DOB:03.04.1976 Nationality:French World Ranking:30 Previous French Open results: 2001 ::first round 2000 ::first round 1999 ::second round 1998 ::second round

Escude made his French Open debut as a fresh-faced 17-year-old and lost in straight sets to Boris Becker.

His situation on home soil has not got much better since, a best finish seeing him move to the last 32 in 1997.

This has been true of his tennis in general and he is widely considered one of the game's underachievers.

The 26-year-old's finest display to date came at the end of last year when he powered France to an unlikely Davis Cup final victory over Australia.

Naturally left-handed, he learned to play the game with his right hand.