8. Nadia Petrova

Born: 8/6/82 Nationality: Russian Seeded: 8 World ranking: 8 Wimbledon best: 4th round (2001/04) Recent record: 2004: 4th round 2003: 3rd round 2002: N/A

The big-hitting Russian arrives at Wimbledon in confident mood after reaching the semi-finals of the French Open.

But despite reaching the last four, Petrova showed worrying signs of nerves on the big occasion and was comfortably beaten by eventual champion Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Petrova seems to find her best form on the clay courts of Roland Garros but she also improved in January's Australian Open, where she reached the fourth round for the first time.

She has backed up her major championship form with solid displays on the circuit, making two semi-finals appearances and finishing runner-up in Berlin to Henin-Hardenne.

But despite her consistency, Petrova has shown mixed form on grass.

The Russian often struggles in the warm-up to Wimbledon and has never got beyond the last 16 at the All England Club.