15 Ai Sugiyama
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Born: 5/7/75

Nationality: Japanese

Seeded: 15

World ranking: 16

US Open best:

3rd round (1999)

Recent record:

2002: 2nd round

2001: 2nd round

2000: 2nd round

Japan's number one player has been one of the world's best doubles exponents for some years but this season she has proved she is becoming a potent singles player.

The petite star boosted her confidence with a quarter-final run in Antwerp, defeating Jelena Dokic in the process.

Then at the Tier 1 event in Scottsdale, she upset world number two Kim Clijsters and former world number one Lindsay Davenport before picking up her fourth WTA singles title.

Although her game is not best suited to clay, the Tokyo-born player put in a creditable performance at this year's French Open, reaching the fourth round before losing to Serena Williams.

At Wimbledon, she also made the fourth round before losing to close friend and doubles partner Clijsters - the pair going on to win the doubles title.

Sugiyama has a disappointing record at the US Open, a third round appearance in 1999 the highlight.

Her best Grand Slam performance came at the Australian Open in 2000 when she reached the quarter-finals.