Xavier Malisse

At age 13, he was as good a soccer player as tennis and made choice to play tennis...Older brother Olivier is a lawyer in Belgium...Enjoyed outstanding junior career, reaching QF at Wimbledon Juniors and 3rd RD at Roland Garros juniors in 1997...Likes to play basketball, enjoys water-skiing and jet-skiing...Began playing golf in 1997 and is a single-digit handicap...Entered Nick Bollettieri Academy in summer of 1997 and trains there part of season.

2011 -- The top Belgian finished in Top 50 for 1st time since 2006, highlighted by a runner-up in 1st week of season in Chennai (l. to Wawrinka)…Also advanced to SF in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. to Tursunov) and QF in Metz (ret. vs. Dolgopolov) and Vienna (l. to Tsonga)...Went 0-7 vs. Top 10 opponents and compiled marks of 13-18 on hard, 7-3 on grass and 4-5 on clay...Best Grand Slam result was 4R at Wimbledon (d. No. 18 Mayer, No. 11 Melzer, l. to Tomic)...In doubles, captured title at Indian Wells (w/Dolgopolov) and Los Angeles (w/Knowles)...

2010 -- The top Belgian finished in Top 100 for eighth time in 10 years and Top 60 for first time since ‘06…Best results were SFs at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. to Stakhovsky) and Washington (d. No. 8 Berdych, l. to Baghdatis)…Reached QFs in Houston, Atlanta, Queen’s Club and Metz…Best Grand Slam showing was 3rd RD at Wimbledon (l. to Querrey)…Had a 22-23 overall match record with an 11-16 mark on hard, 8-3 on grass and 3-4 on clay.

2009 -- Qualified for Australian Open, reaching 2nd RD (l. to Roddick)…In February, represented Belgium in Davis Cup tie versus Poland…Qualified for Wimbledon, making a 1st RD exit (l. to Schuettler)…Won two Challenger titles in Granby, Canada, and Orleans, France, from four finals.

2008 -- The Belgian was limited to only five tournaments due to a right wrist injury...But before being sidelined, won ATP singles and doubles titles in two of his first three tournaments, in Chennai (d. No. 2 Nadal in SF, Koubek in F) and Delray Beach (d. No. 6 Blake)...Became first player to accomplish feat twice in a season since Yevgeny Kafelnikov in 1996...Then injured his wrist on Feb. 19 in Memphis (vs. Gabashvili) and retired...Was sidelined for six months before returning at US Open in late August when he defeated Pless in 1st RD and lost in next round to Nalbandian...Played Mons Challenger (1st RD) in October in last tournament.

2007 -- The Belgian was limited to only five tournaments due to a right wrist injury...But before being sidelined, won ATP singles and doubles titles in two of his first three tournaments, in Chennai (d. No. 2 Nadal in SF, Koubek in F) and Delray Beach (d. No. 6 Blake)...Became first player to accomplish feat twice in a season since Yevgeny Kafelnikov in 1996...Then injured his wrist on Feb. 19 in Memphis (vs. Gabashvili) and retired...Was sidelined for six months before returning at US Open in late August when he defeated Pless in 1st RD and lost in next round to Nalbandian...Played Mons Challenger (1st RD) in October in last tournament.

2006 -- Belgian No. 2 (behind Vliegen) finished in Top 50 for fifth time in six years highlighted by two ATP finals and three SF...Runner-up showings in Adelaide (l. to Serra) and Delray Beach (l. to Haas) in first five weeks...In March, advanced to QF in Las Vegas and 3rd RD at AMS Indian Wells...Did not win back-to-back matches again until July when he reached SF in Indianapolis with wins over Tursunov and Gonzalez (l. to Blake)...Reached first ATP Masters Series QF in Toronto (d. No. 5 Davydenko, l. to Federer in three) and SF in New Haven (ret. with elbow injury vs. Calleri)...In October, advanced to SF in Lyon (l. to Gicquel)...Finished with records of 26-16 on hard and 3-2 on carpet...

2005 -- Captured first career ATP title in Delray Beach (d. Novak) in his 117th career ATP level tournament... Two weeks later reached QF in Memphis (l. to Haas)... Did not win back-to-back matches again until late July when he advanced to QF in Los Angeles (l. to Chela)... Followed with 3rd RD at AMS Montreal (l. to Puerta)... At US Open, equaled his career-best 4th RD showing, losing to Agassi in five sets... Followed with runner-up at Mons Challenger (l. to O. Rochus)... In doubles, captured his second career title in Adelaide (w/O. Rochus)...

2004 -- Reached two ATP finals û St. Poelten (l. to Volandri) and Lyon (l. to Soderling) along with two 4th RD showings in Grand Slams û at Roland Garros (d. No. 7 Schuettler in 1st RD, l. to Hewitt) and Wimbledon (ret. vs. Ancic)... Became first Belgian Grand Slam champions (w/O. Rochus) as they won doubles title at Roland Garros... Qualified in doubles for Tennis Masters Cup in Houston and went 1-2 in round robin play...Earned a career-high $645,379...

2003 -- Reached career-best 3rd RD at Australian Open and followed at Roland Garros with another 3rd RD effort... Followed with QF at Queen's, losing to Agassi, and one month later, reached QF at Indianapolis... Posted biggest win of year over No. 6 Hewitt at AMS Cincinnati and reached 4th RD at US Open, losing to eventual champion Roddick...Closed season with QF in Lyon...

2002 -- Became first Belgian to finish in Top 25...Reached SF in Memphis and Scottsdale and 4th RD at Roland Garros...Made breakthrough at All England Club where he defeated Rusedski in 4th RD and '96 champion Krajicek in QF (both in five sets) before losing in five to Nalbandian in a rain-delayed SF...Became first Belgian to reach SF since Paul de Borman in 1904...Posted wins over Black brothers to help Belgium back into Davis Cup World Group...

2001 -- Finished as No. 1 Belgian for first time...Became first Belgian to finish in Top 50 since Filip Dewulf (No. 40) in 1997...Reached finals in Delray Beach (l. to Gambill) and Atlanta (l. to Roddick)...Advanced to 4th RD at US Open...

2000 -- Won title at San Antonio Challenger (d. Agenor)...Qualified five times in ATP events...

1999 -- Reached second ATP final in Delray Beach (l. to Hewitt) in first all-teenage final on ATP circuit since Kuala Lumpur in 1995...Qualified at US Open and reached 3rd RD...  

1998 -- Qualified into his first ATP event in Philadelphia and lost to No. 1 Sampras 7-5 in third set...Reached first QF in Coral Springs and doubles SF in Scottsdale (w/Sargsian)...Made Davis Cup debut in QF tie vs. U.S. and lost five-set doubles match (w/Van Herck) and lost dead rubber singles to T. Martin... In Mexico City, qualified, advanced to first ATP final (l. to and jumped from 361 to No. 179...