Born: 12/2/80 Nationality: Spanish Seeded: 6 World ranking: 5 Wimbledon best: 4th round (2003) Recent record: 2003: 4th round 2002: 2nd round 2001: 3rd round

The Spaniard finally made the transition from rising star to Grand Slam winner last year, sweeping through the field to win the French Open.

But when it came to the trip to London he stumbled out at the fourth-round stage to Sebastien Grosjean.

Ferrero, arguably the finest clay-court player of his generation, will not be heavily backed on his far less-fancied grass surface at Wimbledon.

He enjoyed a stunning 2003, reaching the US Open semi-finals and moving to world number one, before losing that to Andy Roddick at the end of the year.

His season's end was also marred by defeat to Australia in the final of the Davis Cup during which he lost both his singles rubbers.

The 23-year-old, who has yet to win a title this year, has been struggling to recover his fitness after a bout of chicken pox and he missed the Masters events in Rome and Hamburg and lost his crown at Roland Garros.