Serena Williams only has one French Open title but the world No1 is dominating with such ease that another Roland Garros triumph seems inevitable.
At 31, she is eclipsing everyone else, including elder sister Venus, who is battling long-term illness.
Having won her last four tournaments at Miami, Charleston, Madrid and Rome — the last three on clay — she is the best player on tour right now. In her 22 matches, the American has lost just four sets which is the best unbeaten streak of her career.
However, Paris has not been a happy hunting ground, with the clay exposing various injury problems and only in 2002, when she defeated Venus in the final, has she lifted the trophy in 11 attempts.
Laura Robson, Heather Watson and Elena Baltacha are in the main draw to give Britain their only interest in the tournament.
Last year’s first-round defeat to France’s Virginie Razzano was a low point and besides her 2002 title, Williams has only managed to get past the quarter-final stage once, which should boost the confidence of defending champion Maria Sharapova.
But Williams’s form is even more amazing considering that she missed 11 months in 2010 and 2011 with a right-foot injury followed by a life-threatening blood clot on her lung — and she is determined not to let the predicted bad weather darken her mood on Paris.
“I was feeling excellent last year and I didn’t do great,” Williams said. “This year I feel good, too, but I’m definitely more cautious. I feel I just want to win every point and do every shot the best I can.
“I don’t feel any pressure now. Maybe in the past I have. I’ve won every Grand Slam there is so I don’t feel any pressure anymore.”
