DOB: 17.12.1977 Nationality: French World Ranking: 17 Australian Open record: 2001 :: runner-up 2000 :: fourth round 1999 :: second round 1998 :: first round 1997 :: n/a

For all his talent, the charismatic Frenchman has only one ATP Tour title to his name.

At last year's Australian Open he almost doubled that tally but fell at the final hurdle when he lost to Andre Agassi.

That was as good as it got in 2001 - a year in which Clement found great difficulty stringing successive wins together.

His sole title came on home soil, indoors in Lyon, late in 2000.

It was a performance that capped a consistent, if unspectacular few months in which he reached two semi-finals and the US Open quarters.

Clement and his fans will be hoping that a return to Melbourne rekindles former glories and sets him up for a more prosperous future.