DOB: 17.06.1980 Nationality: American World Ranking: 2 Previous French Open results: 2001 :: first round 2000 :: quarter-final 1999 :: fourth round 1998 :: quarter-final

Venus and sister Serena have been instrumental in changing the shape of women's tennis, making it a more powerful and physically demanding game.

The world number two is strong, mixes penetrating groundstrokes with attacking net play and can serve faster than some men on the ATP tour.

But the 21-year-old is yet to bring her "A-game" to Paris.

In a sport in which the leading players are expected to reach at least the quarter-final stages with regular predictability, Williams has broken the trend at Roland Garros.

She has reached the last eight just twice and crashed out in the first round last year.