2003 IN REVIEW
The American enjoyed a breakthrough season on the ATP circuit, winning a career-high 12 matches and reaching first SF…Also made Grand Slam debuts at Australian Open and Roland Garros, as well as first appearances at Tennis Masters Series level…Began season by reaching first ATP QF in Adelaide (l. to Krajicek)…In first match at Melbourne Park, fell to eventual champion Agassi in 1st RD…In February, advanced to first ATP SF in Memphis, losing to defending champion Roddick in straight sets…Suffered from illness prior to and during match…Following month, made Tennis Masters Series debut in Indian Wells and reached QF…Posted impressive wins over Gonzalez, Ferrero and Robredo before losing to Spadea…After going 8-7 in first three months, did not win consecutive matches again for rest of year…Made Roland Garros debut and lost to No. 1 Hewitt in four sets in 1st RD…Advanced to 2nd RD at Wimbledon for first time after defeating Volandri in 1st RD before losing to Robredo…Won two matches during rest of year on ATP circuit, defeating Roitman in Washington after receiving 1st RD bye and Crabb in 1st RD in Bangkok (l. to Moya in 2nd RD)…Finished season with 2nd RD showing in Waco Challenger (l. to R. Delgado)…Compiled 10-15 record on hard courts, 1-4 n clay, 1-4 on grass…In doubles, reached SFs in Halle (w/Perry), Newport (w/Oliver) and Washington (w/Roddick)…Earned a career-high $288,002.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2001-Won 18 of his final 20 matches of season with Futures titles in California, Montego Bay and Negril...Had a nine-match winning streak snapped by Jaymon Crabb in clay court final of USTA Futures of Pittsburgh...Won singles title at USTA Futures in Quogue, NY, defeating Jacob in final...2002-Finished in Top 100 ATP Entry Ranking for first time at No. 97...Put together an impressive 32-10 record at Challenger level and three titles, while playing winning six of 13 matches on ATP circuit...Won first career ATP match at Newport with three-set victory against D. Norman before losing to Llodra in 2nd RD...Won first back-to-back matches on ATP circuit in Washington with three-set victory against Krajan and straight sets win over J. Vacek in 2nd RD...Lost to Agassi in 3rd RD...Won first title of year at Futures level in Brownsville, Texas in February with win over Todero in final...Won first Challenger title of year in Hamilton, New Zealand in March by defeating Vosloo in three-set final...Posted a 22-3 record from mid-February to April...Earned second title of year in Tallahassee Challenger (d. Gimelstob)...Won Aptos Challenger in July with three-set victory in final against Behr...Reached final at Tarzana Challenger in April (l. to E. Taino) and SF in Rocky Mount and Tyler.
PERSONAL
Full name is Brian Pennington Vahaly...Began playing tennis at age two with his parents Barry and Karen...Has one older sister, Kelly...Graduated from University of Virginia with a double major in finance and business management in 2001...As a junior, captured Easter Bowl 18s title and reached final of Coffee Bowl in Costa Rica (l. to Massu) in 1997...His best junior Grand Slam result was QF at Wimbledon that year...Finished No. 17 in world junior rankings...Played four years of collegiate tennis at Univ. of Virginia from 1998-2001, earned All-American honors three years and finished as school's all-time winningest player...In 2001, reached singles final at NCAA Championships (unseeded), losing to Matias Boeker of Georgia, ending a 20-match winning streak...Lost in doubles SF (w/Huntley Montgomery) but finished as country's No. 1 player in doubles (34-8) and No. 5 in singles (40-6)...Became school's first tennis All-America in 1999 and previous season was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of Year after posting a 21-10 record as a freshman...In his last two seasons he received ACC Player of Year honors and as a senior was Virginia Male Athlete of Year...Hobbies include hiking and golf...Tennis role model growing up was Michael Chang...Favorite surface is hard courts and considers back hand strongest part of his game...Named one of People Magazine's 25 Most Eligible Bachelors issue in 2003...In August 2003, unveiled Brian Vahaly Brighter Future Foundation to promote youth and collegiate tennis in Georgia along with helping homeless people...Coached by Scott McCain and Jerry Baskin.
