FILIPPO VOLANDRI

Age:  05/09/1981

BEST RANKING: 25

Began playing tennis at age seven because his sister was playing and aunt was a tennis teacher...Father, Renato, manager of a pharmaceutical company and mother, Donatella, housewife...Has one older sister, Veronica...First coaches were his aunt (Susanna Paoletti) and Piero Cocchella...Likes football (supports Milan AC and Livorno teams) and going to movies (thriller and action films)...Admired Stefan Edberg but admits his game has little in common with the Swede's...Likes clay as a surface and favourite shot is the forehand...Likes tennis because it's an individual sport and for the chance to travel and see a lot of different places...Dream is to win Roland Garros.

THOMAS FABBIANO

AGE: 26-05-1989 

BEST RANKING: 70 

Started playing tennis aged four...Father Stefano is a doctor, mother Giovanna is a beautician...Brother Roberto and Valentina are students...Tennis idols are Safin and Agassi...Prefers to play on hard courts and best shot is the forehand...Likes to hang out with friends and going on the internet...Used to ski a lot when he was a kid but stopped because of lack of time...In juniors play reached the 2007 Australian Open and US Open SFs and won Roland Garros doubles in the same year.

ALESSANDRO GIANNESSI

AGE: 30-05-1990

BEST RANKING: 99 

Nickname is "Gianna"...Started playing tennis aged eight...Speaks Italian, English and Spanish...Father, Giovanni, owns a company; mother, Brunella; two brothers, Marco and Franceso are both engineers...Favourite surface is clay and shot is his forehand...Favourite tournament is Roland Garros...Idol growing up was Roger Federer...Hobbies include listening to music and watching football (AC Milan)...Trains at the Italian Federation in Tirrenia with physical trainer Pino Carnovale.