Defeated No. 10 Agassi in QF and former Top 10 N. Lapentti in SF before losing to No. 4 Roddick at Houston... Advanced to 4th RD at Roland Garros, losing to eventual champion Nadal in four sets... On grass, turned in QF results at Queen's and Wimbledon, losing to Roddick both times... Did not reach another QF or better until late October when he advanced to SF in Lyon (l. to Monfils)... Played in 1st RD Davis Cup tie vs. Sweden and lost both singles matches to Thomas and Joachim Johansson but France won 3-2... Was top French player from May 14, 2001 to June 19, 2005 before Gasquet took over... Went 1-8 vs. Top 10 opponents with his lone win over Agassi... Compiled records of 11-7 on clay, 10-12 on hard, 6-2 on grass and 3-2 on carpet...2006-- Finished in Top 30 for an eighth consecutive season, highlighted by two ATP SF and two QF during the year...In first eight months, compiled a 20-16 match record with his third QF in four years at Australian Open...Posted a four-sets win over No. 9 Coria in 3rd RD and Mathieu in 4th RD before losing a four hour, 48 minute marathon (8-6 in fifth set) to Kiefer...Avenged loss to Kiefer by defeating him in opening rubber of Davis Cup tie in Germany...Then returned to ATP action in his native Marseille where he advanced to SF (d. Monfils in 1st, l. to Ancic)...Made 10th consecutive appearance at Roland Garros, falling in a five-set 2nd RD match to Vassallo-Arguello... Won his 300th career singles match at Queen’s and reached the 3rd RD at Wimbledon (l. to Baghdatis)...Did not win consecutive matches until October when he reached SF in Metz (l. to Djokovic)... Closed season with a QF in Lyon (l. to Gicquel) and 2nd RD at AMS Paris (l. to Robredo)...Went 1-4 vs. Top 10 opponents...Compiled marks of 17-13 on hard, 4-4 on clay, 3-2 on grass and 3-2 on carpet...2007--Finished in Top 60 for ninth straight year, highlighted by his fourth ATP singles title…Ended five-year title drought in October, becoming sixth Frenchman to win Lyon title (d. Gicquel)…Afterwards, moved from No. 81 to No. 49…Also teamed compatriot Tsonga in Lyon to win fifth career doubles title...Joined Xavier Malisse and Philipp Kohlschreiber as only players to win singles and doubles titles at same event during year…Reached back-to-back clay QF at Casablanca and Munich during spring, and in October at Metz…Best Grand Slam finishes were 3rd RD at Australian Open (l. to Nalbandian) and US Open (l. to Haas)…Played in 1st RD Davis Cup tie vs. Romania and defeated Pavel…Went winless (0-3) vs. Top 10 opponents…Compiled records of 8-10 on hard, 5-0 on carpet, 5-4 on clay and 3-3 on grass.

PERSONAL

Full name is Sebastien Rene Grosjean...First sport he participated in as a youngster was skiing in Pra Loup Village in South Alps...Finished as No. 1 junior player in world in singles and doubles in 1996, first player to accomplish feat since Jason Stoltenberg in 1987...Won Roland Garros junior doubles title in 1996 (w/Mutis)... Finished as the French junior champion in 1995...Became the first French player in his age category (18s) to become European champion in Klosters in 1996...Also led France to the Sunshine Cup title in ‘96 (junior world team championship)...Enjoys soccer and snowboarding...Big fan of Olympic Marseille soccer club...Always admired style and attitude of Yannick Noah...Close friend of fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clement... The two launched a book in April 2003 called “Passing Potes,” which is “Passing Pals,” talking about their friendship...First visited Florida for Orange Bowl tournament as a teenager before moving to Boca Raton in May 1999...Wife, Marie-Pierre (married Nov 16, 1998); daughters, Lola (born Oct. 11, 1998) and Sam (born Feb. 26, 2006); son, Tom, (born July 1, 2002) and godfather is Arnaud Clement...Has a 16-9 Davis Cup career singles record (0-1 in doubles) in 16 ties since 1999.