2007 IN REVIEW

The top Romanian finished in Top 100 for ninth time in last 10 years highlighted by reaching his ninth career ATP final...Also a runner-up at Tunis Challenger (l. to Bolelli) in May...In late July, his best tournament of season came in Umag where he defeated No. 12 Ljubicic in 1st RD and No. 25 Volandri in QF before losing to Moya in final...Afterwards improved from No. 132 to No. 103...Helped his native country back into 2008 Davis Cup World Group by winning both of his singles matches against Japan's Go Soeda in four sets and Takao Suzuki in five sets (after trailing by two sets)...In October, advanced to SF at Mons Challenger (l. to Vliegen).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1996 – Reached first ATP SF in Bucharest and played in Olympics...1997 – Advanced to SF in Chennai...1998 – Won first ATP title in Tokyo (d. B.Black) and first Romanian to win a title since Ilie Nastase in 1978...Won first doubles title in Bucharest (w/Trifu)...1999 – Reached two finals...2000 – Won title in St. P�lten (d. Ilie)...2001 – Won AMS Montreal (d. Rafter)...Held 46 consecutive service games and saved 16 of 16 break points there until losing serve in first game of second set vs. Rafter...Earned a career-high $800,714...2002 – Reached first Grand Slam QF at Roland Garros (l. to Corretja) and during rain-delay became a father for second time...2003 – Missed six months with right wrist and back injuries...Reached AMS Paris final (l. to Henman)...2004 – Posted first Top 20 finish...Reached SF in Houston (l. to Haas)...2005 – Finalist in Munich (l. to Nalbandian)...In doubles, won second career title in Kitzbnhel (w/Friedl) and reached finals in Doha (w/Youzhny) and Bucharest (w/Hanescu)...2006 – Finished out of Top 100 for first time since 1997...Runner-up in P�rtschach (l. to Davydenko)...At US Open, took first set off Agassi before falling in four sets...Posted five-sets win over Roddick in Romania’s 1st RD Davis Cup tie...Went 3-0 (2-0 in singles) in Davis Cup World Group qualifying tie vs. Korea...In doubles, won titles in Auckland (w/Wassen), Munich (w/Waske), and Gstaad (w/Novak), and reached Roland Garros SF (w/Waske)...2007--Finished in Top 100 for ninth time in last 10 years highlighted by reaching his ninth ATP final...Also a runner-up at Tunis Challenger (l. to Bolelli) in May...In late July, his best tournament of season came in Umag where he defeated No. 12 Ljubicic in 1st RD and No. 25 Volandri in QF before losing to Moya in final...Afterwards improved from No. 132 to No. 103...Helped his native country back into 2008 Davis Cup World Group by winning both of his singles matches against Japan's Go Soeda in four sets and Takao Suzuki in five sets (after trailing by two sets)...In October, advanced to SF at Mons Challenger (l. to Vliegen).

PERSONAL

Won Roland Garros and reached SF at Wimbledon Juniors in 1992...Admired Ilie Nastase and Romanian soccer player Hagi...Moved to Germany at age 16, but competes for Romania in Davis Cup...Has a 40-22 career record (32-15 in singles) in 27 ties...Tries to find fishing area when traveling, especially in Australia and New Zealand... Considers backhand as best shot...Speaks English, Romanian, German and Italian...Wife, Simone (married Aug. 19, 1994); daughter, Caroline Elena (born July 19, 1999); son, Marius (born June 5, 2002).