Guga goes marching on

Kuerten is essentially a humble man

Brazil will be jumping to a whole new beat after Gustavo Kuerten's victory in the Masters Cup.

A popular figure on the international circuit, the 24-year-old right-hander is an even bigger favourite back in his homeland.

Brazilians love their sporting heroes. That's evident from the support Kuerten receives on his travels around the world.

His fans, almost always decked out in the obligatory football shirt, roar their approval every time their idol wins a point.

Confident swagger

Now 'Guga' is the new world number one, the noise at courtside will be raised another notch.

But don't expect victory in Lisbon to make him a different person.

  Gustavo Kuerten

Age: 24

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 167lbs

Grand Slams: 2

Career titles: 10

Sure, his swagger around the court may become even more confident, but the man himself will remain essentially humble.

He already devotes a lot of time and money to deserving causes and was named ATP Tour Charities Chairman in 1998.

When you consider that his younger brother, Guilherme, is mentally handicapped, it's not hard to fathom why he is so generous.

On the court, Kuerten is just as big-hearted.

Stands proudly

He became the first Brazilian to win a Grand Slam singles title when he triumphed at the French Open in 1997.

He won for a second time at Roland Garros earlier this year and has been fighting it out with the leaders in the Champions Race for most of the season.

Now he has clinched that title following his win over Andre Agassi - just how long he stays there is up to him.

His great touch and excellent groundstrokes can make him a destructive opponent when he is firing on all cylinders.

And with his army of fans cheering him on, who knows what he can achieve.