16. Nathalie Dechy

Born: 21/2/79 Nationality: French Seeded: 16 World ranking: 18 Wimbledon best: 3rd round (1999) Recent record: 2004: 3rd round 2003: 3rd round 2002: 3rd round

The French number three hit new heights at the Grand Slams in 2005 but has underperformed away from the majors.

Dechy reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open, becoming just the third Frenchwoman to do so.

The 26-year-old was eventually beaten by runner-up Lindsay Davenport but she notched up impressive victories over Anastasia Myskina and Patty Schnyder on the way.

It was Dechy's best-ever Grand Slam performance and she followed that up at the French Open by advancing to the third round for the sixth time in eight years.

This time her path to further success on home soil was blocked by world number 46 Nuria Llagostera Vives.

On the tour, Dechy has suffered several early exits at the hands of lowly opponents. Her best results came at the quarters in Indian Wells and the semi-finals at Strasbourg.

Dechy has a mixed record at Wimbledon, where she has failed to match her fourth-round performance in the 1999 season.