The Italian climbed the rankings dramatically in 2001- rising from 63rd to a then career-high of 14th - and picking up her first Tour title.

To continue that sort of rise would take something special, but instead she has settled for consistency - enjoying some solid but unspectacular results.

She reached the third round in the Australian Open, and has reached the semi-finals in Tokyo and quarter-finals in Paris, Antwerp and Amelia Island.

A good bet to reach the second week at Roland Garros, but has only once got past the third round here.

That came last year when she enjoyed her best Grand Slam performance, upsetting 13th seed Magdalena Maleeva in the first round before eventually falling in round four.