Highs and lows

Needing to use a protected ranking to get into the main draw in Paris, nobody will want to face a fired-up Serena in the opening rounds in a tournament and city which has given her many highs, as well as the occasional low.

In 2002, she beat sister Venus in the final to win her first Roland Garros title and second major after an agonizing wait to add to her collection that had stalled at just the one from the 1999 US Open.

She has since added the 2013 and 2015 titles in Paris, more than adequate compensation for the horror shows of 2012 when she was shocked in the first round by French trial horse Virginie Razzano and a second-round exit to Spain's Garbine Muguruza two years later.

Paris and its culture－and shopping－h(huán)ave also kept her enthralled.

Serena owns a lavish apartment inParis with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

Williams has also learned a smattering of conversational French in which to make winning speeches to her appreciative fans in the city.

"I've always had a wonderful relationship with Paris," she said. "I feel like I can just live a normal life here."

Serena's last appearance at the French Open ended in a final defeat at the hands of Muguruza in 2016.

Mouratoglou believes rivals would be foolish to think that Serena has little chance of making another championship match in a city she considers to be a second home.

"What I find the most encouraging is her enthusiasm, her motivation, and the quality of her work," he said.

"She obviously comes back to win and the wait has been long, so she will probably start Roland Garros with a mix of stress, because she will want to do well, and excitement because playing those events is the reason why she made such huge efforts to come back."

AFP