Born: 23/9/74 Nationality: Spanish Seeded: 22 World ranking: 17 Wimbledon best: Third round (1998) Recent record: 2002: N/A 2001: 2nd round 2000: 1st round

As a clear clay-court specialist, his best performance came five years ago when he reached the third round.

Since then he has rarely shone, and stayed away a year ago.

This time, he is back and high in confidence having enjoyed a good season before losing to eventual French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero in the fourth round.

Mantilla is a former top-10 player, who is enjoying his best run of form for some years.

He has performed consistently all year, and won his first Masters Series title with a surprise straight-sets victory over Roger Federer in the Rome final.

In that match Mantilla's consistency won the day over Federer's erratic brilliance, and it is this quality that makes the Spaniard so effective on his favourite clay.

He also possesses a fine backhand and, when confident, is capable of picking off winners, despite lacking the power of some of the game's big hitters.