STATUS: Tennis player has reached the third round of the Australian Open after two inspiring five-set wins over Radek Stepanak and Denis Gremelmayr. The former U.S. Davis Cup team member has won one ATP singles title and has career wins over Federer, Agassi, Sampras, and Nadal.
HT: 6-0 WT: 170
DOB: July 19, 1974 IN: Chicago, Illinois
TENNIS INSPIRATION: "Sampras."
NICKNAMES: "Vincenzo, My Cousin Vinny, Rocky, The Pillsbury Doughboy."
CHILDHOOD HERO: "Superman [laughs]."
EARLY TENNIS MEMORY: "I lost my first tournament in 14 & unders. Then, after that, I won everything. I won every tournament the rest of the year. I'm trying to re-find that key. Trying to get a way back to that state."
HOBBIES/INTERESTS: "Record Grammy Award-winning material in the studio. Write books. And be chillin'."
PREMATCH FEELING: "Just all out."
FAVORITE MOVIES: "Goodfellas."
MUSICAL TASTES: "White Zombie [smiles], no. Rock, rap, LL Cool J to Led Zeppelin to Vanilla Ice to Red Hot Chili Peppers."
FAVORITE MEAL: "Italian spaghetti with tomato sauce and a pizza margarita."
FAVORITE BREAKFAST CEREAL: "Froot Loops."
FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR: "Mint chocolate chip."
FIRST CAR: "Mazda MX6. (Color?) White. Serious rims too, man."
CURRENT CAR: "Mercedes, black tinted windows."
FIRST JOB: "Six hours a day, playing tennis with no pay. I worked at an ice cream store one time for a couple of days. Till I got fired. (Where?) It was in Delray Beach, serving ice cream cones."
GREATEST SPORTS MOMENT: "When I beat Agassi in the Australian, oh, actually, when I won Scottsdale. Match point, second serve slice to the forehand. The guy (Nicolas Kiefer) hit it into the second row. (How many tournaments had you played before winning first one?) They said 223. One-for-223. That won't make it in the Majors will it [smiles]. Geez, that's like Michael Jordan hittin' No, that's cold [smiles]."
MOST PAINFUL MOMENT: "When I lost all the matches in a row. 21 straight. (What was the low point?) Vince Spadea in Soho cafe, nothing to do, feelin' like I had to make a couple calls, make a comeback. Get on the attack. Either that or do some math."
TOUGHEST COMPETITORS ENCOUNTERED: "Hewitt. Who else...Roddick is a pretty good competitor. Chang. Rafter. Spadea - I played against him one time in a dream and beat me four in the fifth [smiles]."
CLOSEST FRIENDS ON THE TOUR: "Me and my three rap CDs."
FUNNIEST PLAYER: "That's a good question actually. I don't bother to listen to the punch-lines, I'm out of there, I'm out on the practice courts by the time I hear anything good."
LAST HALLOWEEN COSTUME: "Charlie Brown."
FAVORITE ATHLETES TO WATCH: "Alex Rodriguez, man, A-Rod. Tracy McGrady. Joe Montana. Marciano. Woods. Michelle Wie [laughs]. Danica Patrick. One of the Earnhardts."
FAVORITE TOURNAMENTS: "I enjoy Wimbledon. Beautiful scenery, the courts are perfect in terms of grass courts. And it’s always one of the most important tournaments, so it’s a great feeling to be there. It’s just the tradition that you bring from all the years of the champions that have played there.You are honored to be out on the courts, playing and competing for the title.I also enjoy LA and New York City, U.S. Open.”
FIRST TENNIS MEMORY: "Hitting balls in Brockton, Massachusetts, because I didn't know baseball or boxing. Because I didn't know which one I'd choose."
FAVORITE ALL-TIME TENNIS PLAYER: "Andre Agassi. (Why?) Charisma, results and cool."
PRE-MATCH SUPERSTITION: "Turn my phone off."
TOUGHEST PART OF BEING A PRO TENNIS PLAYER: "Well, being Vince Spadea is the toughest part. But being a tennis player...TRYING TO WIN."
LAST BOOK READ: "Break Point, Spadea. I'm almost done [smiles]."
TOUGHEST MAN YOU FACED:
"Federer; good forehand, good serve ." LAST VACATION: "I went to Vegas."
PEOPLE MOST ADMIRED: "Good moral character, integrity, and truth."
