HOW THE LEADING WOMEN'S CONTENDERS AND TOP AUSSIE HOPE SHAPE UP FOR THE FRENCH OPEN STARTING ON SUNDAY:

IGA SWIATEK (POL)

Age: 21

Ranking: 1

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US16,854,913

Career titles: 13

Grand slam titles: 3 (French Open 2020, 2022; US Open 2022)

French Open win-loss record: 21-2

Best French Open results: champion 2020, 2022

The Pole doesn't consider the thigh injury that forced her retirement from the Italian Open quarter-finals "anything serious" and, with another supreme clay-court campaign under her belt, the two-time champion remains the player to beat.

ARYNA SABALENKA (BLR)

Age: 25

Ranking: 2

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US16,475,373

Career titles: 13

Grand slam titles: 1 (Australian Open 2023)

French Open win-loss record: 7-5

Best French Open results: third round 2020, 2021, 2022 

The Belarusian looks a different player since breaking her grand slam title duck in Melbourne and a victory over Swiatek in the Madrid Open final will have only further fuelled her belief that a second career major could be in the offing in Paris.

JESSICA PEGULA (USA)

Age: 29

Ranking: 3

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US8,974,756

Career titles: 2

Grand slam titles: 0

French Open win-loss record: 6-4

Best French Open result: quarter-finalist 2022

Clay has never been considered the American's strongest surface but a run to the last eight 12 months ago at Roland Garros and a semi-final showing in Charleston before heading to Europe suggests the world No.3 can seriously contend.

ELENA RYBAKINA (KAZ)

Age: 23

Ranking: 4

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US10,113,312

Career titles: 5

Grand slam titles: 1 (Wimbledon 2022)

French Open win-loss record: 7-4

Best French Open result: quarter-finalist 2021

The reigning Wimbledon champion and Australian Open runner-up proved with title success in Rome and a quarter-final charge two years ago she's a true all-court performer and shouldn't be dismissed as a genuine chance of adding to her grand slam trophy collection.

COCO GAUFF (USA)

Age: 19

Ranking: 6

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US6,787,731

Career titles: 3

Grand slam titles: 0

French Open win-loss record: 11-3

Best French Open result: runner-up 2022

Incredibly still a teenager, the American prodigy has yet to find her feet on clay this season but her grand slam pedigree and credentials can't be questioned, as shown during her run to last year's final in Paris.

ONS JABEUR (TUN)

Age: 28

Ranking: 7

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US9,605,308

Career titles: 4

Grand slam titles: 0

French Open win-loss record: 8-5

Best French Open results: fourth round 2020, 2021

A calf injury has been troubling the Tunisian trailblazer but, if fully fit, is capable of challenging for grand slam glory. Significantly seeded in the top eight and guaranteed not to strike a higher-ranked rival until the quarter-finals at least. 

BEST OUTSIDER 

JELENA OSTAPENKO (LAT)

Age: 25

Ranking: 17

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US12,734,733

Career titles: 5

Grand slam titles: 1 (French Open 2017)

French Open win-loss record: 10-6

Best French Open result: champion 2017

The Latvian possesses a relatively poor record in Paris outside her triumph six years ago but has shown a resurgence in recent times and could surprise with a touch of luck.

BEST AUSSIE HOPE

KIM BIRRELL

Age: 25 

Ranking: 111

Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)

Career prize money: $US718,158

Career titles: 0

Grand slam titles: 0

French Open win-loss record: on debut

The 25-year-old wildcard is making her international grand slam debut after a career so far dogged by injury. Hails from the same Gold Coast club as former Roland Garros runner-up Samantha Stosur and has undoubted talent.