Back from injury, Vera Zvonareva embarks on her seventh Wimbledon campaign hoping to reach the second week for the first time since 2004.

Her record on grass will not fill Russian fans with confidence, but performances prior to the ankle ligament injury which ruled her out of the French Open certainly will.

Zvonareva made a blistering start to 2009 with a semi-final appearance at the Australian Open - her best-ever showing in Melbourne.

The 24-year-old continued her impressive form by winning two titles in the wake of that run, including the first Premier Mandatory event of the year in Indian Wells.

But misfortune struck in the Family Circle Cup when the then Russian number two was forced to retire in the second round of her first claycourt tournament of the year due a serious ankle injury.

It was confirmed afterwards that Zvonareva had torn two ankle ligaments and would be unable to compete at Roland Garros.

She was cleared to compete at Eastbourne but suffered a 6-3 1-6 6-3 defeat to former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo in the first round, and few would fancy her to challenge seriously at SW19.