Venus Williams (U.S.)

Venus Williams (U.S.)

Age: 23 Lives: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Plays: Right-handed, double-handed backhand Grand Slam titles: Four (Wimbledon 2000, 2001; U.S. Open 2000, 2001) Seed: 4
Record at the French Open: 2003-fourth round, 2002-runner-up, 2001-first round, 2000-quarter-final, 1999-fourth round, 1998-quarter-final, 1997-second round
Doubts remain over her mental attitude and physical fitness -- she has an ankle problem -- but Venus has the potential to go all the way in Paris for the first time. Recent wins in Warsaw and Charleston have added momentum to her comeback following the abdominal injury that ended her season after last year's Wimbledon final. Her rangy, service-based game is not best suited to clay, however, and she will need all her old appetite to go one better than in 2002, when she lost to sister Serena in the final.