Began playing at age seven...Parents, Giuliano and Ilia, own a butchery...Has an older brother, Luca...Suffered groin injuries between age 20 and 24...As a junior, won Australian Open and Wimbledon junior titles (w/Jocelyn Robichaud)...Considers his five-set 2nd RD loss to Andy Roddick on Wimbledon Centre Court in 2005 and his Davis Cup doubles win over Feliciano Lopez and Rafael Nadal (also in �05) as highlights in his career...Likes soccer (supports the Juventus Turin club) and going to movies (Al Pacino his favourite)...Favorite surfaces are hard and grass courts and considers serve as best part of his game...Member of Italian Davis Cup squad...Trains in Arezzo, Tuscany and coached by Umberto Rianna (since October 2004) as member of Blue Team that also includes countrymen Potito Starace and Federico Luzzi.