Born: 1/1/82 Nationality: Argentine Seeded: 6 World ranking: 9 Wimbledon best: Runner-up (2002) Recent record: 2002: Runner-up 2001: N/A 2000: N/A

The then 28th seed had been expected to exit the tournament far earlier but continued to defy expectations before being trounced by Lleyton Hewitt in the final.

His fortnight run enabled him to be taken far more seriously on the men's tour for the remainder of last season and the early part of 2003.

Whether he can repeat the feat a year on remains to be seen, but the 21-year-old has clearly shown his ability as a future Grand Slam contender.

Clay remains his strongest surface, however, with his baseline game clearly suited to the slower-style court.

Nalbandian's good Grand Slam showing has not been kept solely for Wimbledon - he reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open this year before losing to Rainer Schuettler.

His other major performance of note this season saw him make it to the final four of the Tennis Masters Series event in Hamburg.