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Thomas Muster
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Thomas Muster is an Austrian tennis player. Born on October 2, 1967, in Leibnitz, he turned professional in 1985. His residence was Monte Carlo, Monaco until 1997. He is a left-handed player and his competition weight was in his best times 75kg while his height is 1.80m. Thomas Muster played with a Head racquet and was sponsored by Lotto.
In 1996, the last year of his professional career, the "King of Clay" captured seven ATP Tour titles, including six repeat performances from 1995. His biggest highlight came on February 12 when he became the second-oldest player to rank No. 1 for the first time (at 28 years, 4 months). He held the top spot for one week and then again for five weeks from March 11-April 14 and is the first left-hander to hold No. 1 since John McEnroe in September 1985. He compiled a 46-3 record on clay, bringing his 1995-96 total to 111-5. It is the best consecutive claycourt record in the Open Era play (since 1968).
In first five months, he defended titles in Mexico City (d. Novak), Estoril (d. Gaudenzi), Barcelona (d. Rios) and Mercedes Super 9s in Monte Carlo (d. A. Costa) and Rome (d. Krajicek). He had an 18-match winning streak snapped by Moya in the semifinal of Munich. Moya, Alvarez (Kitzbühel QF) and Stich (French Open 4th RD) were the only players to beat the Austrian on clay. He enjoyed his best success of his career on grass with a 5-2 record. Advanced to SF at Queen's (l. to Edberg) and 2nd RD in Halle (l. to Steven). After winning title on clay in Stuttgart (d. Kafelnikov) for the second year in a row, he performed well on U.S. hardcourts. He reached the SF at Mercedes Super 9 in Cincinnati and QF at US Open (lost to Agassi in both). Played his final clay court tournament in Bogotá, Colombia in September and won the title (d. Lapentti), giving him career titles on five continents.
He suffered a hip injury in October and retired in opening-round matches in Stuttgart, Germany and Paris, France. Muster had 14-8 record on hard and 3-7 on carpet. He led the Tour in points won returning 2nd serve (58 percent) and No. 3 in return games won (33 percent). Thomas Muster compiled 5-4 record vs. Top 10 players.
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