Who is Xavier Malisse ?

Xavier was born in Kortrijk, Belgium on July 19, 1980, has residences in: Bradenton, Florida, USA and Hulste, Belgium...

At age 13, he was as good a soccer player as tennis and made choice to play tennis...

Enjoyed outstanding junior career, reaching QF at Wimbledon Juniors and 3rd RD at French Open Juniors in 1997... Finished No. 10 in world junior rankings that year...

Likes to play basketball and enjoys water-skiing and jet-skiing...

Started playing golf in late 1997 and is already a single-digit handicap...

Dyed hair four different colors (red, purple, orange, blond) during 1998, earning him moniker, "Dennis Rodman of the ATP Tour"...

Enjoys playing in front of big crowds and likes encouraging kids to play tennis...

Says, "I'm just out here playing my tennis and having fun. I hope this gets a lot more kids in Belgium interested in playing tennis"...

Entered Nick Bollettieri Academy in summer of 1997 and trains at academy