DOB: 13.08.1976 Nationality: Ecuadorian World Ranking: 25 Australian Open record: 2001 :: second round 2000 :: second round 1999 :: semi-final 1998 :: second round 1997 :: n/a

The 25-year-old has always had potential, but as the years pass it is becoming more and more unfulfilled.

Lapentti is the star of Ecuadorian tennis who helped his country to Davis Cup victory over Great Britain on grass in 2000.

Inexplicably his powers were blunted when the same Ecuadorian team hosted Henman et al on clay last year and promptly lost.

Therein lies the inconsistency of a career which, four titles apart, reached a high three years ago with a semi-final appearance in Melbourne.