Status: Winner of five ATP singles titles including Marseille and Eastbourne in 2010. Winner of 18 doubles titles including 2003 & 2004 Australian Opens (with Santoro) and 2007 Wimbledon (with Clement). Won 2005 Masters Cup in Shanghai with Santoro. Has career wins over Soderling, Berdych, Almagro, Coria, Baghdatis.
Ht: 6-3 Wt:: 178
DOB: May 18, 1980 In: Paris, France
First Tennis Memory: “The victory of France against U.S. in Davis Cup in 1991.”
Tennis Inspirations: “Stefan Edberg, Henri Leconte and Patrick Rafter.”
Current Car: “Jaguar.”
Pre-Match Feeling: “I love to go to the toilet [smiles]. Many times [laughs].”
Favorite Meal: “Japanese.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Musical Tastes: “The Boss – Bruce Springsteen [smiles].”
Last Book Read: “Something with traitor, French book with a traitor.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “I think my first win – ATP title. My first win (def. Coria in s-Hertogenbosch in 2004).”
Most Painful Moment: “When we lose, with Clement, the medal in Olympic Games.”
Favorite Tournament: “Actually, Lyon.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “Amelie Mauresmo.”
Funniest Player Encountered: “Dimitri Tursunov.”
Toughest Opponent: “Santoro.”
Strangest Match: “Tough to say. But against Almagro in Roland Garros two years ago. One set all, 6-0 in the tiebreak for me and I lost the tiebreak. And fourth set, it went 6-4 for him, 4-1 and two breaks, and I won the match. So it was always up and down.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “Ljubicic, when I went in his locker (in Miami). (What made you do that?) It was funny. Arnaud Clement asked, Do you think you could fit in his locker? Maybe. I’m gonna try. And I did it [smiles].”
Favorite Players To Watch: “I like Federer. For me is the best.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “Generous and smile. That’s good.”
Family: Wife, Camille; daughter, Manon; son, Teo.
www.thebiofile.com
"Generous and smile - that's good."
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<< Ryan Harrison and Dustin Brown, the young lions of the U.S. Open
Sakhi · September 3, 2010 at 12:02 am
This chap is terrific! I’ve been waiting for the U.S. media to pay attention to him for years. Not only is he a refreshingly different player, but has a sense of humour and flair that few players do. I also find it so terrific that he has such a connection with Mauresmo and has used her as a coach. Perhaps there is a future for gender equity in tennis after all–we now have three players who use women as their coaches –Istomin, Llodra and maybe/maybe not Murray.
Perhaps, one of these days, you could write a piece about the difference regionally in players–the Europeans, the South Americans and the North Americans. There’s a story brewing there
bibi · September 3, 2010 at 1:11 am
The item “Funny Tennis Memory” lacks one all-important piece of info: when he stuffed himself into Ljubo’s locker, Llodra was stark naked!
He waited until Old Baldie opened his locker, scaring the bejeesus out of him.