1996 IN REVIEW

Made ATP Tour history with title run at the Mercedes Super 9 event in Hamburg (d. Arrese, Washington, Boetsch, Schaller, No. 7 Kafelnikov and Corretja)...Became the lowest-ranked player (No. 143) and first qualifier to win in the previous 58 Mercedes Super 9 tournaments held since 1990...Entered Hamburg with just 10 career ATP Tour match victories...His best previous showing in a Tour event was R16 in Barcelona in 1995 and +96...Title vaulted him to a career-high No. 58...Struggled for remainder of year, going just 1-10 in Tour events after Hamburg...Finished 1-3 against Top 10 opponents...Reached QF of Braunschweig Challenger...Earned a career-high $417,915.