Began playing at age two…Father, Javier, is a chemist; Mother, Marisol, is a nurse…Has three brothers, Carlos (older) and Miguel and Victor (younger)…During junior career, in 2003 won European Championships (d. Baghdatis) in Switzerland and won five other titles in a row before losing in final at Italian Open juniors (l. to Almagro)…
Also a QF at Roland Garros (d. Djokovic, l. to Tsonga)…Finished No. 4 in world junior rankings in ‘03…Hobbies include watching car and motorcycle races, basketball and his favorite is soccer…Considers clay his favorite surface and forehand and serve as best shots…
Coached by countrymen Borja Buribe and Ricardu Cu±at.Last week, these two players faced each other in the main draw of Doha and Starace easily won the match by 6-2 6-0.However, Gil basically didn’t show up in that match and he has already made sure that he means business this week in Sydney, as he was amazingly convincing in the qualifying of this tournament by defeated three decent players (especially Taylor Dent) without dropping a single set. Potito Starace is a claycourter with no business on fast surfaces and his win against Gil in Doha was just because of Gil’s no show because the Portuguese has a lot more weapons than the Italian on a fast surfaces, as the results of the two players on fast surfaces show. I expect Gil this time to play at his regular level and if that happens, he will most likely get the upperhand over a claycourter with little business on hardcourt like Starace. Take Gil to win in here.