Another player thankful the clay season is behind him for another year is temperamental Russian Marat Safin.

Former world number one Safin has found himself down the family pecking order in recent times following the emergence of sister and women's world number one Dinara Safina.

That fact, combined with another cheerless 2009 to date, will make the hard-hitting Russian as determined as ever to emulate his semi-final performance of last year.

World number three Novak Djokovic was one of five players to feel Safin's force at the All England Club in 2008 and few will want to be drawn against the 29-year-old this time around.

Only Roger Federer prevented Safin's from securing his place in his first ever Wimbledon final. However, form suggests a repeat performance is highly unlikely.