PARIS — Women to watch at the French Open, which begins Sunday (rankings in parentheses; statistics through Thursday):

DINARA SAFINA (1)

Age: 23

Country: Russia

2009 Match Record: 28-6

2009 Singles Titles: 2

Career Singles Titles: 11

Major Titles: 0 — Best Finish: F, at Australian Open in '09, French Open in '08

Last 5 French Opens: '08-Lost in Final, '07-4th Round, '06-QF, '05-1st, '04-2nd

Topspin: Runner-up at two of the past four Grand Slam tournaments but still seeking first major championship. ... Jump atop WTA rankings last month made her and Marat Safin the first brother-sister duo to reach No. 1. ... Won consecutive titles at clay-court tournaments in Rome and Madrid. ... 14-1 on clay in 2009. ... Leads five Russians ranked in top 11.

SERENA WILLIAMS (2)

Age: 27

Country: United States

2009 Match Record: 21-6

2009 Singles Titles: 1

Career Singles Titles: 33

Major Titles: 10 — French Open ('02), Wimbledon ('02, '03), U.S. Open ('99, '02, '08), Australian Open ('03, '05, '07, '09)

Last 5 French Opens: '08-3rd, '07-QF, '06-Did Not Play, '05-DNP, '04-QF

Topspin: One of two past champions in field. ... Quit after losing the first set of her first match at last week's Madrid Open, citing a lingering right knee injury. Goes into the books as a fourth straight loss. ... Won past two Grand Slam tournaments, the first time she won consecutive majors since her 2002-03 Serena Slam of four in a row. ... Leads tour with 141 aces.

VENUS WILLIAMS (3)

Age: 28

Country: United States

2009 Match Record: 19-5

2009 Singles Titles: 2

Career Singles Titles: 41

Major Titles: 7 — Wimbledon ('00, '01, '05, '07, '08), U.S. Open ('00, '01)

Last 5 French Opens: '08-3rd, '07-3rd,'06-QF,'05-3rd, '04-QF

Topspin: Had a 14-match winning streak early in the season, but heads to Paris having lost two in a row. ... In 12 previous French Open appearances, made it past the quarterfinals only one time — when she lost to younger sister Serena in the 2002 final. ... Second to her sister in WTA ace standings with 127.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA (4)

Age: 27

Country: Russia

2009 Match Record: 31-8

2009 Singles Titles: 2

Career Singles Titles: 13

Major Titles: 0 — Best: F, at French Open in '04, U.S. Open in '04

Last 5 French Opens: '08-QF, '07-3rd, '06-3rd, '05-4th, '04-F

Topspin: Semifinalist at each of the past three Grand Slam tournaments. ... Match win total is second-highest on tour.

JELENA JANKOVIC (5)

Age: 24

Country: Serbia

2009 Match Record: 23-8

2009 Singles Titles: 1

Career Singles Titles: 10

Major Titles: 0 — Best: F, at U.S. Open in '08

Last 5 French Opens: '08-SF, '07-SF, '06-3rd, '05-1st, '04-1st

Topspin: Played only one match in 2009 against a Top 10 opponent — and lost (to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals at Rome). ... 14-3 on clay this season. ... Finally reached her first career major final in her 21st attempt at U.S. Open in September, losing to Serena Williams.

ANA IVANOVIC (8)

Age: 21

Country: Serbia

2009 Match Record: 15-6

2009 Singles Titles: 0

Career Singles Titles: 8

Major Titles: 1 — French Open ('08)

Last 5 French Opens: '08-Won Championship,'07-F, '06-3rd, '05-QF, '04-DNP

Topspin: A French Open finalist each of the past two years. ... After losing her first two career major title matches, broke through for first Grand Slam championship at Roland Garros last year, when she also earned her first stay at the No. 1 ranking. ... Pulled out of clay-court event in Madrid last week, citing a bothersome right knee. ... In rankings, just ahead of trio expected to contend for major titles soon: No. 9 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, No. 12 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.

MARIA SHARAPOVA (126)

Age: 22

Country: Russia

2009 Match Record: 2-1

2009 Singles Titles: 0

Career Singles Titles: 19

Major Titles: 3 — Wimbledon ('04), U.S. Open ('06), Australian Open ('08)

Last 5 French Opens: '08-4th,'07-SF, '06-4th, '05-QF, '04-QF

Topspin: Made season debut in singles this week at Warsaw Open on clay. ... Hadn't played a singles match on tour since July; missed nearly 10 minutes with right shoulder injury and had surgery last year. ... Was sidelined for past two major championships: U.S. Open and Australian Open. ... French Open is the only Grand Slam tournament she hasn't won.