Top 10 seeds

1. Serena Williams (United States)
2. Kim Clijsters (Belgium)
3. Venus Williams (United States)
4. Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium)
5. Amelie Mauresmo (France)
6. Lindsay Davenport (United States)
7. Jennifer Capriati (United States)
8. Chanda Rubin (United States)
9. Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia)
10. Jelena Dokic (Yugoslavia).

Five favorites

Serena Williams. Does a 26-2 record constitute a slump? It does when you're the nearly invincible No. 1 player in the world. Williams lost to Amelie Mauresmo in the semifinals at Rome and to Justine Henin-Hardenne in the Charleston, S.C., final, showing there are signs of mortality for the Queen of Tennis. But Williams will turn it up a notch the next two weeks. She has won four consecutive Grand Slam events.

Kim Clijsters. The Belgian replaced Venus Williams at No. 2 and has won three titles this year (Sydney, Indian Wells and Rome). She is coming off a hard-fought win over Mauresmo in the Italian Open final and has the game to beat Serena Williams. The question is, can she do it when it counts?

Justine Henin-Hardenne. The former French Open semifinalist is perhaps the world's best female clay-court player, and her one-handed backhand is lethal, but she lost in the first round at Roland Garros last year. The only woman to win two clay events this season.

Amelie Mauresmo. There is no question Mauresmo has the goods to win the French, but can the Frenchwoman's powerful shoulders handle the pressure of being the hometown favorite? In eight appearances, Mauresmo has lost in the first or second round six times.

Jennifer Capriati. She won the French in 2001 and has shown signs lately that she could win again, but it won't be easy. Capriati has struggled against the Williams sisters. The good news is that Mauresmo, Capriati's nemesis, is on the other side of the draw.

Sentimental favorite

Venus Williams. Big Sister has taken a back seat, losing to Serena each time they have played of late and dropping three of four finals she reached this season. A win at Paris would tilt the scales.

Keep an eye on

Chanda Rubin. Never count out this gritty American, who breezed to the Madrid final last week.

The pick

Serena beats Clijsters in final.