Born: 19/3/79 Nationality: Croatian Seeded: 28 World ranking: 29 Wimbledon best: 2nd round (2002, 2003) Recent record: 2003: 2nd round 2002: 2nd round 2001: 1st round

He warmed up for Wimbledon by winning the Liverpool International at Calderstones Park.

The Croat is capable of some sweet groundstrokes, although can lose his focus - not unlike his compatriot and close friend Goran Ivanisevic.

Ljubicic sees him as an inspiration, carrying a picture of Ivanisevic with the Wimbledon trophy in his pocket.

Always capable of causing an upset, Ljubicic had found it difficult to maintain his form from one week to the next.

But he began the year by making the final in Doha - beating Tim Henman in the last four - and he transferred his hard-court form onto the clay.

The 25-year-old stormed to the semi-finals of the Hamburg Masters and took the first set from Guillermo Coria before finally falling short.