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HISTORY
Began playing tennis soon after learning to walk
when his father, Oscar, a tennis coach who introduced game to him...Father
named his son after former Argentine great Guillermo Vilas...Mother,
Graciela, is a housewife... Comes from Venado Tuerto, a small town three
hours from Buenos Aires and considers it "the best city in the world and I
wouldn't change it for any other"...Now has an apartment in Buenos Aires
where he practices and lives with his grandmother who cooks and looks after
him...He is oldest of three brothers...Admired Andre Agassi and Marcelo Rios
while growing up...Captured Roland Garros junior title in 1999 (d.
Nalbandian) and finished as No. 2 junior in world singles, No. 5 in
doubles... Also won junior titles in Argentina, Paraguay and Canada...In
doubles, won Wimbledon junior title (w/Nalbandian) and Orange Bowl 16s
champion in 1997 ...Reached final of Orange Bowl 18s following year (l. to
Federer)...Enjoys playing soccer with his friends, is a fan of River Plate
team...Favorite band is Guns and Roses...Considers clay as favorite
surface...Fitness trainer is Jorge Trevisan and coached by countryman and
former Top 10 ATP pro Alberto Mancini.
2003 IN REVIEW
The Argentine finished as No. 1 South American
player with his first Top 10 season...Qualified for his first Tennis Masters
Cup along with countryman David Nalbandian and became first Argentine duo to
play in year-end championship since 1982 when Jose-Luis Clerc and Guillermo
Vilas qualified...Compiled his best season, capturing five ATP titles in
seven finals and winning 60 matches...First Argentine to win five titles in
a season since Vilas (7) and Clerc (5) in 1982 and became first Argentine to
finish in Top 5 since Vilas was No. 4 in 1982...One of most consistent
players in Top 10, losing only three opening round matches in 20 tournaments
and advancing to QF or better 11 times...Put together a 32-11 record in
first half of year, highlighted by his first career Tennis Masters title in
Hamburg in May, defeating countrymen Gaudio (SF) and Calleri (F) in
succession...Became first Argentine winner since Vilas in 1978...Posted a
20-6 match record in Tennis Masters tournaments during year...He opened
season with QF in Auckland and 4th RD at Australian Open (ret. vs. Agassi)...He
also advanced to 3rd RD at TMS Indian Wells (l. to Hewitt) and 4th RD at TMS
Miami (l. to Costa), both in three sets...Also reached finals in Buenos
Aires (l. to Moya) and TMS Monte Carlo (l. to Ferrero)...After winning title
in Hamburg, posted his first Grand Slam SF at Roland Garros where he
defeated Zabaleta in 4th RD and Agassi in QF before losing to Verkerk...After
an opening round loss at Wimbledon, returned to clay in July and won three
consecutive titles in as many weeks...Captured titles in Stuttgart (d.
Robredo), Kitzbuhel (d. Massu) and Sopot (d. Ferrer), winning a career-best
15 consecutive matches and all 32 sets...In 1996, Thomas Muster was last
player to win three consecutive titles in as many weeks...His streak ended
Aug. 5 when he retired with a left adductor injury in 1st RD at TMS Montreal
(vs. Lopez)...Following week advanced to QF at TMS Cincinnati (d. Henman, l.
to Mirnyi) and played well at US Open, dropping one set en route to QF (l.
to Agassi)...Did not play again until mid-October due to left adductor
injury and returned in Basel where he captured his first indoor title (by
walkover vs. Nalbandian)...Closed season with 1-2 round robin record in
Tennis Masters Cup in Houston, defeating Moya and losing to No. 1 Roddick
and Schuettler both in three sets... Compiled a 38-5 clay court record, best
on circuit (9-7 in 2002), and was a personal-best 17-10 on hard courts...Had
an outstanding 56-1 mark on tour when winning first set in a match, 12-0
against his countrymen and 12-1 vs. left-handers...Led circuit in return
games won (39 percent) and No. 2 in break points converted (49
percent)...Earned a career-high $1,971,162.
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