DOB:09.12.1978 Nationality:Argentinean World Ranking:34 Previous French Open results: 2001 ::first round 2000 ::second round 1999 ::third round 1998 ::n/a

Despite being a clay-court specialist, his displays in the second Grand Slam of the year have actually worsened in his three appearances to date.

But on current form it would be very difficult to bet against him.

He just could not lose in April, taking back-to-back titles in both Barcelona and Mallorca, his first two clay-court outings of the season.

Former world number one Gustavo Kuerten, current world number one Lleyton Hewitt and a host of Spanish clay courters are among the players he has defeated recently.