Mario Ancic

Comenzó a jugar tenis a los siete años… Entrenó con su compatriota Goran Ivanisevic cuando tenía 10 años… Luego de vencer a Roger Federer en el Court Central de Wimbledon en 2002 se ganó el sobrenombre de “Super Mario” por los medios británicos... Su padre, Stipe, es dueño de una cadena de supermercados; su madre, Milda, es asesora financiera... Su hermano mayor, Ivica, alcanzó el lugar No. 378 en 1997... Tiene una hermana menor, Sanja, quien en 2005 fue Top 10 en juveniles y tuvo su mejor ubicación como profesional en el No. 159 en 2006... Sus pasatiempos incluyen leer, el fútbol, básquetbol, películas, música y todos los deportes con balones... Fue uno de los mejores juniors en 2000 (No. 4) y llegó a la final de Wimbledon a los 16 años (p. Mahut) y el Abierto de Australia y semifinales en el US Open juveniles (perdió con Roddick ambas veces)... Es miembro del equipo croata de Copa Davis desde 1999 y tiene marca de 19-13 (12-11 en singles) en 17 series... Logró el título en 2005. En abril de 2008, sacó un título de abogado en la Universidad de Split y su tesis fue “ATP Ayer, Hoy y Mañana”, donde describió la fundación legal de la ATP y su organización... Su preparador físico es Mirko Krolo y es entrenado por su hermano mayor Ivica (desde diciembre 2008).

2009 -- The Croat finished in Top 100 for seventh straight year despite playing only five months…Was sidelined again with mononucleosis and his last tournament was in Kitzbühel week of May 18…Reached QF in Sydney (l. to Djokovic), 3rd RD at Australian Open (l. to Simon)…Reached 11th career ATP World Tour final in Zagreb (l. to Cilic) and advanced to SF in Rotterdam (d. No. 8 Simon, l. to Murray)…Also played in first round Davis Cup tie vs. Chile and beat Massu in opening rubber…Compiled a 13-6 mark on hard courts (0-1 on clay).

2008 -- The Croat finished in Top 40 for fourth time in past five years despite being sidelined part of season with illness...Returned in February after missing first month with a stomach illness...Reached 10th career ATP final in Marseille (l. to Murray) and followed with SF in Zagreb (l. to Ljubicic)...In March, reached 3rd RD at AMS Indian Wells (l. to Ferrero) and 4th RD at AMS Miami (l. to Davydenko)...On clay, best result was 3rd RD in Barcelona (l. to Almagro) and Roland Garros (l. to Federer)...Played well on grass with 3rd RD a Queen's, QF at 's-Hertogenbosch (l. to Ferrer) and Wimbledon (d. Verdasco 13-11 in fifth set, l. to Federer)...Played in only one summer event (Toronto) due to reoccurrence of mononucleosis and withdrew from Cincinnati and US Open...Returned for four European indoor events with best showing a QF in Stockholm...Went 1-8 vs. Top 10 opponents with lone win over No. 5 Ferrer at Wimbledon en route to QF (l. to Federer)...Compiled 18-8 mark on hard, 8-3 on grass and 6-5 on clay.

2007 -- Finished in Top 100 despite missing nearly six months due to illness...Began year by reaching 4th RD at Australian Open (l. to No. 7 Roddick in five sets)...Then retired in 1st RD (vs. Seppi) in Marseille in February before being sidelined with mononucleosis until August...Returned at AMS Montreal with a 2nd RD showing (l. to Mathieu) and followed with same result at AMS Cincinnati (d. No. 9 Haas, l. to Melzer)...Withdrew from US Open due to right shoulder injury...Came back in October and turned in back-to-back QF results in Stockholm (l. to T. Johansson) and AMS Madrid (d. No. 8 Blake, l. to Djokovic).

2006 -- Won a career-high 55 matches and two ATP titles while breaking into Top 10...Defended s'-Hertogenbosch title (d. Hernych) and won St. Petersburg (d. T. Johansson)...Runner-up at Auckland, Marseille and Beijing...Lost in opening round only three times in 20 tournaments, advancing to QF or better in 13, including eight in a row from Rome in May to Tokyo in October...Injured his right knee while jet skiing in Croatia on July 22 and sidelined through US Open with recurring back problems...Returned two months later in Beijing and advanced to final (l. to Baghdatis)...Prior to his injury, had won 40 of 53 matches through Wimbledon, where he lost to Federer in QF...Also lost to Swiss No. 1 in QF at Roland Garros but in between repeated his title in 's-Hertogenbosch...Broke Top 10 after Paris and spent 18 weeks in Top 10 through rest of year, reaching a career-high No. 7 on July 10 after Wimbledon...Helped lead Croatia to its first ATP World Team Championship title...Went 5-7 vs. Top 10 opponents and served as alternate at Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai...Earned a career-high $1,276,265...In doubles, captured titles in Beijing and Mumbai (w/Bhupathi).

2005 -- Captured first ATP title and helped his country to its first-ever Davis Cup title (d. Slovak Republic 3-2) by winning decisive fifth rubber over Michal Mertinak in final...Won first ATP title in 's-Hertogenbosch (d. Llodra) and runner-up in Scottsdale (l. to Arthurs) and Tokyo (l. to Moodie, held two M.P.)...Had a 22-12 mark in tie-breaks, 25-15 on hard and 9-2 on grass...Captured his second ATP doubles title in Munich (w/Knowle).

2004 -- The No. 2 Croat (behind Ljubicic) finished in Top 30 for first time, highlighted by his first ATP final and first Grand Slam SF...After a 3rd RD showing at Australian Open (l. to Philippoussis), returned to action in Milan and posted straight-set wins over Santoro, Nadal, Robredo and T. Johansson before losing to Dupuis in a third set tie-break...In June-July, posted his best results on grass with a 3rd RD showing at Queen's (l. to Roddick) and SF at 's-Hertogenbosch (l. to Coria) and Wimbledon (d. No. 5 Henman, l. to Roddick in four sets)...At Athens Olympics, earned a bronze medal in doubles (w/Ljubicic), defeating India's Bhupathi-Paes 16-14 in third set...In September, reached SF at Delray Beach (l. to Mello)...Compiled a 10-3 record on grass, 6-6 on clay, 6-10 on hard and 5-5 on carpet...Also 3-0 in five-set matches.

2003 -- Reached 4th RD in Australian Open debut (l. to Ferrero...Following week, captured Hamburg Challenger title (d. Nadal)...In 1st RD Davis Cup tie, helped Croatia defeat USA 4-1 (d. Dent in dead rubber)...In St. Poelten, advanced to first ATP QF and finished season with QF in Stockholm...In doubles, captured first career ATP title in Indianapolis (w/Ram).

2002 -- Compiled a 30-16 match record in Challenger play...Won title in Belgrade (d. Zimonjic) and followed with runner-up efforts in Ho Chi Minh and Kyoto...In Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon, qualified and beat No. 9 Federer on famed Centre Court in 1st RD... Became first teenager to win his Wimbledon debut on Centre Court since Bjorn Borg in 1973.

2001 -- Reached final at China and Canada Futures.