Xavier Malisse

Malisse reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon 2002

Date of birth: 19/07/1980
Nationality: Belgian
Grand Slams: none

Xaiver Malisse was once considered such a bright prospect that he was mentioned in the same breath as fellow young guns Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Federer and Marat Safin.

He turned professional in 1998 but failed to crack the top 100 in his first two years on the tour.

Only in the last 12 months has he begun to make his name on the tour as a consistently high performer rather than a hot-and-cold player with an attitude to match.

The 21-year-old admits that he was not making enough of his talent, and decided to train harder off the court and concentrate more on it.

The results have gradually improved and this year has seen him reach three tournament semi-finals, including an incredible run at Wimbledon where he ended the hopes of Greg Rusedski and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

Now in the world's top twenty, the Belgian is comfortable on all surfaces and possesses one of the best returns in the game.

He is yet to win a tour title but it surely will not be long in coming, especially with Craig Kardon, former coach of nine-times Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova, on board.