Guillermo Coria (Argentina)

Guillermo Coria (Argentina)

Age: 22 Lives: Venado Tuerto, Argentina Plays: Right-handed, two-handed backhand Grand Slam titles: None Seed: 3
Record at the French Open: 2003-semi-final, 2002-third round, 2001-first round, 2000-second round
The outstanding claycourter so far this season, Coria has already bagged two titles on the slow surface in Buenos Aires and Monte Carlo. Nimble around the court but with a sledgehammer of a backhand, Coria need fear no-one in the Roland Garros field. Coria ended last season ranked five in the world and has steadily improved since. He was unfortunate to lose in the semi-finals here last year to Martin Verkerk when the sense of occasion seemed to overwhelm him. With 12 more months at the top of the game behind him, he is unlikely to let that happen again. Coria has tasted success on the Parisian clay, lifting the boy's singles cup in 1999. This year could see him add the men's version.