(Note: This Biofile was conducted in 2000 and later revised in 2006, both at U.S. Open.)
Status: Recently retired former ATP #1, 200 Davis Cup winning team member and 2003 Roland Garros Champion. Winner of 16 career ATP singles titles including three Masters Series.
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 160
DOB: February 12, 1980 In: Onteniente, Spain
Childhood Heroes: “Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi. I think Pete Sampras was the best. I like the matches with Andre Agassi. (Have they been friendly to you?) No, not so much [laughs].”
Early Tennis Memory: “Maybe when I played with my father in the fog with a wood racquet.”
Favorite Meal: “Meat with French fries.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Pre-Match Feeling: “I say, I’m gonna play now. I have to play normally, I have to play good to win. I need to stay positive for the match. I feel good always before the match. I’m playing good now and I feel so good.”
Hobbies: “Listen to music, watch the television, drive my car, stay with my friends or my family.”
First Car: “2000 red Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6, like Tommy MacKinnon’s from Rallye.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “The last year when I won Mallorca (1999) for sure. And this when I play the first time in Davis Cup. And this year also the final in Dubai. And I think semifinals at Roland Garros. And we’re still in the finals of Davis Cup and I think a good chance for us to win first time.
Most Painful Moment: “Maybe when my mom is dead three years ago. I think it’s my worst moment. Because what can I do with my life when my mom is dead.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “Yes I think all the Spanish players and the Argentine Spanish players.”
Funniest Players Encountered: “Corretja, Vicente, and I think all the Spanish players.”
Favorite Athletes To Watch: “Soccer. Golf. I like to see boxing. Auto racing. Tommy MacKinnon I like so much. He’s driving so incredible now. Mike Tyson – the most spectacular. I like to see him now so much because it’s crazy now the boxing. Real Madrid.”
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Biofile update in 2006
Greatest Sports Moment: “The greatest – when I was #1. And when we won the Davis Cup in 2000.”
Most Painful Moment: “When I went until 96 in the ranking maybe.”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Maybe two years ago when I was working too hard and I didn’t go up (the rankings) as quickly as I want.”
Favorite Tournaments: “Roland Garros. Australian. Some small tournaments also like Bstaad or Umag. Of course Valencia, is my hometown.”
"Played in the fog with a wood racquet"
