The Roots of Magic....

Come to my party!

The WIZARD was born Guillermo Sebastian Coria on January 13, 1982 in Rufino, Argentina.

Named after Argentine tennis legend Guillermo Vilas, our boy Guille was gripping a tennis racquet in his small hands within months of being born. This racquet would be the wand with which El Mago was taught to summon magic for himself, and bring magic to the lives of his family, and a whole world of spectators.

Being named in a way that directly aligned him with a national tennis hero like Vilas was perhaps the first ingredient of the magic spell, a kind of alchemy.

But his father Oscar being a tennis coach was a second and more substantial ingredient for the success of the spell!

So it was more than a 'dream' to begin with, but a possibility. Still, like all magic, it began as a possibility against all likelihood.

When you consider Coria grew up in Venado Tuerto, a small town of 68,000 people (where he still lives today, in a small apartment with his grandmother!) in a country where there is 50% poverty levels, and no large investment in breeding tennis champions, opportunity for the World Stage does not come easy.

Already a "World Beater" at 11? Only in the homeland...but he was "accomplished" by anyone's standards and catching a reputation that would allow him to spread his wings to greater heights.

1994 arrived with Guille holding the number 1 National provincial ranking in his age class, winning both the singles and doubles titles in Santa Fe and Rosario, and beating Jose Acasuso in the final by scores of 6-0 6-0.

It's just after this that he is asked by the AAT (Argentine Association of Tennis) to join the training program of the National School at the Vilas Racquet Club, led by--of course--Guillermo Vilas. A singular honor, as there was not enough money to support many players. And by the end of the year, he was nominated and selected by the school to participate in a tour around the United States. Guille is 12.

In January 1995, Guille excellerates the road forward. This time, he is going up against the best players of all South America -- Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. And he defeats then-number-1 Jose de Armas of Venezuela 7-5 6-4. He is turning more heads now, and the eyes are fixing on him.

You can bet, Guille is eager and pleased. The star was rising and rising fast for this dreamer with the magic wand growing in size by the day!

He is invited by Apey to join his academy in Miami where at 13, he will play against the 16 year olds! VAMOS KING CORIA!

But while he had a wand, he did not yet have a magic broom. How to get to the US? Well, by now there was plenty of reason to have Belief in the magic of Guillermo Coria, and efforts were made locally to raise money however they could.

Bake sales! Can cupcakes, cookies, and brownies fuel the Little Prince's rocket escape to Miami?

Indeed, this did the trick. He made his way to the US where he had to start caring for himself, cooking for himself and doing his own laundry!

So what can you say? A kid like this is gonna make news. Training in Miami, Guille is immersed headlong into competition with players from all over the globe. He begins to compete around the world as well, and holds his own against the best, and wins many titles. Playing on the tour with 16 year olds, he ends 1996 ranked number 3!

Another great distinction for the year is that Guille joins the Argentinian team in the Mundial de Japon where he played with teammates David Nalbandian and Antonio Pastorino. Argentina defeated Venezuela, then France in the QF, Spain in the SF, and Sweden in the final.

Argentina had won the championship for the first time in history.

In 1997, Coria won the Wimbledon junior doubles title with David Nalbandian as well as the Orange Bowl doubles (category 16 year olds).

In 1998, he played in four pro-level events, even making a finals appearance at the Argentina Futures. He was also runner-up in singles in the Orange Bowl (category 18 year olds), losing in the final to Roger Federer. But winning the Milano Italy 18s is what sparked a four-firm bidding war that culminated in a five-year endorsement deal with Adidas.

And in 1999, along with winning many tournaments in South America, he made a major break-through, becoming the Junior Roland Garros champion by defeating fellow Argentine pal and doubles partner Nalbandian in the final. It may not have been the highly coveted professional title, but there was a parade in the streets of Argentina to celebrate the distinguished accomplishment.

Ending 1999 with the #2 ITF world junior singles ranking, and 5th in doubles, YEAR 2000 brought about the inevitable: Guillermo Coria turned pro.

Yes, it was official -- Guille and friend David Nalbandian had made it all the way through the juniors together! There was much to be happy about.

But that was TRULY just the beginning.

While it was also the end of a certain innocence, it was the beginning of the True Magic, the birth of the Legend of "El Mago" with the enormous winnings that would earn Coria his place among the top ten players in the world for three consecutive years (so far!), and of course, the beginning of so much drama...

--"Guille turns PRO!!"--