Ht: 6-5 Wt: 185

Age: 21

Birthplace: Montenegro

Residence: Ontario, Canada

First Tennis Memory: “A lot of time with the ball machine. I think that’s how I started out, mostly. That’s where I started to get my level up. And my dad (Dusan) was there picking up the balls and I’d be just standing and hitting tennis balls non-stop .”

Tennis Inspirations: “Pete Sampras, by far the biggest one. Spent many hours watching his matches. Not just once – twice, three, four times. And sort of he was the inspiration who taught me to work so hard on the serve.”

First Famous Tennis Player You Met: “Tommy Haas, I think. I probably embarrassed myself [smiles]. I think I had a photo with him and Nick Bollettieri, and I saying, ‘Tommy, we’ve met before, we’ve met before. Will you please sign my picture?’ I remember that. Probably not Tommy [smiles].”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning San Jose and then defending it. First title and then able to back it up is amazing.”

Most Painful Moment: “The pain you feel when you make that slip and when you realise how long you’re going to be out for during Wimbledon.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “There’s a lot of things that happen but I can’t point out one thing. But being in the locker room with…there’s some really special characters on the Tour. And guys that make this Tour and being on it for so many, it’s fun. (Which players come to mind on that?) Djokovic is a funny guy, got a great personality. There’s many guys like him that sort of bring up the energy in the locker room [smiles].”

Strangest Match: “One time I think I was playing a Challenger against a guy in the top 200. The guy was obviously better than me but I was sort of sticking with him and I had 40-love serving. And a guy off the court fainted on the side. Paramedics had to come. Took almost 15 minutes. We stopped. And I don’t think I won a game after that. I think it was 4-all and I lost 6-4 6-0. (Where?) Granby. I got a wildcard into main draw.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Coach and Almagro.”

Favourite Players To Watch: “I’ll watch probably the finals of most tournaments. Probably Djokovic. I enjoy watching Federer, Nadal, Soderling, probably all the guys in the top 10.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Most embarrassing…I don’t know…Lost 0 and 0 in juniors. It was a long time ago. Maybe under 12’s. Somewhere in Europe I think.”

Favourite Ice Cream Flavour: “Strawberry.”

Favourite Meal: “Steak before match.”

Favourite Sports Outside Tennis: “Basketball.”

Current Car: “My parents’ Honda Civic.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty. People that are genuine. People that are caring. And people that just go and take care of the common courtesies. When you walk by them in the locker room and I’ll say Hi and all these kinds of things. Because you see them so many times a day. You don’t just want to be walking cold shoulder by a lot of people. I think this is one of the most important things on the Tour.”

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 167

DOB: November 27, 1978 In: Karvina Czech Republic

First Tennis Memory: “My father, tennis coach in Karvina.”

Inspirations: “My tennis inspiration – I’m taking all my inspiration from somewhere else because I see a lot of great athletes playing well in a higher number of ages. And this is what is inspiring me to do the same in my sport.”

First Famous Tennis Player You Met: “Hmm, good question…Thomas Muster. He was playing an exhibition against Slava Dosedel in Czech Republic, in a town where I lived for a few years. And I think I was 12 or 13, I just had to warm him up for the exhibition. And I was badly nervous [smiles].”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I think, singles-wise, my first title, definitely, in Rotterdam (2006). And winning doubles with Leander in Australian Open. Winning Grand Slam is always a memory which stay with me forever.”

Most Painful Moment: “When I got in 2006 to top ten. I had a great year, I felt on top of my game. And I woke up in the morning and I didn’t feel my right hand. I had a dislocated disk in the neck and couldn’t play tennis for six months.”

Favorite Tournaments: “Grand Slam – Australian Open. Super Nine – Indian Wells. The other – Dubai, Basel.”

Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: “Because I grew up playing tennis, I love the competition. I love the one to one – it’s like in a boxing arena. The one to one – there is no draw. You win or lose. I like that gamble. That’s the only gamble I do in my life – playing tennis. I don’t do gambling in casinos and stuff. I have a passion for tennis. And it’s the thing I know best in my life, so far.”

Which Match Did You Feel Your Very Best: “I think that was the finals of Rotterdam when I won my first title. There I played really good.”

Strangest Match: “Definitely they happen in the Davis Cup, that’s where all the strange things happen. As I remember it was 2007 in Prague when we played against Switzerland when they had on the team Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka. And I played the final match against Wawrinka at two-all and I was two sets to love up. And suddenly on one of my serves, my knee didn’t hold up. I didn’t know what happened and I had to finish that match really injured. And I don’t know how, I don’t know where it came from, but I was able to close out the match in the third set. And the atmosphere and everything that comes with it was just amazing feeling which I will never forget.”

Three Athletes From Other Sports You Like To Watch: “Jaromir Jagr in hockey. Peter Cech in soccer, he’s goalkeeper for Chelsea. And Tiger Woods in golf.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “I think Gael Monfils is very funny. I used to watch Yannick Noah in the times before, he was a little funny. Mostly the past generation, they were bringing to the game something special, something where the crowd laughed. They brought up some energy with the umpires. It was more of a show which I like.”

Current Car: “BMW.”

Last Book Read: “Pavel Nedved, soccer player of Czech Republic.”

Ht: 5-11 Wt: 141

DOB: October 15th, 1981 In: Moscow, Russia.

Tennis Inspiration: “My mom was the person that I admire all my life. (Who was your favorite tennis player as a kid?) Martina Hingis, because she played smartly, like playing chess on the court.”

Hobbies/Interests: “I’m very sport person. I like to do a lot of different sports, like ski, snow boarding— because we have a very nice off-season in the winter that I spend in Moscow. Or I go somewhere in the mountains. But I’m busy pretty much with my tennis life [laughs].”

Favorite Movies: “You probably don’t know this one — it’s Russian movie — Moscow Doesn’t Believe In Tears.”

Musical Tastes: “My favorite is Shakira.”

Early Tennis Memory: “When I started to play I couldn’t imagine that one day I’m going to be part of this world. I was watching on TV, but I couldn’t believe or couldn’t think about that I’m gonna be one day playing Wimbledon or French Open. I was watching on a TV and it was like another world for me. I remember I was watching a lot of finals between Monica Seles and Steffi Graf. That was the very exciting memory.”

Favorite Meal: “I like crabs and black caviar.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “It’s very different. But pretty much you want to feel kinda little scary, you want to feel worry before the match. That makes you feel like you’re going to be ready to play. But also you feel a little angry before I go on the court. Because it’s difficult to play by smiling and by being nice person on the court [smiles].”

First Job: “Oh, that’s the only one I have [laughs]. Be a tennis player.”

First Car: “X5 BMW. (Color?) Black.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I would say Olympic gold medal.”

Most Painful Moment: “Never had one [laughs].”

Closest Tennis Friends: “I have a lot of good friends here, especially Russian players. Because I have so many memories together by playing junior competition.”

Funniest Players: “I don’t know. There are so many of them…Svetlana Kuznetsova.”

Toughest Competitors: “I would have to say Patty Schnyder. (Why?) She has a…she plays very different compared to other players. She has a great feeling. She’s lefty. And it’s not easy to play against her.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “I would say Andre Agassi and Serena Williams.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “I had a broken shoe. I break playing in the Olympic Games. And I didn’t have another pair to replace it. And I was asking someone from the crowd to give me another pair. That was such a funny moment [laughs]. And I still won this match. (Against who?) Barbara Schett. (Did they give you the extra shoe?) Yeah, actually (former Russian pro) Natasha Zvereva gave it to me. She was watching and her shoe was I think two or three sizes bigger than mine.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “I can’t remember. I never had [laughs].”

Favorite Tournament(s): “For me it’s the Kremlin Cup — my hometown tournament.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Kindness.”

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.”

Status: Winner of one ATP singles title – 2010 Delray Beach. Coached by Hernan Gumy since September 2009. Currently ranked ATP #28.

Ht: 6-3 Wt: 169

DOB: August 30, 1988 In: Riga, Latvia

First Tennis Memory: “I went with my grandmother. I was living a lot with my grandmother when I was a kid, because my father and mother were working. And my grandmother had tennis courts like a half an hour walking distance from her apartment. It was like a Soviet Union-type neighborhood – big buildings with eight, nine stories. And we went there. I practiced with my grandmother. She couldn’t play tennis but this was the first time when I took a racquet in my hand. So we went there. And immediately I could hit the ball over the net. Some coaches saw me and they said, Oh, this guy doesn’t need to clean the courts – he’s too good. So this is my first memory when I took a racquet (age 4).”

Tennis Inspirations/Heroes: “I don’t have. I wasn’t watching tennis a lot. I was real active young kid. I was playing against a wall. I was a fan of tennis but not watching it. I like to play. No matter how much I went to the courts, every time happy. But I didn’t have interest of watching other people.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “I like to think [smiles]. No, I mean, just to think, read books, watch movies, to go out with my friends. Every normal thing for the young guy my age. Nothing special. Tennis is a profession, it’s like a job. The other things are like any other normal person would do. It’s just that I cannot hang out with my friends till 5 in the morning every day. But for the rest of the time it’s like normal things.”

Last Book Read: “Was a Russian writer. Macho Don’t Cry. It’s about the 90′s in Russia, basically it’s about a lot of drinking, a lot of going out and stuff like that. But in an interesting way, not like in a stupid kind of way. It’s really interesting.”

Favorite Movies: “I have a lot. Many. Actually, one of my favorites is David Lynch movie Mulholland Drive. I watched it maybe eight, ten times. I like David Lynch as a director. I saw some of his movies. Then I saw some Russian movies. I really liked – there’s a book in Russia, it’s like a Bible to Russians – it’s called Master & Margerita. And they made a TV series about that. It’s more than 10 series long. Like a TV thing, not a movie. That’s what I like. And many others. Those two came up first.”

Musical Tastes: “I like a lot listen to Russian music. But not Russian pop. I listen to Russian rock, Russian blues. I really like blues. I like the live instruments. I don’t like the technical stuff, when people push a button and the sound comes and everybody pumps up. I like good, interesting music where you listen to the words and there’s meaning to the song.”

Favorite Artists/Painters: “Favorite – no. I like some of the Latvian painters which are not really popular in the world. I mean, of course, if you go to the museum and watch the masterpieces of the top guys, you enjoy it a lot. I like to go to the museums and watch the operas but I don’t have a favorite.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I think when I win in Delray Beach, my first tournament win. And when I made quarters in Paris, Roland Garros (2008). It’s my best result in a Slam.”

Most Painful Moment: “There’s a lot. Too much. I lost so many first and second round to guys who I shouldn’t lose when I didn’t feel good, when I play bad. Too many.”

Favorite Tournaments: “Of course, I like all the Grand Slams. All the Masters, because, you know, they’re a different feeling. I like tournaments which are in a nice city where there’s a lot to do, like Paris, New York, I like St. Petersburg, Moscow tournaments. Yeah, in nice cities. London.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “I don’t know, nowadays everybody is so professional. And they don’t – they’re not funny any more [smiles]. I don’t know. Yeah, that’s true. On court. No, on court, I don’t think somebody’s funny. I think everybody’s into winning. They don’t care about funny. But off court, I have really good relations with, really with everybody. But I’m talking more with Russian guys. Marat left tennis, he was a funny guy. I mean, really nice guy.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “I don’t know if you call it friends. Maybe you can call it your, I don’t know, partners. I don’t have a good name in English for it. Yeah, I have a close friendship with the Russian guys like Kunitsyn, Tursunov.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “All of them. Just some guys tanked against me when I was playing junior tournaments. Nobody’s tanking now, everybody’s tough.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Yes, sometimes I feel embarrassed with the way I play [smiles]. When I lose first round I feel really embarrassed. I don’t want to stay on court. So sometimes it’s like a fight between myself…I do want to be on court – I don’t want to be on court. I want to win – I want to lose. I want to go home – I want to do that. So it’s like all the time something in your brain. I’m trying to keep my brain stable.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “Never, no. It’s too serious a sport to laugh [smiles].”

Favorite Players To Watch: “I like to watch Federer. Because he’s playing just nice tennis.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honest. You’d rather say something to a person’s face then behind their back.”

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Status: Winner of four ATP singles titles. Highest singles rank is #14. Member of Croatia’s Davis Cup team. Has wins over Federer,

Hewitt, Roddick, Blake, Djokovic.

Ht: 6-10 Wt: 230 pounds.

DOB: February 28, 1979 in Zagreb, Croatia.

Hobbies/Interests: “You know, it is difficult to have like a real hobby because like every week we are on the road and professional tennis takes a lot of time. But I like basketball, movies and music. (How about boxing?) Oh yeah, actually, because when I was younger, when I was 16, I was a little bit practicing it. So yeah, I also like it. (How did you do?) It was only amateur, I was never actually in the ring but I liked it. And because of my long arms, the trainer who had this local club was really, really interested in me changing sports [smiles], to change from tennis to boxing. But it didn’t happen.”

Nicknames: “Ivobek. And also Karlo. (They also call you Dr. Ivo.) Yeah, Dr. Ivo, yeah. I heard that also.”

Favorite Movies: “The Shawshank Redemption and Kill Bill I & II.”

Favorite TV Shows: “It’s a lot of them. I like comedies mostly.”

Childhood Heroes: “It was probably (Boris) Becker and (Toni) Kukoc, basketball star.”

Musical Tastes: “I can listen to everything, cool music, from hip-hop, rap, to rock ‘n roll. (Name some names.) Pearl Jam I like. Snoop [smiles].”

First Tennis Memory: “When I was young my dad (Vlado) said that I was gonna be in some sports. And he said that it would be tennis because it’s no injuries. So he was dragging me to the tennis court. And I was like, No, no, no. I don’t want to go [smiles]. But after, I like it. So I stayed with it.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Try to stay relaxed and not have a lot of pressure on me. And try to have fun.”

First Job: “Job [smiles]? Tennis.”

First Car: “Opel (silver).”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”

Favorite Meal: “I like lamb when it’s like really nicely cooked.”

Last Book Read: “You got me there [laughs]. Last book…I have to think…Coelho…(Paulo Coehlo, The Alchemist?) Yeah.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Every day that I win is unbelievable feeling. And every day if I lose it’s unbelievable shit feeling [smiles]. So, it depends. If you lose, it is here [puts hand low], if you win, it is here [puts hand high].”

Most Painful Moment: “Well, tennis is not something that can really hurt me if I lose, so I cannot say right now.”

Favorite Tournament: “I like to play Washington is really nice. (Why here?) Because I like this area, it’s really nice. Wimbledon and New York.”

Closest ATP Friends: “There is [Victor] Hanescu, [Jan] Hernych, (just at this moment Tommy Haas walks by and says, ‘Me.’ Ivo smiles and says ‘Not you.’), [Teimuraz] Gabashvili now. Because I went on road trip with him from Indianapolis (to) here in the car. (You’re friends now?) Yes, we are friends now [smiles].”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Ivanisevic had to be one of them. Zovko — you don’t know him. (Lovro Zovko?) Yes, Lovro Zovko.”

Toughest Competitors: “Probably it was Roger and Roddick I think.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “I cannot think of it right now.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty and unselfishness.”

Childhood Dream: “Grand Slam winner.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “The other day this lady said, ‘Oh my God, you are so tall, you can be a rower (like boat rower).’ So, I don’t know, it was unusual comment [smiles].”

Family: Wife, Alsi.

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Status: Former world ATP #3 tennis player. Member of Argentina’s Davis Cup team.

Ht: 5-11 Wt: 175

DOB: January 1, 1982 in Unquillo, Cordoba, Argentina

First Tennis Memory: “Becker, Wimbledon.”

Tennis Inspirations: “My family.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Fishing, watching Rally races, futbol, big fan of River Plate.”

Favorite Movies: “Action.”

Musical Tastes: “Everything.”

Last Book Read: “I’m reading The Psychoanalyst.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Well, always a little bit nervous, like always. But good feeling before. Believe in my game.”

Favorite Meal: “Anything my mom does.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Dulce de Leche.”

Current Car: “Mercedes.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Shanghai 2005 (def. Federer in ATP Tour finals).”

Most Painful Moment: “My father dies. (No, in tennis?) Losing grand slam final (at Wimbledon). Yeah, (losing) grand slam and Davis Cup final.”

Favorite Tournament: “Davis Cup.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Yeah, all from Argentina. And just Spanish ones.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “A few ones. (Can’t name ‘em?) No. (Why not?) I don’t have to [smiles].”

Toughest Competitor(s): “Federer, for sure.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “The top ones.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Not now.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “I don’t know, I don’t remember.”

Last Vacation: “Last year, south Argentina.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Normal ones.”

Career Accomplishments: Won ATP Tour finals in 2005; Finalist at Wimbledon and reached SF in all three other slams; Winner of ten career ATP singles titles.

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