Born: 27/1/80 Nationality: Russian Seeded: 19 World ranking: 15 Wimbledon best: Quarter-finals (2001) Recent record: 2003: N/A 2002: 2nd round 2001: Quarter-finals

As yet, he has only bagged one, blowing apart Pete Sampras' game in the 2000 US Open final.

But since then, things have not entirely gone according to plan for the temperamental Russian.

That temperament and desire have come into question, and 2003 was a year to forget as a serious wrist injury, as well as stomach and ankle problems, caused him to drop out of the top 20.

But in January, he returned to form in scintillating fashion at the Australian Open, beating Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi in successive matches to reach the final where he was too drained to cope with an inspired Roger Federer.

After an unspectacular hard-court season in the US, Safin enjoyed an impressive start on the European clay, reaching the final in Estoril and the semi-finals at the Monte Carlo Masters.

However, in typical Safin style, he hinted he might not even play at the French Open after losing in the third round of the Hamburg Masters to Juergen Melzer.

He reneged on that threat and entered en route to a fourth-round exit.