DOB: 21.02.1979 Nationality: French World Ranking: 20 Australian Open record:  2002 :: third round 2001 :: first round 2000 :: first round 1999 :: first round 1998 :: first round

Dechy made a great start to 2003 by winning her first WTA Tour title on the Gold Coast - ending a seven-year wait.

Her achievement was the culmination of continuing steady progress for the 23-year-old in 2002 - in which she recorded her best year in Grand Slams.

However, though she is happiest on hard courts, baseliner Dechy has a relatively poor record at the Australian Open, having only once passed the first round stage.

The Frenchwoman is adept at doubles and captured her first title in Paris with Meilen Tu.