RAINER SCHUETTLER No.11 seed

FACTFILE DOB: 25.04.1976 Nationality: German World ranking: 11 Roland Garros record 2002:: second round 2001:: first round 2000:: first round 1999:: first round

Schuettler has steadily improved his ranking over the past four years and become a regular in the latter stages of tournaments.

A baseliner with great agility and a strong return, at 27 years old the German looks to be reaching his peak.

As with compatriot Nicolas Kiefer, Schuettler has struggled to live up to the achievements of fellow countrymen Michael Stich and, especially, Boris Becker.

But Schuettler went some way to claiming his own place alongside the biggest names in German tennis at this year's Australian Open.

He beat Marat Safin and Andy Roddick before losing to the peerless Andre Agassi in the final.

Clay has always been his weakest surface but there were signs of improvement last year with a final place in Munich, where he went down to Younes El Aynaoui.