ROGER FEDERER (SUI)

World ranking: 1
Birthdate: Aug 8, 1981
Birthplace: Basel, Switzerland
Residence: Oberwil, Switzerland
Height: 6'1'' (185 cm)
Weight: 177 lbs (80 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 1998

Career singles titles: 54
Grand Slam singles titles: 12
Career prize money: $39 962 037
Best French Open result: Runner-up (2006, 2007)

Currently enduring one of his least successful seasons and will arrive in Paris having slumped to his eighth defeat on clay to Rafael Nadal at the Hamburg Masters. Roland Garros remains the only Grand Slam title to elude Federer. He seems to be pinning his hopes on Nadal physically breaking down.

RAFAEL NADAL (ESP)

World ranking: 2
Birthdate: June 3, 1986
Birthplace: Manacor, Mallorca
Residence: Manacor, Mallorca
Height: 6'1'' (185 cm)
Weight: 188 lbs (85 kg)
Plays: Left-handed
Turned Pro: 2001

Career singles titles: 26
Grand Slam singles titles: 3
Career prize money: $16 276 415
Best French Open result: Champion (2005, 2006, 2007)

Nadal boasts a perfect record at Roland Garros of three titles and 21 wins in 21 matches as well as the intimidating statistic of 108 victories in his last 110 matches on clay. If he remains injury-free, he should cruise to join Bjorn Borg as a four-in-a-row winner.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)

World ranking: 3
Birthdate: 22-May-87
Birthplace: Belgrade, Serbia
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 6'2'' (187 cm)
Weight: 176 lbs (80 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2003

Career singles titles: 10
Grand Slam singles titles: 1
Career prize money: $7 537 644
Best French Open result: Semifinalist (2007)

The world's leading player in 2008 with a first Grand Slam title — the Australian Open — under his belt and two of the season's Masters in Indian Wells and on clay in Rome. Just lost out in a three-hour, three-set marathon semifinal to Nadal in Hamburg to further hammer home his credentials.

NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO (RUS)

World ranking: 4
Birthdate: June 2, 1981
Birthplace: Severodonezk, Ukraine
Residence: Volgograd, Russia
Height: 5'10'' (177 cm)
Weight: 154 lbs (70 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 1999

Career singles titles: 12
Grand Slam singles titles: 0
Career prize money: $8 366 742
Best French Open result: Semifinalist (2005, 2007)

Tennis's nearly-man, playing and living in the shadow of the world's top three and unlikely to break into that rarified atmosphere. A tricky, dogged opponent who made the last four on clay in Monte Carlo this year, but has struggled since.

DAVID FERRER (ESP)

World ranking: 5
Birthdate: April 2, 1982
Birthplace: Javea, Spain
Residence: Valencia, Spain
Height: 5'9'' (175 cm)
Weight: 160 lbs (72 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2000

Career singles titles: 6
Grand Slam singles titles: 0
Career prize money: $5 321 803
Best French Open result: Quarterfinalist (2005)

One of Spain's countless claycourt specialists, Ferrer will happily bash away from the baseline waiting for a mistake. Has never done justice to himself at Roland Garros with a quarterfinal in 2005 his best showing, but capable of pouncing should the top three crash.

DAVID NALBANDIAN (ARG)

World ranking: 7
Birthdate: Jan 1, 1982
Birthplace: Cordoba, Argentina
Residence: Cordoba, Argentina
Height: 5'11'' (180 cm)
Weight: 175 lbs (79 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2000

Career singles titles: 8
Grand Slam singles titles: 0
Career prize money: $8 809 561
Best French Open result: Semifinalist (2004, 2006)

Blessed with a combination of ripping groundstrokes and a lightness of touch which belies his boxer's build, Nalbandian has yet to realise the potential he showed as a shock finalist at Wimbledon in 2002. But he holds a 2-0 career advantage over Nadal and is 8-9 against Federer.

AFP