Rusedski's astonishing four-letter outburst, for which he later apologised, was just one incident in an eventful Wimbledon career.

In 2000, he could not have received a kinder draw - American Vince Spadea was on an all-time record losing streak of 22 matches - but the Briton slumped to a five-set defeat to a player the Daily Mail newspaper labelled the "biggest loser of them all".

Rusedski's best SW19 performance came in 1997 when he reached the quarter-finals, but he regards 2002 as a missed opportunity. "My form was fantastic and I was two sets all with Xavier Malisse in the fourth round when we had to go off for rain. My record should be better."