25. Karolina Sprem

Born: 25/10/84 Nationality: Croatian Seeded: 25 World ranking: 28 Wimbledon best: Quarter-finals (2004) Recent record: 2004: Quarter-finals 2003: 2nd round 2002: N/A

Were it not for Maria Sharapova's march to the title, Karolina Sprem might have got more attention that she did at Wimbledon last year.

The 20-year-old Croat beat two-time champion Venus Williams in the second round, a win that was overshadowed by umpire Ted Watts' infamous 'phantom point' error during the second set tie-break.

Hitting the ball with devastating power, Sprem blasted two more seeded players aside before she was outdone by the experienced Lindsay Davenport in the quarter-finals.

But it remains to be seen whether she can combine power with consistency, especially if this year is anything to judge by.

Illness and back pains have been a factor at times, although she still reached the fourth round at the Australian Open - her second best Grand Slam performance.

But she had to wait until May before making it to her first quarter-final of the season at Strasbourg.