Born: 29/04/84 Nationality: Russian Seeded: 26 World ranking: 27 US Open best: 2nd round (2001) Recent record: 2002: N/A 2001: 2nd round 2000: 1st round

An unexpected run to the final of the recent Rogers AT&T Cup in Toronto saw Krasnoroutskaya burst into the world's top 30 for the first time in her career.

It is a long-awaited achievement for the gifted Russian, whose promising career was derailed by injury last season.

Krasnoroutskaya first got herself noticed at Roland Garros in 2001 when at just 17 she made the quarter-finals of the French Open and then the fourth round at Wimbledon.

She ended the season ranked 34th, having started outside the top 100 and the stage seemed set for the youngster to build on that in 2002.

However, having replaced the injured Serena Williams as a seeded player at the Australian Open, she picked up an injury of her own during her first-round match and an ankle injury meant she missed seven months of the Tour.

Her form suffered and she began this season having to qualify for tournaments.

A gradual improvement culminated in her performances in Toronto, the highlight of which was a win over newly-crowned world number one Kim Clijsters in the third round.