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.