PROFILE

Birthdate: October 2, 1967
Turned pro: 1985
Birthplace: Leibnitz, Austria
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 5'11" (1.80m)
Weight: 165 (75kg)
Plays: Left-handed
Racquet: Kneissel
Clothing Sponsor: Lotto
Sponsors:
Agent: AMI Promanagement
Coach: Ronald Leitgeb

Career prize money: $9,474,064 (year-end 1996)
Highest singles ranking: 1 (February 12, 1996)
Highest doubles ranking: 94 (November 7, 1988)

Current ranking: 9 (2353 points, Nov 17)

YEAR-END RANKING HISTORY
1997: 9.............. 1990: 7
1996: 5.............. 1989: 21
1995: 3.............. 1988: 16
1994: 16............ 1987: 56
1993: 9.............. 1986: 47
1992: 18............ 1985: 98
1991: 35............ 1984: 309

1996 HIGHLIGHTS
Prize money: $2,875,496
Matches won-lost: Tour: 68-20 (singles), 2-8 (doubles)
Singles Winner: Mexico City, Estoril, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome, Stuttgart-outdoor, Bogota
Singles Semifinalist: Doha, Munich, Queen's, Cincinnati.
Singles Quarterfinalist: St. Pölten, Kitzbühel, U.S. Open.

1996 IN REVIEW
The King of Clay captured seven ATP Tour titles, including six repeat performances from 1995. Biggest highlight came on Feb. 12 when he became the second-oldest player to rank No. 1 for the first time (at 28 years, 4 months). Held the top spot for one week and then again for five weeks from March 11-April 14. The first left-hander to hold No. 1 since John McEnroe week of Sept. 2, 1985. Compiled a 46-3 record on clay, bringing his 1995-96 total to 111-5. It is the best consecutive claycourt record in Open Era play (since 1968).

In first five months, defended titles in Mexico City (d. Novak), Estoril (d. Gaudenzi), Barcelona (d. Rios) and Mercedes Super 9s in Monte Carlo (d. A. Costa) and Rome (d. Krajicek). Had an 18-match winning streak snapped by Moya in SF of Munich. Moya, Alvarez (Kitzbühel QF) and Stich (French Open 4th RD) were only players to beat the Austrian on clay. Enjoyed his best success of career on grass with 5-2 record. Advanced to SF at Queen's (l. to Edberg) and 2nd RD in Halle (l. to Steven). After winning title on clay in Stuttgart (d. Kafelnikov) for second year in a row, performed well on U.S. hardcourts. Reached SF at Mercedes Super 9 in Cincinnati and QF at U.S. Open (l. to Agassi in both). Played his final claycourt tournament in Bogota in September and won title (d. Lapentti), giving him career titles on five continents.

Suffered a hip injury in October and retired in opening-round matches in Stuttgart and Paris. Had 14-8 record on hard and 3-7 on carpet. Led Tour in points won returning 2nd serve (58 percent) and No. 3 in return games won (33 percent). Compiled 5-4 record vs. Top 10. Qualified for his third ATP Tour World Championship and went 1-2 in round-robin play.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1986: Won first Tour title in Hilversum (d. Hlasek).

1987: Reached the SF in Vienna and added three QF.

1988: Won four of six finals. Won his first and only U.S. title in Boston, beating Agassi in the QF and Lawson Duncan in final. Also captured claycourt titles in Bordeaux, Prague and Bari. Finished in the Top 20 for the first time.

1989: The first Austrian to reach Australian Open SF and also became the first Austrian ever to reach the Top 10. In March, was struck by a drunk driver in Miami, only hours after defeating Noah to reach final in Key Biscayne, severing ligaments in his left knee. Unable to play final against Lendl and flew back to Vienna to undergo surgery. Returned to tennis less than six months later.

1990: Continued his return, winning titles in Adelaide (only title on hardcourt), Casablanca and Rome. Also reached the finals in Monte Carlo and Munich and SF at French Open and Vienna. Finished in the Top 10 for the first time and qualified for the ATP Tour World Championship in Frankfurt (1-2 record). Helped Austria to Davis Cup SF and ended the year with a 6-0 record.

1991: Captured two claycourt titles in Florence and Geneva. Compiled a 30-13 record.

1992: Won three clay titles; Monte Carlo, Florence and Umag. Reached SF in Tel Aviv and QF at Sydney-outdoor, both on hardcourts.

1993: Won seven of nine finals and compiled a 77-21 match record while finishing in the Top 10 for the first time since 1990. Led the Tour with 55 claycourt wins (10 losses). Served as alternate for the ATP Tour World Championship.

1994: Ranked in Top 20 every week during the year. Won three claycourt titles; Mexico City, Madrid and St. Pölten. Defeated Stich 12-10 in the fifth set in a 5:25 marathon (longest match of year) in the fourth match of the 1st RD Davis Cup tie in Graz. Compiled a 37-9 record on clay.

1995: Won a career-high 12 titles in 14 finals, highlighted by his first career Grand Slam title at the French Open. Opened his claycourt dominance (65-2 record) in Mexico City where he won for the third consecutive year (d. Meligeni). That was the start of 40 consecutive claycourt match wins (from February to June) and seven titles Ð Estoril (d. A. Costa), Barcelona (d. Larsson), Mercedes Super 9 stops in Monte Carlo (d. Becker) and Rome (d. Bruguera), French Open (d. Chang) and St. Pölten (d. Ulihrach). Ranked No. 3 after the French Open title. Streak ended in July in the 1st RD of Gstaad to Corretja.

The clay streak was the longest since Bjorn Borg won 44 in a row from 1977-79. Won first career indoor title in Essen (d. Sampras SF, Washington F). Led the ATP Tour with a 12-3 record vs. Top 10 opponents. Made his second ATP Tour World Championship appearance. Earned a career-high $2,887,979.

CAREER TITLES: 42
1986: Hilversum
1988: Boston, Bordeaux, Prague, Bari
1990: Adelaide, Casablanca, Rome
1991: Florence, Geneva
1992: Monte Carlo, Florence, Umag
1993: Mexico City, Florence, Genova, Kitzbühel, San Marino, Umag, Palermo
1994: Mexico City, Madrid, St. Pölten
1995: Mexico City, Estoril, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome, French Open, St. Pölten, Stuttgart-outdoor, San Marino, Umag, Bucharest, Essen
1996: Mexico City, Estoril, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome, Stuttgart-outdoor, Bogota

FINALIST: 9
1988: Barcelona, Vienna
1989: Key Biscayne
1990: Monte Carlo, Munich
1993: Sydney-outdoor, Vienna
1995: Kitzbühel, Vienna

CAREER DOUBLES TITLES: 1
CAREER DOUBLES FINALIST: 1

GRAND SLAM HISTORY

                            
CAREER 
RECORD             97   96   95   94   93   92   91   90   89   88  87  86  85
AUS. OPEN    23-9  SF   4TH  3RD  QF   2ND  3RD  --   3RD  SF   1ST --  --  --
FRENCH OPEN  28-11 3RD  4TH  WON  3RD  4TH  2ND  1ST  SF   --   3RD 3RD 2ND 1ST
WIMBLEDON    0-4   --   --   --   1ST  1ST  1ST  --   --   --   --  1ST --  --
US OPEN      20-9  1ST  QF   4TH  QF   QF   --   --   4TH  --   1ST 3RD 1ST -- 

CAREER
RECORD     96   95   90 
 2-7       RR   RR   RR

Photograph by The Associated Press.

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