 | Born: 20/09/81 Nationality: Spanish Seeded: 23 World ranking: 24 French Open best:
3rd round (2003) Recent record:
2003: 3rd round
2002: N/A
2001: N/A |
Lopez established himself among the world's leading players last year. The Spaniard, who broke into the top 100 in 2002, impressed on clay in 2003, reaching two semi-finals, and he proved his all-court prowess with a quarter-final at the Canada Masters and a run to the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Indeed, unusually for a Spaniard, the big-serving Lopez prefers faster courts.
This season began poorly with three straight defeats but he turned the corner with a run to the final in the lucrative Dubai event, losing to world number one Roger Federer.
But he has failed to find his form on clay and he will be pleased if he can live up to his seeding in Paris.
Wimbledon, where he has twice reached the last 16, and the US Open may prove to be happier hunting grounds.
MMIX
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