Personal information
Began playing tennis at age two with father Alexander, a former Davis Cup player for the former Soviet Union (compiled an 18-18 career record in 16 ties).

Family moved from Moscow to Germany in 1991. Mother, Irina, is also a former player. Both parents now coach at a tennis club in Hamburg (UHC). Has one younger brother, Sascha.

Speaks Russian, German and English. Nickname is Misch.
Likes fishing and NBA (supports Miami Heat)

Admired his father who according to players such as Alexander Volkov and Yevgeny Kafelnikov ‘played like a cat on the court’.
Favorite surface is indoors and favorite shots are serve and volley. Coached by his father, Alexander, who played Davis Cup from 1982-87.

Career highlights
2003 – Reached SF at Kumamoto, Japan, Futures (l. to Yoon). Also reached QF at Glasgow Futures (l. to Murray).

2004 – Reached three Futures QF...Reached a pair of doubles SF at Futures.

2005 – Reached SF at Austrian Futures event (l. to Ager). Also reached QF at one Challenger and three Futures. Won doubles titles in back-to-back weeks at Florida Futures (w/ Kuznetsov). Also reached doubles final at Austrian Futures (w/Dorsch) and Orlando Challenger (w/Kuznetsov).

 

2006 – Compiled a strong season at the Futures level, while enjoying breakthroughs on the Challenger and ATP levels as well. Began year with three straight German Futures QF before claiming title at Mettmann (d. Petzschner). Won his second title of year at Zagreb Futures in February (d. Cilic). In April, reached SF at Dubai Futures. Won Munakata, Japan, Futures title in late May (d. Motomura). Made ATP debut at 's-Hertogenbosch, defeating Sanguinetti in two tie-breaks before falling to Lee...On carpet, won Dublin Futures (d. Baccanello) and Challenger (d. Pless) in back-to-back weeks...Reached first ATP QF in Bangkok with wins over Ferrero and Schuettler before falling to Safin in three sets...Claimed one Challenger doubles title and reached a second final. In Futures doubles, claimed two titles while appearing in six total finals.

2007 – Improved his ranking for a fifth straight season, compiling a 26-15 Challenger record with three titles to finish in Top 100 at No. 80...Played sparingly in ATP tournaments (6-8 mark) with his best result a QF in Newport (l. to eventual champion Santoro). Reached 2nd RD at his Grand Slam tournament debut at Australian Open (d. Berrer, l. to Ginepri). In June, won Karlsruhe Challenger (d. Odesnik) and two months later, picked up title at Istanbul Challenger (d. Lacko). Also won title at Dnepropetrovsk Challenger (d. Canas, Tursunov)...In doubles, won titles at Karlsruhe and Surbiton Challengers (w/Kuznetsov) while reaching final at Dublin Challenger (w/Burgsmuller).

2008 -- The young German finished at No. 80 for the second straight season, reaching his first ATP SF in addition to four ATP QF to finish in Top 100 for second time. Opened with 2nd RD at Adelaide (l. to Spadea), and followed with five-set loss to Robredo at Australian Open. In February, defeated No. 5 Ferrer in Rotterdam for first Top 10 win before losing to Karlovic in QF. Did not win consecutive matches again until Wimbledon, including loss on Roland Garros debut (l. to Capdeville). At All England Club, reached Slam-best 3rd RD (d. Peya, Ferrero; l. to Wawrinka). Then reached QF on clay at Umag (l. to Verdasco) and on hard courts at New Haven (l. to Verdasco). Made first appearance at US Open (l. to Robredo). During European indoor circuit, reached first SF in Moscow (withdrew due to illness) and qualified in St. Petersburg where he advanced to QF (l. to Golubev). In doubles, won ATP titles in Halle and Tokyo (w/Youzhny) and was a finalist in Stuttgart (w/Berrer). Earned a career-high $476,142.