DOB: 25.11.1977 Nationality: Argentine World Ranking: 18 Australian Open record:  2002 :: third round 2001 :: second round 2000 :: first round 1999 :: first round 1998 :: n/a 1997 :: n/a

Canas proved beyond doubt he is a match for anyone when he won in Toronto on hard courts last July.

The Argentine beat Roger Federer, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Marat Safin, Tommy Haas and Andy Roddick in the space of a week.

He also posted his best result in a Grand Slam last year with a quarter-final place on his favoured clay at the French Open.

Had it not been for a dreadful run of four consecutive first-round losses during February and March, Canas would have been on course for a top-10 finish.