SERENA WILLIAMS Number one seed

FACTFILE DOB: 26.09.1981 Nationality: American World ranking: 1 Roland Garros record 2002:: Winner 2001:: quarter-final 2000:: n/a 1999:: third round

The possibility of surviving the season unbeaten may have passed her by, but there is no doubt that Serena Williams is the sport's best player by some considerable distance.

Having won the Australian Open in January, the 21-year-old can add the second part of a possible calendar Grand Slam if she defends her title at Roland Garros.

Williams' clay-court season began in typical fashion as she powered her way to the final of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston.

Justine Henin-Hardenne gave herself, and her fellow players, hope when she inflicted a first defeat of the year on the world number one in the final and since then Serena has also been beaten by Amelie Mauresmo at the Italian Masters.

Williams' awesome power is certainly less effective on the slow clay than on hard and grass courts.

But over the past year, in which she has won four straight Grand Slams, Williams has proved that come the big occasion, there is no other player that can rival her mental and physical prowess.