Potito Starace, who is called Poto by his fans, is 24 years old and is for sure among the most promising Italian tennis champions. His career starts early: in 1993 he wins the Italian championships under 12, the Coppa Lambertenghi in Milano. In 1999 he wins his second Italian title, the under 18, by beating Andrea Merati in the final in Rome. In 2002 Potito, with former Davis cup winner Zugarelli as coach, reaches the finals of the Challengers of Mantova and Aschaffenburg, and becomes Open Italian champion, winning against Leonardo Azzaro in the final. In 2003 Potito faces a problem with his meniscus, undergoes surgery and he has to stop playing for 6 months. Back on the court he reaches the semi final of the Challenger of Napoli and the final of Reggio Emilia. The breakthrough comes in 2004: Potito starts working with Umberto Rianna and Fabrizio Fanucci in Florence, and immediately wins the Challengers of San Remo, Sassuolo and San Marino and plays the semi final of the ATP tournament of Gstaad, where he loses in three sets against the no.1 Federer. He reaches also the third round of Roland Garros, by winning against the French no.1 Sebastian Grosjean. Potito plays singles for the Italian Davis Cup team since 2004 and remains unbeaten during the last four meetings. Since January 2005 he and his coach Umberto Rianna chose to practice at the CT Arezzo . Since fall 2006, the trainer Stefano Baraldo has joined the team, and Potito is now travelling with both Rianna and Baraldo on the tour. The physical improvements have been the key to the giant step into the top 30. Now, get ready for the next step... the top 20!