Date of Birth: 08.08.81 Became pro: 1998 World ranking: 9

Verdict: One of the up-and-coming new generation of players, Federer made everyone sit up and take notice of his talent when he inflicted Pete Sampras' first defeat at Wimbledon in five years last summer.

He subsequently lost to Tim Henman in the last eight, but the result was no fluke as his other impressive Grand Slam performances showed.

An all-court player, Federer looked capable of success on grass last year and he will start as one of the title favourites. So far this season he has won in Sydney and Hamburg and finished runner-up in both Milan and Miami.

Disappointed at the French Open, but back on grass he did well in the warm-up event at Halle, reaching the semis. Expect big things.

GRAND SLAM HISTORY
	02	01	00	99
Australian Open	4R	3R	3R	-
French Open	1R	QF	4R	1R
Wimbledon	-	QF	1R	1R
US Open	-	4R	3R	-

Key: 1R (first round); 2R (second round); 3R (third round); 4R (fourth round); QF (quarter-finals); SF (losing semi-finalists); RU (Runner up); W (winner).