Primary among them are the legion of Spanish clay-court specialists, two of whom fought out last year’s final.

Alex Corretja, Albert Costa, Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero have already whitewashed both Belgium and Croatia 5-0 in the Davis Cup to book a semi-final place against Argentina.

Costa is the defending French Open champion but it is last year’s beaten finalist Ferrero who is seen as the biggest hope of the ‘Spanish Armada’.

The 23-year-old reached the semi-finals in 2000 and 2001 and current form is highly encouraging.

He beat Guillermo Coria to claim the Monte Carlo Masters Series in early April and followed that up with victory in Valencia and semi-final losses to Roger Federer – another genuine contender – and Marat Safin.

Costa has struggled to reproduce the form which brought him victory 12 months ago, but former champion Moya has also wins on clay in Buenos Aires and Barcelona to his credit.

Felix Mantilla also won the Italian Masters title in Rome while youngster Rafael Nadal will be another player to avoid in the draw.

The American challenge will be again headed by Andre Agassi who is in arguably the best form of his career at the age of 33.

His impressive record at Roland Garros has taken him to two finals as well as to the title in 1999, securing his place in history as the first man since the great Rod Laver to claim all four Grand Slam titles.

In the women’s event, the home crowd are throwing their weight firmly behind local favourite Amelie Mauresmo as she bids to win a maiden Grand Slam title.

A waxwork of Mauresmo was unveiled in her honour in a top city museum this week and the official tournament programme bears her picture across its front page.

Mauresmo has become increasingly confident with her sexuality and personality, exemplified by a revealing Paris Match cover feature this week, and that has undoubtedly helped her game.

“I’ve changed a lot,” she said in Paris Match. “I’m more sure of myself. I feel better.

“I’ve been fortunate to meet people, including (girlfriend) Pascale, who make me feel good in myself and beautiful.

“It is significant also for my professional life. For myself, a person who is not always very stable, this brings a balance for me.”

Mauresmo has recovered from a serious right knee injury and since returning to the tour in February, has proved herself a serious threat to the domination of the Williams sisters.

She has beaten both Venus and defending champion Serena this year, the only player on tour to have done so, victory over Serena coming only last week in Italy.

That was in the semi-final and the player she lost to in the final, Belgium’s Kim Clijsters, will be among the others expected to contest the latter stages.

Clijsters and compatriot Justin Henin-Hardenne, along with Jennifer Capriati, are the only players to have seriously threatened the hegemony of the Williams sisters recently, and the odds are firmly in favour of the same names being in the frame again.