Stefanos Tsitsipas has found the recipe for success in 2021 as he bids for a first grand slam title at the French Open.
The 22-year-old Greek has won 33 matches already this year to put him top of the annual standings, collecting a first Masters title in Monte Carlo and another trophy in Lyon last week.
His record would be even more impressive but for agonising losses to Rafael Nadal in Barcelona and Novak Djokovic in Rome, while he defeated the Spaniard from two sets down to reach a second successive grand slam semi-final at the Australian Open in February.
"Finally, for once," said the Greek with a smile.
The other leading seeds in the bottom half are US Open champion and two-time former French Open finalist Dominic Thiem, US Open finalist Alexander Zverev and world number two Daniil Medvedev.
Thiem is the man with the clay-court pedigree but the Austrian has been struggling for form this season and took a six-week break in March and April to step away from the demands of the tour and bubble life.
He was content with his performances in Madrid and Rome but suffered a dispiriting loss to Cameron Norrie in Lyon last week.
The Russian, who reached his second slam final in Melbourne, has made no secret of his dislike of clay but so far has found conditions in Paris to his liking.
"If they would have some special rules, for sure I would be seeded less high, but, if we take the rankings, I'm number two so I have to be seeded number two," said Medvedev, who has a crowd-pleasing first-round draw against the unpredictable Alexander Bublik.
"It helps me. Even if we don't talk about me making it to the semis yet, I feel really great with the conditions here and I feel like I can play (like I do) on hard courts, and that's the most important thing."
