Few of his opponents think he ranks among title favourites.

And hardly anyone in the world of tennis seems to give Lleyton Hewitt any hope of translating his role of top seed into a French Open title.

It's just the sort of scrap the world No.1 loves.

But it will be one of his toughest fights of all, particularly as his side of the Roland Garros draw is laden with Latin clay court specialists and multiple French Open champions.

Even before the draw, Hewitt, 22, was coy about his chances of becoming the first Australian to win here since Rod Laver claimed his second French crown in 1969.

He was asked after beating his clay nemesis Carlos Moya, the 1988 champion, in Dusseldorf last week whether he was close to his best.

"I don't know. Every day it changes."

Can you win in Paris?

"Whether I ever win the French and master playing on clay, who knows? But I'll give it a shot."

Neither was Moya ready to upgrade his opinion of Hewitt's clay game.

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