Road to the title: Ashleigh Barty (2019)

A quarter-finalist at the Australian Open, champion at the Miami WTA 1000 and ranked No. 8 in the world when she arrived at Porte d'Auteuil, Ashleigh Barty took part in the 2019 edition of the Parisian Grand Slam with confidence and in top form. Quick to dispatch her early opponents, the player who had never previously made it past the second round at Roland-Garros also showed resilience and character to defeat young Americans Sofia Kenin (in round of 16) and Amanda Anisimova (in semi-finals). Buoyed by her off-centre forehands, sliced backhands and pinpoint volleys, she delivered a masterclass performance to lift her first major trophy against Marketa Vondrousova, two weeks before becoming the first Australian since Evonne Goolagong (in 1976) to reach the top of the world rankings.