They hail from the same country yet Belgian duo Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters [Images] usually have very little in common.

While one is French-speaking the other is Flemish. One is perhaps the most enigmatic woman to pick up a tennis racquet, the other wears her heart on her sleeve and does not shy away from speaking her mind.

Within a space of just three months in 2005, however, the pair buried months of frustration to enter the Grand Slam winners' circle. In both cases France's [Images] Mary Pierce was their hapless victim.

When this season's second Grand Slam begins at Roland Garros on Sunday, both will once again be aiming to douse French celebrations.

A merciless Henin-Hardenne took just 62 minutes to pummel Pierce into a 6-1 6-1 submission in the Roland Garros final last year, whereas Clijsters dropped just four games to the Frenchwoman during an equally impressive charge to the U.S. Open title.

The win not only gave Henin-Hardenne a fourth major trophy, it also capped an undefeated 24-match streak during the gruelling claycourt season.

This year, the woman with the most gifted backhand in the game has so far failed to win a title on the slow surface.

She proved, however, that she still had the stamina to last the distance in a two-week tournament, after being laid low in 2004 with an energy-sapping illness, and no one will be foolish enough to write off her chances.

LONG OVERDUE

For second-ranked Clijsters, the triumph at Flushing Meadows earned her a long overdue Grand Slam success, and she feels her destiny now lies in her own hands.

"It's a motivation for me to find my game on clay," said the 22-year-old, who picked up the Warsaw trophy earlier this month.

"It's my least favourite surface and it's a challenge to make my game work on it.

"I can play my game on hardcourt like I want to play it. On clay, it's a lot different. The movement is a lot tougher for me.

"But I keep playing my own game because I'm powerful enough to get through my opponents with my strokes."

Despite her dislike for the red stuff, her rivals -- including French world number one Amelie Mauresmo -- will be well aware that she has been runner-up in Paris twice.

"Nothing is stopping me from going out a hundred percent, that's the most important thing," said Clijsters, who was sidelined for much of 2004 with a career-threatening wrist injury.

"Nothing is restricting me from playing, so that's a great feeling to have."

While local fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that Mauresmo will finally find success on home territory, few would raise their eyebrows if the world number one was blown off course by a Belgian.

• Complete tennis coverage
• All you want to know about Sania Mirza