By Caroline Cheese BBC Sport Online

French sensation Paul-Henri Mathieu is BBC Sport Online's player of the month for October.

As if there were not already enough baggy-shorted, baseball cap-wearing youngsters threatening to invade the world's top 10, along comes another.

Paul-Henri Mathieu fulfilled what many had predicted for him some years ago when he captured his first ATP title and then doubled his trophy tally within a week.

Mathieu delighted the crowd at Roland Garros

Having made surprise progress to the fourth round, Mathieu came up against an in-form Andre Agassi and proceeded to subject the former champion to a thrilling display of power tennis.

An attacking player trained at Nick Bollettieri's Academy, Mathieu took a two-set lead, sending Agassi scampering around on the red clay of Court Central with a barrage of fizzing groundstrokes.

Only Agassi's greater experience and fitness saved him but Mathieu had already made his mark.

"He hit the ball incredibly big - I wasn't expecting him to make so many quality shots," said a shell-shocked Agassi later.

Mathieu was surprisingly upbeat, considering he had so narrowly missed out on his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

Hangover

"It has made me realise that I can play several matches in a row and raise my level of game according to my opponent, so that is a positive point," he said.

"I think it's going to be a triggering point which will give me energy for my next tournaments."

In fact, he suffered a slight hangover before reaching his second quarter-final of the year at Long Island.

Then came his stunning October.

Injury has again halted his progress, a back problem keeping him out since his triumph in Lyon.

But Mathieu has recovered, to the relief of his country who will want him ready for action when they take on Russia in the Davis Cup final.

He may not be required to play, but having someone of Mathieu's stature ready to come off the bench will be a significant psychological boost for the home team.