How the leading women's contenders and Aussie hopes stack up ahead of the French Open starting on Sunday 27 May in Paris and broadcast on SBS.
SIMONA HALEP (ROM)
Age: 26
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US23,494,071 ($A31.23 million)
Career titles: 16
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss record: 17-8
Best French Open results: finalist 2014, 2017
The two-time runner-up and 2018 Australian Open finalist has arrived as the top seed but remains under pressure to validate her standing in the game with a breakthrough grand slam crown.
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI (DEN)
Caroline Wozniacki. Source: AAP
Age: 27
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US30,343,465 ($A40.34 million)
Career titles: 28
Grand slam titles: 1 (Australian Open 2018)
French Open win-loss record: 18-10
Best French Open results: quarter-finalist 2010, 2017
The Dane shed her tag as best player without a grand slam title with victory over Halep in the Melbourne Park decider in January and is seeded to at least reach the semi-finals for the first time.
GARBINE MUGURUZA (ESP)
Garbine Muguruza. Source: AAP
Age: 24
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US16,377,998 ($A21.77 million)
Career titles: 6
Grand slam titles: 2 (French Open 2016; Wimbledon 2017)
French Open win-loss record: 19-4
Best French Open result: champion 2016
The enigmatic Spaniard has yet to find her feet on clay in 2018 but with such an impressive CV the former world No.1 commands respect, if not title favouritism.
ELINA SVITOLINA (UKR)
Elina Svitolina. Source: AAP
Age: 23
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US12,493,887 ($A16.61 million)
Career titles: 12
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss record: 13-5
Best French Open results: quarter-finalist 2015, 2017
A French Open junior champion at just 15, the Ukraine confirmed her clay-court bona fides and completed the perfect build-up with a dominant win over Halep in the Italian Open final.
JELENA OSTAPENKO (LAT)
Jelena Ostapenko. Source: AAP
Age: 20
Ranking: 5
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US6,068,806 ($A8.07 million)
Career titles: 2
Grand slam titles: 1 (French Open 2017)
French Open win-loss record: 7-1
Best French Open result: champion 2017
The Latvian set endless records with her incredible 2017 triumph, including becoming the first player in 20 years - man or woman - to boast a slam as their maiden tour win. Now coached by Aussie David Taylor.
PETRA KVITOVA (CZE)
Petra Kvitova. Source: AAP
Age: 28
Ranking: 8
Plays: left-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US22,422,461 ($A29.81 million)
Career titles: 24
Grand slam titles: 2 (Wimbledon 2011, 2014)
French Open win-loss record: 21-9
Best French Open result: semi-finalist 2012 With titles in her past two events and 13 wins from 14 matches on European clay this season, the big-serving Czech with proven grand slam credentials looms as a serious title threat.
BEST OUTSIDERS
ELISE MERTENS (BEL)
Elise Mertens. Source: AAP
Age: 22
Ranking: 16
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US1,835,068 ($A2.44 million)
Career titles: 4
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss record: 2-1
Best French Open result: third round 2017
The surprise Australian Open semi-finalist has proven herself the real deal with a 13-match winning streak on European clay, the run only ended by world No.1 Halep.
SERENA WILLIAMS (USA)
Serena Williams. Source: AAP
Age: 36
Ranking: 453
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US84,525,911 ($A112.36 million)
Career titles: 72
Grand slam titles: 23 (Australian Open 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009,
2010, 2015, 2017; French Open 2002, 2013, 2015; Wimbledon 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016; US Open 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014)
French Open win-loss record: 60-12
Best French Open results: champion 2002, 2013, 2015
Never again will a 23-times major winner be dubbed an outsider, but even this living legend is this time as the world No.453 makes her grand slam comeback after becoming a mother last September.
BEST AUSTRALIAN HOPES
ASHLEIGH BARTY
Ashleigh Barty. Source: AAP
Age: 22
Ranking: 17
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US3,111,856 ($A4.14 million)
Career titles: 1
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss record: 1-4
Best French Open result: second round 2013
A breakout grand slam run seems the next step for this prodigious talent who rose more 200 spots up the rankings in 2017 and enters the Open at a career-high world No.17.
DARIA GAVRILOVA
Daria Gavrilova. Source: AAP
Age: 24
Ranking: 24
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US2,984,745 ($A3.97 million)
Career titles: 1
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss record: 1-3
Best French Open result: second round 2015
The one-time world No.1 junior has yet to deliver on her preferred clay-court surface in Paris but is seeded to reach the third round for the first time and a run to the second week wouldn't surprise.
SAMANTHA STOSUR
Samantha Stosur. Source: AAP
Age: 34
Ranking: 60
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US17,295,769 ($A22.99 million)
Career titles: 9
Grand slam titles: 1 (US Open 2011)
French Open win-loss record: 37-14
Best French Open result: finalist 2010
Won't be seeded for the first time in eight years after an injury-hit 2017 season but the four-time semi-finalist and former runner-up can't be written off at her favourite major.
