CHANDA RUBIN Number eight seed

FACTFILE DOB: 18.02.1976 Nationality: American World ranking: 8 Roland Garros record 2002:: fourth round 2001:: n/a 2000:: quarter-finals 1999:: second round

In what many will regard as the twilight of her career, Rubin is registering her most impressive results.

The 27-year-old has overcome a serious of career-threatening injuries and reached the top ten for the first time this season.

She served notice of her intent last year when she was one of only four players to beat Serena Williams in the entire season.

And in 2003, the hard-hitting American has reached the quarter-finals in Indian Wells and the last four in Miami - where she beat Amelie Mauresmo and Justine Henin-Hardenne in successive matches.

Clay is not her favourite surface but in a further sign of her resurgent form, she won the Spanish Open in Madrid - her first title in almost a year - in the week prior to the French Open.