Yanina Wickmayer
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The
Belgian ace is definitely one of the players who is knocking on the
door of a top 10 place, but has been handed a daunting first round draw against compatriot Kim Clijsters
at the 2010 AEGON International.
Wickmayer recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on her right elbow to remove a floating bone spur, following her May 2010 third round exit at the Rome Open to Jelena Jankovic.
But the Fed Cup player soon recovered in time for the 2010 French Open, where she fell in the third round to veteran Daniela Hantuchova and reached the quarter-finals on the Birmingham grass courts at the 2010 AEGON Classic.
Began 2010 with a real bang by capturing the opening tournament of the season at Auckland, New Zealand then reeling off six successive victories at the Australian Open - stopped by compatriot Justine Henin in the fourth round after fighting her way through the qualifying event.
Has a game that is suited to grass, like all Belgians on the WTA Tour, and has clocked up many victories on the surface over the past few seasons - especially in the UK.
In the 2008 grass court season, she reached the semi-final of the Surbiton Challenger then finished runner-up at Birmingham before a first round exit at Wimbledon.
In the 2009 grass court season Wickmayer reached the semi-finals at Nottingham, was halted by Russian Maria Sharapova at the Birmingham quarter-finals then finished runner-up at Hertogenbosch, Holland.
Reached third round at 2010 French Open.
Chances of winning | Faces an almighty challenge on her Eastbourne debut with a first round draw against compatriot Clijsters, but if she succeeds has the ability to reach the semi-finals and cause other upsets on a surface that she loves to win on.
Factfile
Yanina Wickmayer
Date of birth: 20 October 1989
Birthplace: Lier, Belgium
Residence: Deurne, Belgium
Height: 5' 12'' (182 cm)
Weight: 150 lbs (68 kg)
Turned Pro: 2004
Plays: Right-handed
Eastbourne record: Won 0 Lost 0