Status: 2001 Davis Cup winner for France; Winner of four ATP singles titles (Toulouse 1999, 2001 & 2002 Rotterdam, 2004 Doha); Career-high ATP rank #17 in 2000; Career wins over Federer, Agassi, Ferrero, Costa, Hewitt, Henman, Robredo, Grosjean, Ljubicic.
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 155
DOB: April 3, 1976 In: Chartres, France
First Tennis Memory: “Me and my brother (Julien) just hit some balls down in the building where I live.”
Tennis Inspiration: “Edberg.”
Nickname: “Scude.”
Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Football, surf, ski.”
Last Book Read: “Harry Potter, but I don’t think it was the last one.”
Favorite Movies: “I don’t know. The last one I saw was with DiCaprio, Inception.”
Current Car: “Nissan (black).”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Davis Cup (won both singles matches vs. Hewitt & Arthurs to clinch 3-2 vs. Australia in Melbourne).”
Most Painful Moment: “When I decide to stop my career (in 2006 because of shoulder injury).”
Favorite Tournament: “Australian.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “Arnaud (Di Pasquale) and Marat (Safin). And the French players.”
Funniest Player Encountered: “Marat [smiles].”
Toughest Competitor: “Agassi. I beat him once – in Dusseldorf.”
Which Match(es) Were You At Your Very Best: “It was finals of Davis Cup (vs.) Hewitt in Australia. The feeling was unbelievable. I can do what I want.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “Doubles in Rotterdam, I was playing with Rosset against Safin and Kiefer. There was great moments. Marc missed easy smashes and me and Marat were laughing, we were on the floor, during play, 10 or 15 minutes. Unbelievable. Rosset was missing – he was on the net – he kept missing. Miss the ball. We were on the floor.”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “No, I don’t have.”
Strangest Match: “I don’t remember the year – I think it was 2003 or 2002 – during three tournaments in a row I lost first round with match points [smiles]. After Australia – Marseille I think Rotterdam and I don’t remember the third one.”
Favorite Players To Watch: “Today, Federer and Nadal.”
Interesting Fact: Escude is the first player in Open Era to win three matches in a Slam after losing first two sets – at 1998 Australian Open where he reached SF before losing to Rios.
People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty.”
Topics: Arnaud Di Pasquale, Atp Singles, Chartres France, Cup Winner, Davis Cup, French Players, Greatest Sports, Grosjean, Henman, Ljubicic, Marat Safin, Match Points, Nicolas Escude, Painful Moment, Robredo, Rosset, Shoulder Injury, Sports Moment, Surf Ski, Tennis Friends
Biofile with Nicolas Escude | 