Nicolas Lapentti

Full name is Nicolas Alexander Lapentti... Nicknamed “Nico”... Began playing tennis on the beach at age six with his father, Nicolas, who is a politician and played basketball at St. Thomas College in Minnesota and for Ecuadorian national team; mother, Maria-Cecilia, is a housewife and former Miss Ecuador in 1971... Nephew of 1990 Roland Garros winner Andres Gomez... Younger brother, Giovanni (born Jan. 25, 1983) plays on ATP circuit... Member of Ecuador Davis Cup team since 1992 and is 61-32 (41-15 in singles) in 37 ties... The Lapentti Foundation supports cancer patients as well as helps fund and develop tennis at a grass roots level for kids under 13 who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford traveling abroad and competing... Coached by Enrique 'Bebe' Perez (since July 2006) and fitness trainer is Mariano Gaute (since December 2004).

2009 -- The veteran Ecuadorian finished in Top 100 for 11th time in 13 years and led his country into ‘10 Davis Cup World Group by winning all five of his singles matches during year…He was third-oldest at 33 years, 4 months, to finish in Top 100 (behind Santoro and Schuettler)…Ranked as low as No. 174 on Aug. 3 before climbing back in last four months…After losing in five sets to Istomin in 2nd RD at US Open, won both of his Davis Cup matches in Brazil (d. Bellucci, Daniel)…Then finished campaign with a 17-5 mark in Challengers, reaching final in Montevideo (l. to Cuevas) in October and Sao Paulo-2 in November (l. to Bellucci)…Closed with title in his hometown of Guayaquil (d. Giraldo)…Went 3-2 in five set matches and his 29 career five-set wins is tied (w/Hewitt) for most on ATP World Tour among active players.

2008 -- The top Ecuadorian finished in Top 100 for 10th time in 12 years after going 16-18 in ATP action...In February, saved three match points in Costa do Sauipe QF against Schwank to win in a third-set tie-break and reach his first SF since October 2006...Lost to Moya in next round...Continued solid clay results in Europe, qualifying and reaching 2nd RD at AMS events in Monte Carlo (l. to Tipsarevic) and Rome (l. to Verdasco)...Also reached 3rd RD at Barcelona (l. to Ferrer) and Roland Garros (l. to Gulbis)...In July at Cincinnati, reached first AMS QF since March 2002 at Miami...Posted wins over Cilic, No. 4 Ferrer and No. 12 Verdasco before losing to Nadal, who guaranteed himself No. 1 ranking with the QF win...Went 2-5 in ATP action rest of season, including a 1st RD loss at Beijing Olympics (l. to Mathieu)...Went 1-2 against Top 10 players.

2006 -- Finished in Top 100 for ninth time in 10 years...Reached his first ATP final in three years in Palermo (l. to Volandri) and QF in Stuttgart (l. to Berdych) and Kitzbnhel (l. to Verdasco)...Compiled a 17-9 Challenger record, winning title in Szczecin (d. Ulihrach), reaching final in Montevideo (l. to Canas) and SF in Segovia and Buenos Aires...Played all but one match on clay (12-9 mark) during season on ATP circuit.

2005 -- Qualified into AMS Miami and reached 2nd RD with win over Beck (l. to Grosjean)... As qualifier in Houston, reached first ATP SF since Bastad in 2003... Defeated Zib, Kim and Blake before falling to Grosjean...In June, reached final at Braunschweig Challenger (l. to Hernandez)... As wild card in Kitzbuhel, reached QF with wins over Calleri, Horna and Gonzalez before falling to Massu... Played US Open for first Grand Slam since 2004 Roland Garros (l. to Stepanek)...Reached 2nd RD in Tokyo and Vienna... Compiled a 6-7 clay record and 4-9 on hard courts.

2004 -- Reached 2nd RD at Australian Open...Advanced to 3rd RD at AMS Indian Wells...Played one Davis Cup rubber against Chile (l. to Gonzalez)...Also represented his country in Athens Olympics (l. to Clement)...Went 21-8 in Challengers...Won title in Aracaju (d. Silva)...Reached two other finals...Doubles finalist at Vina del Mar (w/Rodriguez)...Also finalist at Covington Challenger (w/Armando).

2003 -- Reached 3rd RD at Australian Open (l. to Grosjean) and Roland Garros...In Paris, led defending champion Costa by two sets before losing in five...Finalist in Bastad (l. to Zabaleta)...Saved five match points in QF (d. Nadal)...In Davis Cup, went 5-1 in singles (including 2-0 in Ecuador's 3-2 loss to Romania in World Group play-off tie in which all five rubbers went five sets).

2002 -- Played in most five set matches during year (6-1) and improved to 20-9 lifetime...Reached final in Vina del Mar (l. to Gonzalez)...Advanced to QF at AMS Miami (l. to eventual winner Agassi)...Won title in St. Poelten (d. Vicente)...At Wimbledon, won three five-set encounters, including 1st RD over Jaimie Delgado (saved four match points), before losing 6-4 in fifth to Nalbandian in QF...Became first Ecuadorian to reach QF at All England Club since Andres Gomez in 1984...Surpassed $4 million mark in career earnings.

2001 -- Reached SF at AMS Roma (l. to eventual champ Ferrero)...Withdrew from Wimbledon with a right elbow injury, breaking streak of 17 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments played...Returned to clay in mid-July in Stuttgart and lost three-set QF to eventual champion Kuerten...Followed by dropping only one set in five matches at Kitzbuhel, defeating four Spaniards en route to title (d. Ferrero in QF, Costa in final)...Advanced to 3rd RD for first time at US Open (l. to Rafter).

2000 -- Reached QF or better in 12 tournaments for second straight year...Advanced to SF at AMS Indian Wells and QF in Adelaide, Mexico City, Scottsdale and Miami ...On clay, reached SF in Estoril, QF in Barcelona and 4th RD at Roland Garros (l. to Kuerten)...On grass, reached QF in Halle...Played Davis Cup playoff tie vs. England (on grass) and beat Rusedski in five sets in opening rubber and lost to Henman in reverse singles...Compiled a 3-1 record in five-set matches...Returned to clay and reached QF in Kitzbuehel...On Asian trip, reached QF in Hong Kong, followed by runner-up in Tokyo (l. to Schalken) and QF in Shanghai... Earned $1 million for second straight year.

1999 -- Compiled his best season by climbing 84 ranking positions from previous year to finish No. 8...One of three South Americans (Kuerten, Rios) to finish in Top 10 for first time in ATP Rankings history (since 1973)...First Ecuadorian in Top 10 since Andres Gomez was No. 6 in 1990...Only lost once in 1st RD in 23 tournaments...Reached first Grand Slam SF at Australian Open with four five-set victories, including wins over Swedes Johansson, Norman and Tillstrom in first three rounds...Also beat Kucera 8-6 in fifth set (l. to Enqvist)...Went 6-0 in five-set matches during year...Captured titles in Indianapolis (d. Spadea) and Lyon (d. Kuerten in QF, Hewitt in final) and also advanced to SF at AMS Paris (l. to Agassi)...Finished with career-best 58 match victories (39 more than previous year)...Qualified for his first year-end championship in Hannover and went 0-3 in round robin play...Earned a career-high $1,234,278.

1998 -- Reached SF in Prague and QF in three other clay court events, including Kitzbuehel where he beat No. 7 Kafelnikov for first Top 10 victory.

1997 -- Reached final in Bogota for third straight year (l. to Clavet), SF in Mexico City and QF in Bologna and Bucharest...Also finalist at Kosice Challenger (l. to Hrbaty)...Won his first ATP doubles titles in Amsterdam (w/Kilderry) and Mexico City (w/Orsanic).

1996 -- In Bogota, reached final in singles and doubles (w/Campana)...Also won Quito Challenger doubles (w/Campana)...Went 5-0 in Davis Cup singles play and 3-0 in doubles.

1995 -- Made ATP debut as a qualifier in Bogota in September and won title (d. Tobon).