One to Watch: Robby Ginepri

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This Week: The 20-year-old Fort Lauderdale, Florida resident takes on Greg Rusedksi in the first round of the Stella Artois Championships at Queen's Club, London in his first match since losing to Carlos Moya in the quarterfinals of the NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami. Last year, he reached the third round with wins over Paradorn Srichaphan and Marc Rosset before losing to Tim Henman.

2003 In Review: Began the year with second round performances at Auckland and the Australian Open and then won the Challenger event in Waikoloa, Hawaii. Returned to the United States and reached the quarterfinals at Memphis (l. to Roddick) and back-to-back Tennis Masters Series quarterfinals at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells as a qualifier (d. Safin, l. to Hewitt) and the NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami (d. Arthurs, d. Corretja, d. Blake, d. H-T Lee, l. to Moya). Has not played since Miami due to a right wrist injury.

Miscellaneous: Ginepri's best result so far on the ATP circuit was a semifinal showing in Newport on grass last July (l. to eventual champion Dent). In juniors, he reached the US Open final in 2000 (l. to Roddick).

He Says: "I like competing, I'm a very competitive person. I want to win so I think when I was playing basketball it was kind of hard having four other team mates out there. With any other sport it's usually with a team but with tennis it's by yourself it puts all the pressure on you to succeed and do well."

On His Strengths: "My quickness around the court, my ability to run down balls, get the ball back, competing well and my forehand is becoming a big weapon in my game."

On His Idol: "Michael Chang was my favorite player when I was little. He was small and I was small when I was younger, he was fast and quick and that's kind of how I played when I was growing up. I played him 2 years ago and I actually beat him. I was happy after that result."

On College Tennis: "I always wanted to probably play at Georgia because I am from there and grew up there and I just would have thought I'd play at least one or two years in college and then try the circuit, but went for it out of high school. It depends on the person, for me school wasn't the best choice for me, I don't know how much the tennis would have helped out. Physically I think I was a little bit stronger than most of the people that were my age at the time, I thought I could make the jump. I always wanted to play on tour. I just didn't know when it would have happened."

On His Cadillac Escalade: "I wanted that car within the first year that I was playing but my Dad made me hold off on it, saying wait until you get around the 100 mark. It was kind of like a goal to do well but if I got there give myself a reward. I haven't set another one, I don't know if I get to the top 50 what I'll get or what I'll do."

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