Can the four-time champion defend her French Open title as Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini loom?

Jack Draper is yet to win a main-draw match at the French Open but arrives as the fifth seed - which is quite the unusual position to be in. But the Briton has shown improved form on the clay after reaching the Madrid Open final and the Italian Open quarter-finals, so will take confidence into his opening match against Italy’s Mattia Bellucci.

Iga Swiatek dropped to a ranking of fifth this week, ending a 173-week stay inside the top two which now likely means she faces a tougher path to a fifth French Open crown in six attempts.

Carlos Alcaraz begins his French Open title defense against Kei Nishikori, while Iga Swiatek faces a challenging path to a fourth consecutive title. J

The storyline is slowly coming towards Roland Garros. All three Masters 1000 events are completed. It will be only the second event after 2004 that will not feature Rafael Nadal.

The world No 6 has proven her prowess on clay, reaching the Roland Garros semifinals last year, and the quarters in both Madrid and Rome this season. Andreeva's 21-year-old fellow Russian Diana Shnaider is on the cusp of the world's top 10, and is another who could upset the bigger names.

French Open looms, all eyes may be on reigning champions and top seeds - but lurking just beneath the surface are several players quietly building momentum, ready to crash the party in Paris. From seasoned champions finding renewed form to rising stars with something to prove,