Born: 26/9/81 Nationality: American Seeded: 1 World ranking: 10 Wimbledon best: Champion (2002 & 2003) Recent record: 2003: Champion 2002: Champion 2001: Quarter-final

It was at Wimbledon a year ago that her reign at the top of the game came to an abrupt end when she picked up a knee injury in the final.

Victory over Venus had given her a remarkable fourth Grand Slam triumph in five attempts before the injury struck.

After months out, she returned in March to win in Miami, but a quarter-final exit at the French Open showed that her break from the game has taken its toll.

However, the 22-year-old will find no disgrace in losing to big-hitting rival Jennifer Capriati at Roland Garros.

Although there is still speculation over her committment to the game, Serena will be hungry to make it a hat-trick of titles at SW19, a run of success that would match Steffi Graf's consecutive victories in the nineties.