Age: 26
Country: Russia
Lives: Monte Carlo
Plays: Right-handed, double-handed backhand
Seed: unseeded
Grand slam titles: Two (Australian Open 2005, U.S. Open 2000)
Record at Wimbledon: 2005-third round, 2004-first round, 2002-second round, 2001-quarter-finalist, 2000-second round, 1998-first round
Grass is not the likeable Russian's favourite surface despite his phenomenal power and the Australian Open champion does not usually expect much from his annual visit to the All England Club.
Like Roddick he is a back-court slugger at heart and his giant physique and dislike for the serve-volleying art make him ill-suited to the often slippery grass.
Despite that Safin has the talent and brute force to beat the very best, as he showed with the consecutive wins over Federer and Hewitt at the Australian Open and by reaching the Halle final last year..
If the combustible Russian gets some sun on his back and a favourable draw, he could surprise himself.