Her tears after losing in the 1999 final to Mary Pierce remains one of the most famous images in the tournament's history.

Hingis comes into the tournament on the back of a semi-final defeat to in-form Amelie Mauresmo of France in last week's Italian Open.

Mauresmo has been named fifth seed, and looks a good outside bet for the title in front of her home fans.

The powerful right-hander has yet to win a Grand Slam event. Her best performance to date was getting to the Australian Open final in 1999, where she lost to Hingis.

Mauresmo is possibly in the best form of the top seeds. She reached the final of last week's Masters Series Italian Open in Rome (where she lost to Jelena Dokic), but prior to that she beat Jennifer Capriati to claim the Berlin Open.

Venus Williams, in contrast, arrives in Paris with a question mark over her form.

She lost to Belgian teenager Justine Henin in the second round in Berlin, ending a run of victories stretching back to February 17. Nevertheless, she has been named second seed and will still be a major threat.

Lindsay Davenport is seeded three, ahead of Capriati, who will be looking to claim her second Grand Slam title of the year after her extraordinary triumph at the Australian Open.

The women's event has seen the withdrawal of Anna Kournikova and Mary Pierce. Kournikova's injury means up-and-coming Russian Elena Dementieva moves up to eighth seed.

Full women's singles seedings for the French Open at Roland Garros:

1. Martina Hingis, Switzerland

2. Venus Williams, United States

3. Lindsay Davenport, United States

4. Jennifer Capriati, United States

5. Amelie Mauresmo, France

6. Monica Seles, United States

7. Serena Williams, United States

8. Elena Dementieva, Russia

9. Conchita Martinez, Spain

10. Nathalie Tauziat, France

11. Amanda Coetzer, South Africa

12. Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Spain

13. Kim Clijsters, Belgium

14. Magdalena Maleeva, Bulgaria

15. Justine Henin, Belgium

16. Jelena Dokic, Yugoslavia