Roger Federer will begin his quest to complete his Grand Slam collection when the French Open begins on Monday.
The world number one will face unheralded Israeli qualifier Dudi Sela in the first round as he attempts to win the only major title to have slipped through his grasp in 2004.
He underlined his Roland Garros aspirations by winning the Hamburg Masters eight days ago and is now raring to prove that he can break his Paris jinx.
"I'm confident I can do it," the gifted Swiss, who has lost twice in the first round over the past three years, said after getting his bearings around the Philippe Chatrier court.
"You can't expect to win them all right away. You have to be a little patient."
Parisians will get their first glimpse of favourite Rafael Nadal when he makes his debut at the tournament on the number one court against Germany's Lars Burgsmueller.
The Spaniard, who will turn 19 next week, has been the outstanding claycourt player of the season after mopping up five trophies, including two Masters crowns.
Should the teenager and Federer live up to their seedings, a semi-final showdown awaits but before then Nadal is determined not to put undue pressure on himself.
"I am going to enjoy myself. If I get to the final all the better but if I don't it won't be a tragedy," said Nadal, who could also run into French hope Richard Gasquet in the third round.
Defending champion Gaston Gaudio has been handed a relatively easy draw until a possible last eight showdown against Nadal and he will face Frenchman Julien Benneteau on Monday.
MISERABLE SEASON
Twelve months ago, women's top seed Lindsay Davenport had been on the verge of quitting the sport.
But after enjoying a resurgence in her form following her fourth-round defeat here, she is back as the world number one and will open her campaign against Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik.
Like Federer, the 28-year-old American would also love to capture the title to complete her Grand Slam haul.
"I would love to win a fourth [Grand Slam] because to have one of each would obviously be phenomenal," she said recently.
Anastasia Myskina is hoping to put a miserable season behind her when she begins the defence of her title against Spain's Maria Sanchez-Lorenzo.
The Russian has been plagued by shoulder problems and her focus has also been blurred by an illness to her mother.
"My mom was sick... she has a problem with her health... really serious problem, so I have been dealing with this for the past couple of months," she said on Sunday.
"But I am a professional tennis player so I have to play no matter what. So I am here. It's my favourite tournament right now and I really want to do great here."
Like Myskina, twice former runner-up Kim Clijsters has been beset by injury woes and will be playing her first Grand Slam match for 16 months against American Meilen Tu.
