1998 IN REVIEW

The Italian compiled consistent Challenger results and made eight ATP Tour appearances during season, posting an 8-8 record...In season claycourt debut in early April, advanced to SF at Barletta Challenger (l. to Cabello)...Following month, reached SF at Ljubljana Challenger (l. Pescariu)...In June, added another SF in Split (l. to Stanoytchev)...At end of month, reached QF at Biella Challenger which propelled him to a career-high ranking of No. 102 on June 22...Following a third-set tiebreak loss to Nicolas Kiefer in 2nd RD at Mercedes Super 9 in Toronto, reached QF at San Marino Tour event (d. Safin, Sanguinetti, l. to Fromberg)...One month later, advanced to first career Tour SF in Bournemouth (l. to A. Costa)...Compiled 6-4 record on clay and 2-4 on hard...In doubles, reached final at Heilbronn (w/Pescosolido) and Ostend (w/Del Rio) Challengers...Finished No. 130 in doubles...Earned a career-high $134,034.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1992-Finished fifth in singles at Italy #2 Satellite (17 points) and sixth in doubles (15)...1993-Captured first Challenger title in Parioli (d. Valeri) and QF in Newcastle...Advanced to doubles SF at Rome Challenger (w/Pescosolido)...1994-Finished third at Italy #3 Satellite (31 points) and fourth at Italy #2 circuit (23 points)...Finished doubles runner-up at Italy #3 Satellite (w/Albani, 34 points)...Finished seventh in doubles at Italy #2 Satellite (21 points)...1995-Finished in Top 200 for first time and won Italy #1 Satellite (51 points) and reached final at Sao Paulo (l. to Fleurian) and Seoul (l. to Henman) Challengers...In doubles, finished fifth at Italy #1 Satellite (21 points) and seventh at France #1 circuit (22 points)...1996-Won second Challenger title in Binghamton (d. Sargsian)...Also SF at Ahmedabad Challenger and QF at Zagreb Challenger...Captured doubles title at Venice Challenger (w/Mordegan)...1997-Made ranking move by compiling 27-16 Challenger record...Won title in Pilzen (d. Tabara), reached final in Merano (l. to Arnold) and SF in Ostend and Skopje and QF in six other tournaments...Won his first Tour singles match in Tashkent (d. Merinov) and first ATP Tour doubles title there (w/Spadea). CAREER DOUBLES TITLES (1).

PERSONAL

Began playing at age 9...The Italian 18s and 16s doubles champion...Father, Antonio, owns a restaurant, named appropriately "Santopadre's" in Rome...Favorite shot is forehand and clay is favorite surface...Coached by Paolo Spezzi.