AMANDA COETZER Number 17 seed

FACTFILE DOB: 22.10.1971 Nationality: South African World ranking: 17 Roland Garros record 2002:: first round 2001:: third round 2000:: third round 1999:: first round

Now 31, Coetzer often finds herself up against opponents 10 years younger than her, but she is still testing the best players in the world.

Between 1992 and 2001, the diminuitive South African did not once finish the year outside the top 20.

That run ended last year when she finished 21st, following a disappointing year in Grand Slam tournaments, which included a second-round defeat at Wimbledon to wild card Elena Baltacha.

This season she has already picked up her ninth career title at the clay event in Acapulco and reached the fourth round of the Australian Open.

Coetzer's game relies on her speed around the court and her counter-punching style makes her a dangerous prospect at the French Open, where she reached the semi-finals in 1997.