2005 IN REVIEW

The No. 1 player from Paraguay finished best year-end ranking since 2001... Early in the year, he made the most of his lucky loser spot in Delray Beach, reaching his first ATP QF since 2003... Recorded wins against Weiner and Sun before losing to eventual champion Malisse... One month later, qualified into first ATP Masters Series event since 2003, losing to Hernych in Indian Wells 1st RD... Later in March, reached San Luis Potosi Challenger SF (l. to Norman)... After two-plus months on clay, returned to hard courts in July at Granby and reached SF (l. to Carraz)... In September, claimed only Challenger title of the year, winning in Lubbock (d. Reynolds)... In October, reached SF at three of four events, reaching that round in Tulsa (l. to Levy), Quito (l. to Daniel) and Boston (l. to Goldstein)... Finalist at Nashville Challenger (l. to Reynolds)... Posted 30-20 Challenger record... Won Challenger doubles titles at La Srenea (w/Artoni) and Boston (w/Sa)... Also finalist in Dallas (w/Sa)... Qualified into Wimbledon doubles (w/Sa).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1995-Compiled best results in Satellite level, finishing runner-up at Uruguay/Paraguay circuit (34 pts.)... 1996-Improved ranking more than 150 positions and advanced to QF at Bogota, Quito and Belo Horizonte Challengers...Reached his first ATP QF in Bogota (l. to Muster in three sets)...In doubles, reached final at Santiago Challenger (w/Aramburu)… 1997-Compiled his best results in Challenger play (30-11 record) with title in Cali (d. Prieto) and final in Quito (l. to Puerta)...Also a SF in four other tournaments...1998-Became first Paraguayan to reach final since Victor Pecci in 1985 when he reached Bogota final (l. to Zabaleta)...Stunned No. 1 Sampras in straight sets in Roland Garros 2nd RD en route to 4th RD, a Grand Slam best...First Paraguayan in year-end Top 100 since 1984...Reached hard court SF in Indianapolis and Shanghai, along with QF in Atlanta and Coral Springs...1999-Reached 3rd RD at TMS events in Miami and Montreal as well as Washington... Played in all four Grand Slams for first time in his career...2000-Missed first five months of season with knee injury...Reached SF on comeback in Orlando in May (l. to Massu)...2001- Finished in Top 100 for first time since 1998 with solid results on Challenger circuit… Returned from left knee surgery on Nov. 30, 2000…Went 24-8 in Challenger play, winning two titles in Tallahassee (d. Gimelstob) and Campos do Jordao-2 (d. Melo)…On ATP circuit, advanced to 3rd RD in Washington (d. A. Martin, d. Diaz, l. to Santoro)…Won first ever match in four attempts at US Open, defeating Diaz and Schuettler before losing to Agassi in 3rd RD… Following week, advanced to QF in Salvador (l. to Meligeni)…Went 4-2 in Davis Cup singles and doubles play…2002- Paraguay's No. 1 finished in Top 100 in ATP Champions Race after strong second half of season…Played in all four Grand Slams for first time since 1999, reaching 3rd RD at US Open for second consecutive year…After reaching 2nd RD at Australian Open for first time (d. Montanes in five sets, l. to Canas), struggled in first seven months…Advanced to 2nd RD in Vina del Mar but then lost next nine matches on ATP and Challenger circuits through Roland Garros…Only victory in that time came in Paraguay's 3-2 Davis Cup loss to Peru (d. Miranda, l. to Horna)…Stopped slump by reaching 2nd RD in Surbiton Challenger in June but lost next four 1st RD matches on ATP circuit…Had a 4-17 record by mid-August but qualified for Long Island and defeated Sa in 1st RD (l. to defending champion Haas in 2nd RD)…Following week at US Open, posted wins over Bogomolov Jr. and Levy before losing to Agassi for second straight year in 3rd RD…At Brasil Open in September, advanced to first SF on ATP circuit since Orlando in May 2000…Defeated Golmard, Zabaleta and Sa before losing to eventual champion Kuerten in three sets…Played last event of year at Burbank Challenger on Oct. 14 and retired at 1-1 against Klaasen in 1st RD with wrist injury…Went 3-2 in Davis Cup singles and doubles play…2003 �Missed the first six months of the year following wrist surgery…Picked up first win of the year in August at ATP Masters Series Montreal (d. Ljubicic, l. to Grosjean)…Also reached 2nd RD at US Open (d. Grosjean, l. to Bjorkman)…Best result was QF at Costa do Sauipe (d. Puerta and Saretta, l. to Schuettler)…Won two matches in Davis Cup tie against Domican Republic…Finished the year by going 4-3 in Challengers…In doubles, won Torrance Challenger and SF at Waco (w/Sa)…2004 – Played just one tour event, qualifying at Wimbledon (l. to Dent)…Was 4-2 in Davis Cup matches as he played two rubbers in each of three ties…Ended the year well, going 12-3 at Challengers in November…Reached F final at Champaign (l. to Gimelstob)…Won title at Bogota (d. Puerta)…Reached SF at Aracaju (l. to N. Lapentti)…Overall had a 16-8 Challenger record…Posted a 2-1 record in Davis Cup doubles…Claimed one Challenger doubles title in Sao Paulo (w/Sa).

PERSONAL

Began playing tennis at age 10... Has two older sisters, Patricia and Paola... Enjoys soccer and romantic music... Compiled an outstanding junior career, finishing No. 12 in final 1994 world junior rankings... Captured the Coffee Bowl junior title in Casablanca in 1994 and runner-up at the Asuncion Bowl in Chile that year... Member of the Paraguay Davis Cup team with a 35-16 career record (26-8 in singles) in 18 ties since 1994... Considers serve as best shot and hard courts as favorite surface... Coached by former ATP pro Raul Viver.