Samantha Stosur and Daria Gavrilova are out to parlay promising build-ups into first-round French Open victories on Monday.
Stosur has arrived in Paris to much fanfare after edging Gavrilova in the first all-Australian WTA title decider in 12 years at the Strasbourg International.
A four-time Roland Garros semi-finalist, including last year, and runner-up in 2010, Stosur has many good judges tipping the claycourt star as a serious title threat in a wide open draw devoid of Serena Williams, two-time champion Maria Sharapova and fellow former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka.
Stosur's prospects improved further on Sunday when top seed Angelique Kerber - who had been the 33-year-old's projected third-round opponent - crashed out in the first boilover of the tournament.
Stosur, though, is refusing to get over-excited.
"I think about my first round and that's it," the 23rd seed told AAP ahead of her opener against Slovakian Kristina Kucova.P
"There's many, many good players out on tour now and you've got to be ready to play and fight and compete against anyone, especially at a grand slam where everyone wants to do well.
"So I'll certainly be out there trying to do exactly that."
The former US Open champion says it's dangerous to assume anything, despite the absence of so many big names.
"With grand slams, they never really pan out the way people might think they will at the start of the tournament when everybody's starting in the first round," Stosur said.
"Obviously Serena not there and maybe a couple of others, but it's one of those things; you've got to play anyone that you come up against."
Gavrilova, at a new career-high No.24 in the world seeded one spot below Stosur, faces Belgium's 60th-ranked Elise Mertens and should also progress.
Stosur and Gavrilova are among five Australians playing on Monday.
Teenage wildcard playoff winner Jaimee Fourlis is first up on Court Suzanne Lenglen against 11th-seeded former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, while Alja Tomljanovic plays Kiki Bertens, the 18th seed and semi-finalist last year.
John Millman is the only Australian in men's action on day two. He also faces a seed, No.17 Roberto Bautista-Agut.
AUSSIES IN ACTION AT THE FRENCH OPEN ON MONDAY (PREFIX DENOTES SEEDING):P
Women's singles, first round
23-Samantha Stosur v Kristina Kucova (SVK)
24-Daria Gavrilova v Elise Mertens (BEL)
Jaimee Fourlis v 11-Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
Alja Tomljanovic v 18-Kiki Bertens (NED)
Men's singles, first round
John Millman v 17-Roberto Bautista-Agut (ESP).
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