Although the pressure cooker atmosphere of Roland Garros looms next week, France's Amelie Mauresmo is already looking towards Wimbledon as she seeks a first Grand Slam crown.
Despite having reached the world number one spot last year, the 25-year-old has yet to win one of tennis's four major tournaments in more than a decade on the tour.
| |||||||||||
A runner-up in the Australian Open in 1999, she has reserved her best results in recent years for Wimbledon, reaching the semi-finals twice in the past three years.
Her powerful, attacking game is well suited to the slick lawns of the All England Club and the world number three has opted to follow a tried and tested preparation schedule, signing up to fine tune her grasscourt game at Eastbourne.
"I had a great week last year," the Frenchwoman said. "It was a great way to prepare for Wimbledon...the courts were in many ways better than Wimbledon's and very nice to play on."
A semi-finalist at Devonshire Park last year, Mauresmo said: "I am looking forward to trying to win the trophy this year.
"It is always a strong tournament, with excellent players and it will be tough to win, but I am playing well and will give it a good go."
Mauresmo joins defending champion and US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova plus three-times Grand Slam champion Justine Henin-Hardenne on England's south coast.
Another former world number one Henin-Hardenne will be making her debut at Eastbourne.