Just 17: Hingis is set to win all four Grand Slams

Defending champion is Iva Majoli, the Croatian who caused a major upset when she beat Martina Hingis in last year's final but has failed to win a tournament since.

Lack of form this season makes it unlikely she can retain her title, and Hingis will be favourite to take the one Grand Slam she has yet to win.

At 17, the Slovakia-born Swiss player is already the youngest-ever world number one and the youngest singles Grand Slam winner this century.

If Hingis slips up, world number two, USA's Lindsay Davenport, is behind her but she has never reached the semi-finals here.

Teenage sensation: Kournikova

Czech Jana Novotna is relatively ancient at 29, and is desperate to win at least one Grand Slam title before her time is up.

And French favourite Mary Pierce would love to succeed before her home crowd after coming so close by reaching the final in 1994.

Then there are the experienced Spanish pair of Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Conchita Martinez, who are both a threat on the clay surface.

But the younger players are certain to capture many of the headlines.

Anna Kournikova, a striking Russian blonde has become a darling of the French press at the age of 16.

Mary Pierce will receive home crowd's support

Some see her as Hingis' long-term rival and she starts as number 13 seed.

But Hingis also been beaten twice this year by one half of an American double act who are already attracting a massive amount of attention here, although they know where there priorities lie.

An older sister tried to convince Venus and Serena Williams to visit the Louvre, but Venus said "we have no desires at this time - other than on the court".

At 17, she is seeded eight in theory, and could meet her 16-year-old sister in the final.

Venus Williams: white, blue and turquoise beads, with grey-blue contact lenses

But French media attention has centred on off-court activities and the pair's choice of colour schemes.

Venus will wear white, blue and turquoise beads in her hair during the tournament, while Serena chooses chosen white, green and lime for her beads.

They will also wear non-prescription contact lenses to change the colour of their eyes. Venus sports a grey-blue pair, while Serena sticks with her favorite colour of lilac.