Ricardo Mello

2005 IN REVIEW

The Brazilian No. 2 (behind Daniel) finished in Top 100 in INDESIT ATP Race for second consecutive year after winning a career-high 16 matches on circuit... Began season by capturing hard court Challenger title in Sao Paulo (d. G. Lapentti)... Went 3-3 in Auckland, Australian Open and Delray Beach before playing South American clay court swing... Reached SF in Costa do Sauipe (l. to Nadal)... Did not win consecutive matches again until July, when he reached QF in Los Angeles (l. to Hrbaty)... Moved to career-high No. 50 on July 25... Advanced to 2nd RD at US Open (l. to Berdych)... Went 2-0 in Davis Cup singles play... Compiled 8-13 record on hard courts, 8-7 on clay, 0-2 on grass, 0-1 on carpet... Earned a career-high $257,673.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1996 – As a 15-year-old he received a wild card into Challenger event in his hometown of Campinas where he lost to Gustavo Kuerten for his first ATP points… 1997 – Played Curitiba Challenger…1998 – Was 6-6 in Futures events…1999 – Earned Futures titles at Uruguay #2 and Paraguay #3… Was 15-11 in Futures play… 2000 – Won title at Mexico Futures #3 and Brazil Futures #1… Was 21-9 in Futures action… Reached QF at Belo Horizonte Challenger (l. to Zimonjic… Posted a 4-3 record in Challengers… Doubles SF at Brazil Futures #2 (w/Galvao)… 2001 – Made ATP debut in September at Salvador and reached QF …Reached final at USA Futures # 4 … Claimed two futures titles in three weeks, winning Brazil #2 and USA #11… Reached SF at Brazil Futures #3… Won first career Challengers event at Campos do Jordao (d. Simoni)… Reached final of Rio de Janeiro Challenger (l. to Pless)… Was 21-19 in Challengers and 20-6 in Futures… In doubles reached Challenger finals at Campos do Jordao (w/ Schlachter) and Sao Paulo (w/ Daniel)… Also reached finals at Brazil Futures #3 (w/ Daniel)… 2002 – Finalist at Salinas Challenger… Won Challengers in back-to-back weeks at Campos Do Jordao (d. Abel) and Belo Horizonte (d. Simoni)… Was 27-17 in Challengers… Doubles finalist at Andorra Challenger (w/Gamonal)… 2003 – Was 5-8 in ATP play… Reached 2nd RD at Acapulco … Reached QF at Costa do Sauipe… Followed with final at Quito Challenger… Ended year by winning Puebla Challenger (d. Hantschk)… Reached at least QF in eight Challenger events and posted a 27-18 mark in Challenger events… Won doubles title at Quito Challenger and reached final in Andorra (both w/Simoni)…2004 – Finished as No. 2 Brazilian (behind No. 40 Kuerten) at a year-end best No. 64 after claiming his first ATP title… Played mainly Challengers in first half of the season, though he qualified into three ATP tournaments… Qualified into Australian Open and made Grand Slam debut, falling to Nalbandian in 1st RD… Made AMS debut as a qualifier at Miami, reaching 2nd RD (d. Salzenstein, l. to Srichaphan)…Reached SF at Zagreb Challenger (d. Ramirez Hidalgo)… Qualified into Roland Garros (l. to Sluiter)… Had a successful run in Brazilian Challengers, going 12-3 while reaching one final and winning one title… Reached final at Belo Horizonte (l. to Tipsarevic) and following week won title at Gramado Challenger (d. Tipsarevic)… Qualified into US Open and reached 3rd RD with wins over Chela and Sanchez before falling to Haas… Followed by winning his first career ATP title in Delray Beach, defeating Top 3 seeds of Spadea (F), Fish (2nd) and Ancic (SF)… In October, reached QF in Shanghai… Beginning with Belo Horizonte in July until Shanghai in October, won 22 of 25 matches, including US Open qualifying… At end of that run reached a career-high ranking of No. 60… In doubles, won title at Campos do Jordao Challenger (w/ Miranda) and reached final in Sao Paulo (w/H. Mello).

PERSONAL

Born in a cultural city of Campinas, one hour drive from Sao Paulo... Began playing tennis at age six at Equestrian Club of Campinas with local pros and earned his first ATP ranking point in 1996 at age 15 (as a wildcard) by playing in his hometown Challenger in Campinas, losing to Gustavo Kuerten in 1st RD... Nicknamed “Papagayo” which means parrott in English... The nickname was given to him by his close friends because he doesn’t talk much (very reserved) unlike most of his countrymen... Younger brother Enrique is right-handed and plays at futures level... They have played doubles together in couple of events... Considers hard courts his favorite surface... Has a 4-0 career Davis Cup singles record in three ties... Works with Marcelo Tella at home (since 1998) and travels with countryman and former pro Ricardo Schlachter.