The Belgian French Open champion withdrew from the tournament citing fatigue following her elimination at the hands of Russian Dinara Safina in Berlin during the week.

But despite missing the best clay court player in the world, the field will still contain seven of the world's top 10 players, including reigning champion Jelena Jankovic of Serbia.

As the last major tournament before the French Open, where Henin has reigned supreme in four of the last five years, this will prove a useful indicator as to who is in form and who is not.

And with Henin possibly not at her best - although she has won two Tier II titles this year she came up short at the quarter-final stage of both the Australian Open and the Tier I Miami Open - Roland Garros could be more open than ever this year.

But another one of those top 10 players not in Rome, Russia's Elena Dementieva - the other is Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova - said in Berlin that Henin is still the main threat despite having played only two matches on clay this year.

‘It is totally unpredictable who will win the French Open, but in my eyes Justine can still win it as she is such a good player,’  said Dementieva.

‘Even if she has had only two matches to prepare herself. It will be tough this year as the competition is higher for her and she might not be at her best at the moment - but tennis is also unpredictable.’

That it is and few would have expected Dementieva and Safina to reach the final in Berlin.

That means that any of the top players in Rome will fancy their chances.

The Williams sisters Serena and Venus have both shown some good form this year while top seed and world number two Ana Ivanovic reached the semis in Berlin and was finalist to Henin in Paris last year.

She's finding her feet on clay but her run in the German capital should stand her in good stead in the Italian one.

‘Playing the first time on clay is difficult, so I am happy that I came through to the semis, because I had a tough week,’ she said after her loss in Berlin.

‘I need to be more patient -- I rushed my opportunities, and though I was ahead, I could not benefit from it.’

She, however, doesn't agree that Henin will still be the woman to beat at the French Open.

‘There are many good players who play better at the moment than Justine - so it is difficult to tell,’ she added.

One player who will command a lot of attention is Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, who has dropped to 19th in the world since her heady days as the top ranked player in 2006.

She is seeded 16th but faces a tough draw in Russia's Maria Kirilenko in the first round.

She also faces a potential third round clash against title holder Jankovic, but Mauresmo has won here twice before and will be among the most experienced women in the field.