Began playing tennis at age nine...Parents Karl and Klara; sister, Marita...His most memorable tennis moment came when he was nine years old watching countryman Boris Becker capture Wimbledon in 1985...Enjoys computers, soccer, basketball, watching movies and hanging out with friends...Big fan of Michael Jordan... Enjoys reading John Grisham novels and lists “There’s Something About Mary” as his favorite film...Considers return and backhand as strengths and hard courts as favorite surface...Is the only active German player to have reached a Grand Slam final (2003 Australian Open)...Voted ATP Most Improved Player of Year in 2003 and ATP Comeback Player of Year in 2008...Coached by Dirk Hordorff (since 1992) and traveling coach is Jaroslav Levinsky.