The second major of the tennis season gets underway on Sunday, May 26 as the world's best focus on the French Open at Roland-Garros, one of the most iconic tournaments on the international sporting calendar.

The women's event looks like a straight shootout between the world's number one and two.

Iga Swiatek tops the world rankings and is the defending champion. She is just 22 but bidding for what would be her fourth French Open title, and arrives here in rare form.

After a third Italian Open title in four years, having not dropped a set in the 2024 edition, Swiatek heads to the French Open as the ultimate test for anyone in the women's game on clay. 

The Pole has a big serve and plays with loads of top-sin. Also, as her game style is focused primarily on offence, she typically generates high amounts of both winners and unforced errors.

This brand of 'lights out' tennis is fascinating to watch but she has been so consistent in the last few months and clearly loves it in Paris. The bookies feel she is the player to beat and Swiatek is as short as 4/6 with some firms to retain her title.

Aryna Sabalenka is her main rival and the player expected to push Swiatek the hardest in Paris. The Belarusian is a double Australian Open champion who has a huge power game.

She lost decisively to Swiatek in their recent Rome final but it is worth remembering she had three match points against the same opponent in the Madrid Open final the other week so knows she can be competitive.

Swiatek is now on a 12-match winning streak after claiming her 10th WTA 1000 title and 21st career singles title overall. However, Sabalenka is so talented and might be worth siding with at 11/2 to gain revenge for that recent Rome rout.

Sabalenka has excellent rotation, and uses this to generate awesome power from the forehand side. She times the ball brilliantly, and is able to hit deeper and deeper without really compromising on her power.

She has worked hard to be more consistent, and does not throw in as many double faults as she once did. In short, 11/2 looks fair in what is essentially a two-horse race on the clay.