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In Pictures: French Open favourites

Al Jazeera look at five women and five men who are set to launch a serious challenge for the French Open.

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Spanish David Ferrer returns a ball to c
Al Jazeera odds (Love) - Outside of the men(***)s top four, Spaniard David Ferrer is always lurking in the background. Ranked 6th in the world he is strong on clay and already has three titles this year
Published On 24 May 2012
Britain''s player Andy Murray plays with
AJ odds (15/0) - Suffering with back problems and currently in a poor run of form, Andy Murray is not expected to threaten on his weakest surface. However, he did make the semis at Roland Garros last year and without a grand slam win to his name still has a point to prove
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The Internazionali BNL d''Italia 2012 - Day Seven
AJ odds (30/0) - Many ruled the best of his career was already behind him but Roger Federer is not one to give up easily. The greatest of his generation, this year Federer has claimed titles in Dubai, Indian Wells and Madrid and only the foolish would rule out the Swiss great
This multiple exposure image shows Serbi
AJ odds (40/0) - A recent defeat in the Rome Masters final means world number one Novak Djokovic is unlikely to be favourite at Roland Garros. However, with his ability to grab victory from the jaws of defeat, many will be backing the Serb to get back to his super-human winning ways
Spanish Rafael Nadal (L) and Serbian Nov
AJ odds (Game) - As French Open reigning champ and with a Rome Masters victory under his belt, Rafael Nadal is once again the player to beat on clay. He loves the surface, he loves the competition (with six titles) and even more than that loves competing against nemesis Novak Djokovic
The Internazionali BNL d''Italia 2012 - Day Six
AJ odds (Love) - The former world number one Ana Ivanovic won the Roland Garros crown in 2008, only to lose her confidence completely. After dropping outside the world’s top 50, she is slowly working her way back up the rankings and now sits at number 13
Belorussian Victoria Azarenka returns a
AJ odds (15/0) - The world number one has surprised many since her run to the Australian Open title in January. Already with four titles to her name in 2012, she is the one to beat and thrives on being the hunted. Clay is her worst surface but even that might not stop her
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The Internazionali BNL d''Italia 2012 - Day Nine
AJ odds (30/0) - China’s first grand slam winner and defending champion Li Na had a stellar start to 2011. However, she faded at the end of the year and struggled to match her stunning form. But there have been suggestions the world number 7 is regaining confidence
The Internazionali BNL d''Italia 2012 - Day Nine
AJ odds (40/0) - After struggling with a career-threatening shoulder injury, it looked like Sharapova would struggle to return to the top echelons. But 2012 has seen her return to a grand slam final, recently win the Rome premier event and rise back to number 2 in the world
Venus Williams
AJ odds (Game) - Probably the greatest female player to ever pick up a racket, Serena won her only French Open title in 2002. The favourite for the title has been in superb form on clay and will take some beating to stop her picking up a 14th grand slam title