The French Open first round continues on Monday at Roland Garros with defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek beginning their title defences, while world No 1 Jannik Sinner opens his quest for a fourth Grand Slam crown.
Swiatek, who lifted the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen in 2020, 2022, 2023 and last year, has been far from her best in the clay swing and slipped out of the world's top three for the first time since March 2022 after falling short in Madrid and Rome.
She faces Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova in her opening match.
TOP WOMEN'S MATCH: OSAKA v BADOSA
In the pick of the first-round matches in the women's singles draw, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka will take on former world No 2 Paula Badosa.
Osaka has never made it past the third round in Paris but can take heart from her performance at the WTA 125 tournament in Saint-Malo, France, where she picked up her first title on clay.
The pair were supposed to meet in Rome but Badosa, a semifinalist at this year's Australian Open, was forced to withdraw due to a back injury.
"I was really looking forward to it (meeting in Rome) because I know she's a good player," Osaka told reporters.
"It's kind of crazy that we have both been on tour but we haven't played each other yet. I know that she's supposed to be a good clay court player also."
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TOP MEN'S MATCH: ZEPPIERI v ALCARAZ
Defending champion Alcaraz is the strong favourite in the men's singles after lifting trophies in both Monte Carlo and Rome.
The Spanish world No 2 was initially scheduled to face Kei Nishikori, but will instead play against 310th-ranked Giulio Zeppieri after the Japanese former world No 4 withdrew.
Alcaraz has crossed paths with Zeppieri once before, beating the Italian in three sets at the Croatia Open in 2022, and should have little trouble progressing to the second round.
SINNER LOOKING TO BUILD FITNESS
Sinner is bidding to win a third Grand Slam tournament in a row when he begins his campaign against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, but his preparations have been hampered by a three-month doping ban.
The Italian agreed a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency in February and began an immediate suspension, only returning to action at this month's Italian Open, where he reached the final and was beaten by Alcaraz.
Sinner said he was unsure how he would hold up to the physical demands of a Grand Slam, telling reporters: "We are working hard, trying to reach the physical level I would like to, and how I would like to feel on court.
"Best-of-five is going to be a great test for me, trying to understand where I am. Let's see how my body will respond here."
FRENCH FAREWELLS
Two French favourites will begin their final campaigns at Roland Garros on Monday, with Richard Gasquet taking on compatriot Terence Atmane and Caroline Garcia facing American Bernarda Pera.
Former world No 7 Gasquet will retire after the French Open, while Garcia, who reached a career-high singles ranking of fourth in 2018, on Friday confirmed she would also be calling time on her career.