Date of Birth: 03.04.76 Became pro: 1995 World ranking: 33

Verdict: Nicolas Escude will come into Wimbledon in confident mood, knowing some of his best results have been achieved on grass.

Escude's greatest career moment arrived on the surface in last year's Davis Cup final when he beat world number one Lleyton Hewitt in Melbourne and then won the deciding rubber against Wayne Arthurs to earn the French cup glory.

He continued where he left off at the start of this season, pushing Pete Sampras to the very limit at the Australian Open before embarking on a fine indoor run in Europe which saw him win in Rotterdam.

The clay season brought a string of rearly exits, but the surroundings of the All England Club - where he beat Hewitt on another occasion last year - should bring out the best in Escude.

GRAND SLAM HISTORY
	02	01	00	99	98	97	96	95	94	93
Australian Open	3R	2R	4R	-	SF	-	-	-	-	-
French Open	1R	1R	1R	2R	2R	3R	-	-	-	1R
Wimbledon	-	QF	2R	-	2R	-	-	-	-	-
US Open	-	2R	-	QF	1R	2R	-	-	-	-

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).