French Open: Top contenders

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French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year, starts on May 23 at Roland Garros. The only Grand Slam to be played on the claycourt will see world's best players fighting for the coveted title.

Last year Roger Federer finally got hold of the French Open title, after Rafael Nadal crashed out in the semi-finals. But can he do it again or will it be Nadal dominating again?

Former World No. 1 Justine Henin's comeback has added the much-needed zing to the women's category.

As the competition gets underway, we take a look at the top contenders for the crown.

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ROGER FEDERER (SWITZERLAND)

World ranking: 1
Birthdate: Aug 8, 1981
Birthplace: Basel, Switzerland
Residence: Bottmingen, Switzerland
Height: 6'1'' (185 cm)
Weight: 187 lbs (85 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 1998
Career singles titles: 62
Grand Slam singles titles: 16
Career prize money: 55,814,257 dollars
Best French Open result: Champion (2009)
Federer clinched the first French Open in 2009 with victory over Robin Soderling, the man who removed four-time winner Rafael Nadal in the fourth round. Despite marriage and fatherhood, Federer is determined to play beyond the 2012 Olympics. Claycourt form has been patchy in 2010, losing in Madrid final to Nadal. But Federer always finds extra gear at the Slams.

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RAFAEL NADAL (SPAIN)

World ranking: 2
Birthdate: June 3, 1986
Birthplace: Manacor, Mallorca, Spain
Residence: Manacor, Mallorca, Spain
Height: 6'1'' (185 cm)
Weight: 188 lbs (85 kg)
Plays: Left-handed
Turned Pro: 2001
Career singles titles: 39
Grand Slam singles titles: 6
Career prize money: 29,821,044 dollars
Best French Open result: Champion (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
- Dream of becoming the first man to win five successive French Opens shattered in 2009 by shock defeat to Soderling. Knee problems, which prevented him from defending his Wimbledon title, seem to be a thing of the past with Nadal sweeping 2010 claycourt titles in Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid taking his Masters record to new high of 18.

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NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SERBIA)

World ranking: 3
Birthdate: May 22, 1987
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: 17
Grand Slam singles titles: 1
Career prize money: 16,917,370 dollars
Best French Open result: Semi-finals (2007, 2008)
- Former Australian Open winner has endured a rollercoaster year, winning the Dubai title before his claycourt season went into freefall. Defeated by Fernando Verdasco in the semi-finals and then quarter-finals of Monte Carlo and Rome. His participation in his home Belgrade event ended in a last-eight retirement because of an allergic reaction.

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ANDY MURRAY (GREAT BRITAIN)

World ranking : 4
Birthdate : May 15, 1987
Birthplace : Dunblane, Scotland
Residence : Dunblane, Scotland
Height : 6'3'' (190 cm)
Weight : 185 lbs (84 kg)
Plays : Right-handed
Turned Pro : 2005
Career singles titles : 14
Grand Slam singles titles : 0
Career prize money : 11,145,942 dollars
Best French Open result : Quarter-finals (2009)
- Britain's only top class player and constantly under pressure to end his country's 74-year wait for a Grand Slam singles champion. A bright start to 2010, when he made the Australian Open final, has been followed by a succession of lows with last-eight spot in Madrid his best clay outing.

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ROBIN SODERLING (SWEDEN)

World ranking: 7
Birthdate: Aug 14, 1984
Birthplace: Tibro, Sweden
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
Weight: 192 lbs (87 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2001
Career singles titles: 5
Grand Slam singles titles: 0
Career prize money: 6,342,104 dollars
Best French Open result: Runner-up (2009)
- Stunned Nadal in 2009 with a fourth round victory which sent the four-time winner crashing to a first Roland Garros defeat and then cruised into the final with a booming forehand to die for. Once described by Nadal as one of the most unpopular players on the tour. Had never got beyond the third round until last year.

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FERNANDO VERDASCO (SPAIN)

World ranking : 9
Birthdate : Nov 15, 1983)
Birthplace : Madrid
Residence : Madrid
Height : 6'2" (188 cm)
Weight : 179 lbs (81 kg)
Plays : Left-handed
Turned Pro : 2001
Career singles titles : 5
Grand Slam singles titles : 0
Career prize money : 6,486,414 dollars
Best French Open result : 4th rd (2008, 2009)
- Spanish number two usually tracked by a bevy of screaming teenage girls. Enjoying good claycourt season with runners-up spot to Nadal in Monte Carlo, victory in Barcelona and semi-final run in Rome. However, his record at Roland Garros is mediocre with successive runs to the last 16 in 2008 and 2009 his best efforts.

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DAVID FERRER (SPAIN)

World ranking: 11
Birthdate: March 2, 1982
Birthplace: Javea, Spain
Residence: Valencia, Spain
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
Weight: 160 lbs (73 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2000
Career singles titles: 8
Grand Slam singles titles: 0
Career prize money: 8,008,600 dollars
Best French Open result: Quarter-finals (2005, 2008)
- Nicknamed 'The Bulldozer', Ferrer is made for claycourt tennis, but fragile temperament often lets him down. Once became so disenchanted with tennis that he packed it in to work on a building site. Dangerous French Open outsider with a runners-up place to Nadal and three semi-finals to show for his 2010 springtime campaign.

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ERNESTS GULBIS (LATVIA)

World ranking: 27
Birthdate: Aug 30, 1988
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
Residence: Jurmala, Latvia
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
Weight: 169 lbs (77 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2004
Career singles titles: 1
Grand Slam singles titles: 0
Career prize money: 1,715,091 dollars
Best French Open result: Quarter-finals (2008)
- Desperate to shrug off image of the rich kid with a private plane, but no heart for the game when the pressure's on. Generates power and accuracy off both wings and boasts a gentle touch at the net. Has claycourt pedigree with a last eight spot at the French Open in 2008. Knocked Federer out of Rome this year on way to semi-final defeat in three sets to Nadal. Made quarter-finals in Madrid where he was beaten by Federer having won the first set.

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SERENA WILLIAMS (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

World ranking: 1
Birthdate: Sept 26, 1981
Birthplace: Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Residence: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
Weight: 150 lbs (68 kg)
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Turned pro: 1995
Career singles titles: 36
Grand Slam singles titles: 12
Career prize money: 30,752,507 dollars
Best French Open result: Champion (2002)
- Back to where she feels she belongs as world number one, the younger of the Williams sisters was regal in winning the Australian Open in January - her 12th major title. Since then she has taken time off to rest her knees playing only two recent tournaments in Rome and Madrid. Short of form, but still the deadliest player on the women's circuit and full of motivation to win in Paris for only the second time after 2002

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VENUS WILLIAMS (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

World ranking: 2
Birthdate: June 17, 1980
Birthplace: Lynwood, California, USA
Residence: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
Weight: 160 lbs (72.5 kg)
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Turned pro: 1994
Career singles titles: 43
Grand Slam singles titles: 7
Career prize money: 26,761,235
Best French Open result: Runner-up (2002)
- With her 30th birthday fast approaching Venus has clawed her way back up to world number two behind sister Serena for the first time since May 2003. Wins in Dubai and Acapulco were followed by a run into the final in Miami where she lost to Clijsters. Clay is her least favourite surface, but she showed form by reaching the final in Madrid last week before losing to France's Aravane Rezai.

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ELENA DEMENTIEVA (RUSSIA)

World ranking: 5
Birthdate: Oct 15, 1981
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
Weight: 141 lbs (64 kg)
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Turned pro: 1998
Career singles titles: 16
Grand Slam singles titles: 0
Career prize money: 13,348,839
Best French Open result: Runner-up (2004)
- Despite being a top-ten player since 2003, the tall Russian has not appeared in a Grand Slam final since the 2004 French Open.Still she remains one of the most consistent performers on the women's circuit and reached three finals early in the year winning in Sydney,Recent form has been poor though going out early in Rome and Madrid.

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SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUSSIA)

World ranking: 6
Birthdate: June 27, 1985
Birthplace: St Petersburg, Russia
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 5'8" (174 cm)
Weight: 161 lbs (73 kg)
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Turned pro: 2000
Career singles titles: 12
Grand Slam singles titles: 2
Career prize money: 13,992,961
Best French Open result: Winner (2010)
- A skilled claycourt operator, Kuznetsova stole in to win in Paris last year - her second Grand Slam title defeating then world number one Dinara Safina in a one-sided final. So far this year though she has struggled and has won just four matches in her past five tournaments. Hoping that her return to Paris can kickstart her game and make her a contender once again.

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CAROLINE WOZNIACKI (DENMARK)

World ranking : 3
Birthdate : July 11, 1990
Birthplace : Odense, Denmark
Residence : Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height : 5'10" (1.77 m)
Weight : 128 lbs. (58 kg)
Plays : Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Turned Pro : (2005)
Career singles titles : 7
Grand Slam singles title : 0
Career prize money : 3,888,171 dollars
Best French Open result : Third round (2008, 2009)
- The Danish teen rose briefly to world number two this year before ceding the place to Venus Williams and she remains the pick of the young brigade. Reached the US Open final last year and put up a good fight against Kim Clijsters. Has little or no pedigree on clay though and won only twice at Stuttgart, Rome and Madrid

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SAMANTHA STOSUR (AUSTRALIA)

World ranking: 7
Birthdate: March 30, 1984
Birthplace: Brisbane, Australia
Residence: Gold Coast, Australia
Height: 5'8" (1.72 m)
Weight: 143 lbs. (65 kg)
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Turned pro: 1999
Career singles titles: 2
Grand Slam singles titles: 0
Career prize money: 4,998,332 dollars
Best French Open result: Semi-final (2009)
- Has made outstanding progress in the last year to break into the world top 10 for the first time including an unexpected run into the semi-finals in Paris last year. Super-fit and possessing an excellent serve and volley game thanks to her extensive doubles experience, Stosur has been in fine form recently reaching the final in Stuttgart.

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JUSTINE HENIN (BELGIUM)

World ranking : 23
Birthdate : June 1, 1982
Birthplace : Liege, Belgium
Residence : Ave-et-Auffe, Belgium
Height : 5'6'' (1.67 m)
Weight : 126 lbs. (57 kg)
Plays : Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Turned pro : 1999)
Career singles titles : 42
Grand Slam singles titles : 7
Career prize money : 20,633,473 dollars
Best French Open result: Winner (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007)
- At her best, Henin is formidable on clay with very few players in with a chance of beating her. But the question is can she reproduce that form after 19 months out of the game. Five months into her comeback, Henin has impressed reaching the final at the Australian Open and Miami and winning in Stuttgart, But she could be hampered by a broken finger on her left hand and a bout of sinusitis which laid her low last week.

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JELENA JANKOVIC (SERBIA)

World ranking : 4
Birthdate : February 28, 1985
Birthplace : Belgrade
Residence : Dubai
Height : 5'9" (1.77 m)
Weight : 130 lbs. (59 kg)
Plays : Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Turned Pro : 2000
Career singles titles : 12
Grand Slam singles titles : 0
Career prize money : 10,534,934 dollars
Best French Open result : Semi-finals (2007, 2008)
- Ranked world number one at the end of 2008, Jankovic is still without a Grand Slam title to her name and it rankles with her. Had a poor start to this year, but then she won in Indian Wells, Also reached the final im Rome and the last eight in Madrid. Two semi-final showings in Paris in 2007 and 2008 shows that she can adapt her game to clay.

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French Open: Top contenders

The Second Grand Slam of the year French Open 2010 will kickstart on Sunday May 23 at Roland Garros. The over 5,00,000 euro tournament will go on till June 6th and will feature the best players in the world.