 | Born: 20/9/81 Nationality: Spanish Seeded: 18 World ranking: 22 Wimbledon best:
4th round (2002 & 2003) Recent record:
2003: 4th round
2002: 4th round
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.
He booked a place in the quarter-finals at the Canada Masters and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Indeed, unusually for a Spaniard, the big-serving Lopez prefers faster courts to the clay courts enjoyed by most of his countrymen.
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.
He has enjoyed his time on grass in the past, reaching the last 16 at Wimbledon in the last two seasons.
It could prove an even happier hunting ground a year on.
MMIX
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