By Scoop MalinowskiÂ

Status: Â Winner of 44 ATP singles titles including 1995 French Open. Became ATP World No. 1 player on February 12, 1996.

Ht: Â 5-11 Â Wt: 165

DOB: October 2, 1967 Â In: Leibnitz, Austria

Nicknames: Â “Chester. For Chester Thompson, the drummer from Genesis. When I was playing drums I was always talking about him. He’s someone I admire. So they called me Chester. Beavis. We always see that on TV in the US. Andrea Gaudenzi calls me that. And I don’t know if it’s a good sign or not [smiles].”

Childhood Ambition: Â “First thing I wanted to become when I was younger was a carpenter. Enjoyed to work with wood, making things. I did that a lot as a kid. Â Then when I went to school and started to play tennis I went into a different direction. I still like to take something and make it into something different. Like paint on linen. Try to express myself with colors. Not to sell, just personal.”

Childhood Sports Hero: Â “Nikki Lauda. An Austrian. Not a hero… somebody I admired very much. Formula I driver. VeryÂ goodÂ analytical thinker. Good character. After his racing career he ran on airline. He’s a good sportsman who showed he could do well in business.”

Early Tennis Memory: Â “When I was younger I was trying to ask anyone and everyone to play with me. Anyone who was waiting for a friend or who just finished. I ask everyone to play. I think some people were afraid to come early to the club because I was there [chuckles].”

Pre-Match Feeling: Â “Just try to go out and perform good and try to do my best. Never go out and try to think about winning. Just go out and try to perform my best. Winning or losing doesn’t matter.”

Greatest Sports Moment: Â “The comeback in ’89 (from knee surgery following an auto accident at the Lipton Tournament in Key Biscayne). Â Just coming back from the accident. No one expected it so soon. That’s the biggest thing I’ve done in my career. Bigger than winning tournaments.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: Â “Jim Courier. Definitely a tough competitor. When he goes out on the court he tries very hard. Michael Chang. They don’t release until they’re finished with the last point. Probably not the most talented but the best competitors. That’s what counts the most. Makes it tough to play against them.”

Closest Friends In Tennis: Â “Michael Stich. Andrea Gaudenzi.”

Funniest Players Encountered: Â “Andrei Medvedev and Yevgeny Kafelnikov. They’re not clowns but funny. The way they handle the living on the Tour. When you play tennis you can be a little relaxed and have a good sense of humor. That’s what I like.”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: Â “Ben Johnson. Carl Lewis. Greg Norman – good personality I like. Nick Faldo – very intense.”

Favorite Movie: Â ‘Top Gun.”

Favorite Meal: Â “Italian, pasta, with a beer.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Â “Pancakes with tea.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Â “Strawberry.”

Musical Tastes: Â “Soul, rock ballads, Seal, Phil Collins.”

Hobbies/Interests: Â “Painting, play drums, interest in cars.”

First Job: Â “Painting. Sell paintings I made as a kid. To neighbors. I put them out on the table and people would come by. Give me a few cents to buy ice cream. Kind of funny (age 8-9).”

People Qualities Most Admired: Â “I like anyone who is focused who thinks and tries to set goals and reach them. I think that’s the most important thing in life. To make that goal and work at it. Anybody like that has a right to be proud of himself. Don’t like people who get everything for free and don’t know the value of it.”