h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Jennifer Capriati's can't be left out of any discussion on who will win Wimbledon. In an ironic twist, grass may just happen to be good for her game.

Her victory at Roland Garros was the major story of the French Open as it was at the Australian Open. As in Melbourne, she had the hardest possible draw. At the Australian Open she had to beat Monica Seles, Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis. In Paris, her last three opponents were Serena Williams, Hingis and the talented Belgian teenager Kim Clijsters.

Clay courts don't really suit Capriati, as she struggles to move comfortably on them and her powerful groundstrokes are blunted. But the 25-year-old American played well to overpower Hingis in the semis and then showed her fighting powers to win 12-10 in the third set against Clijsters, who came within two points of victory on three occasions. I've been trying to figure out why everyone is so keen to see Capriati win. Sure, it's a continuation of the fairytale: the brilliant 13-year-old who went off the rails and looked to have thrown away a glittering career. There were drugs and alcohol problems during her teens and it has been a long road back. Now she's started to record the sort of results that her talent always suggested she would. But there's more to her popularity.

Capriati is extremely human on court. She tries her hardest and clearly enjoys herself. She is complimentary of her opponents good shots and displays the sort of sportsmanship parents would like to see from their children. Not for her the surly, arrogant queen bee behaviour of the Williams sisters, Hingis or Mary Pearce. Capriati plays as if every day on the court is a bonus. With her background, perhaps it is. She loves the game and it shows. Some of her peers could take a leaf from her book.

How about an entry on tennis' wild child, Loony?

Go on... you know you want to...