Began playing tennis at age eight...Father, Rainer, is a factory purchasing agent; mother, Ulla, is a housewife... Has one older brother, Stefan...Enjoys soccer and basketball and when playing in the U.S., often tries to attend a NBA game...Semifinalist at Orange Bowl 14s and German champion in 16s...Coached by countryman Klaus Langenbach...On 22 November 2012, was appointed vice captain of Germany's Davis Cup team under Carsten Arriens...Wife Veronica (married December 7, 2012)
1995 -- Singles winner at Pakistan Satellite (49 points).
1996 -- In limited Challenger play, compiled a 4-5 record with QF in Neumunster...In doubles, reached final in Portoroz (w/Huning)...
1997 -- In Satellite play, finished runner-up at Greece #1 circuit (31 points)...Compiled 15-15 match record in Challengers...Won his first title at Bad Lippspringe (d. Schuttler)...In doubles, won Germany #1 Satellite (50 points), first Challenger title in Nettingsdorf (w/Jacob) and captured three others in Seville, Bad Lippspringe (w/Ketola) and Wismar (w/Burgsmuller)...
1998 -- Made steady rise in rankings with success in Challenger play. Began year on 15-4 streak during five Challenger events, including win in Kyoto (d. Campbell) and final in Lubeck (l. to Wessels). Qualified for first Grand Slam at US Open and reached 3rd RD with victories over Woodbridge and Di Pasquale (l. to No. 13 Henman). Saved five match points against Dupuis in final round of US Open qualifying. Defeated Chang in 1st RD at Singapore to improve ranking into Top 100 for first time.
1999 -- Reached QF in Munich with wins over van Lottum and W. Ferreira (l. to Squillari). Defeating Enqvist at Queen's before losing to Lareau. Reached final of Lubeck Challenger (l. to A. Pretzsch). Reached 2nd RD at US Open after five-set victory against Pavel before losing to A. Costa in 2nd RD. In doubles, won Challenger titles in Heilbronn and Hamburg (w/F. Veglio) and Aschaffenburg (w/Cabello).
2000 -- Won only two matches on ATP circuit, including a straight sets victory against fellow German Haas in TMS Hamburg before losing to Rios in 2nd RD. Lost to Krajicek in four sets at 1st RD match at Wimbledon. In doubles, reached ATP final in Gstaad (w/Golmard) but lost to J. Novak-D. Rikl. Won Challenger event in Knoxville (w/Braasch).
2001 -- Finished with 26-11 singles record in Challengers and 34-10 in doubles. ingles results included Challenger wins in Hull (d. Pless in final), Wrexham (d. Svarc) and Costa Rica (d. van Lottum). Also reached final in Kyoto (l. to van Lottum), Zabrze (l. to Fukarek) and Caracas (l. to Knowle). Teamed with Llodra to win Hull Challenger title. Partnered with Knowle to win Challenger titles in Zabrze, Aachen and Caracas.
2002 -- The German won a career-best seven matches on ATP circuit after going 0-2 the year before...Won first ATP doubles title in Copenhagen with Julian Knowle...Played Australian Open for second time, losing to Kafelnikov in straight sets...Suffered 1st RD defeats in Copenhagen, Dubai and Scottsdale...Snapped four-match losing streak in Casablanca with straight sets victory against Zabaleta before losing to Youzhny in three sets in next match....Won 1st RD matches in Newport (l. to Simoni) and Amersfoort (l. to Chela) and advanced to 3rd RD in Kitzbuehel...Defeated Arthurs and Mantilla in Kitzbuehel before losing to Costa...Won 1st RD match in Tokyo after defeating Bohaboy before losing in straight sets to Dent in 2nd RD...In doubles, won ATP title (w/Knowle) at Copenhagen...Reached Mallorca final (w/Knowle) before losing to Bhupathi-Paes...Paired with Knowle to reach SF in Costa do Sauipe and Hong Kong and in Doha (w/D. Adams)...Earned a career-high $201,126.