Born: 12/05/81 Nationality: American Seeded: 28 World ranking: 28 Wimbledon best: 4th round (2000) Recent record: 2002: 4th round 2001: N/A 2000: N/A

Former US college number one Laura Granville has made excellent progress over the past 12 months.

But the little-known American, her country's number 10, is still waiting to receive the recognition she deserves.

Until April last year, she played almost exclusively on the ITF circuit before she registered her first big match win at Wimbledon where, having qualified, she defeated Mary Pierce in the first round.

By the end of the season, she had broken into the world's top 50 and this year she had the best result of her career on the WTA tour when reached her first semi-final in Memphis.

She also made the last eight in Scottsdale and was seeded for her first appearance in the main draw at the French Open, where she made it to the third round.