2002 IN REVIEW

The veteran Frenchman entered Top 100 for first time, spending 10 weeks there in spring before finishing with year-end best No. 130 in ATP Entry Ranking…In February, won through qualifying at Vina del Mar and advanced to SF in best ATP showing (d. Zabaleta, d. Hipfl, l. to Gonzalez)…Made TMS debut at Monte Carlo, qualified for main draw and earned 1st RD win over Clavet before losing to Novak in 2nd RD…At Roland Garros, advanced to 2nd RD (d. Koubek) before falling in five sets to eventual finalist Ferrero…Suffered 1st RD losses in first appearances at Wimbledon (l. to Voinea) and US Open (l. to Hewitt)…All eight ATP match wins came on clay…Earned career high $127,997.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1996-Earned 39 ATP points at Finland Satellite…1997-Picked up 36 points at France #4 Satellite…Reached QF at Reunion Island Challenger (l. to Golmard)…1998-Advanced to SF of France #6 Futures event (l. to Manta)…1999-Earned 36 points at Netherlands #1 Satellite…Reached SF of Lima Challenger (l. to Vanek)… 2000-Began year by reaching final of three straight Futures events in France…Won Challenger circuit titles in Scheveningen and Aschaffenburg…Advanced through first ATP match at Casablanca when opponent J. Diaz retired after six games…Lost his only two other ATP matches…2001- In Grand Slam debut at Roland Garros, earned straight-set wins over Pozzi and Rios before 3rd RD loss to Arthurs in four tie-break sets…Reached three Challenger finals at Venice (l. to C. Rochus), Szczecin (l. to Chela) and Barcelona (l. to Economidis).

PERSONAL

Began playing tennis at age 2 1/2 with his father, Jean-Claude, who teaches at a Club ASPTT in Nice...Mother, Maryse, sells clothes...Has one older sister, Patricia, who plays tennis recreationally...Hobbies include playing guitar and watching movies...Admired former No. 1 Stefan Edberg while growing up...Considers his 2nd RD victory over Marcelo Rios at Roland Garros in 2001 as his best career moment...Favorite surface is clay and considers drop shot as best part of his game...Coached by Pierre-Jean Paules.