It may prove to be fitting that it was Ana Ivanovic who succeeded Justine Henin as French Open champion and world number one.
We profile the new star of the women's game
It may prove to be fitting that it was Ana Ivanovic who succeeded Justine Henin as French Open champion and world number one.
The Belgian's retirement was a huge blow for women's tennis but in 20-year-old Serb Ivanovic, the sport may just have found an even bigger asset.
That may have seemed unlikely when Ivanovic was being taught a lesson by Henin in her first grand slam final at Roland Garros last year, but her progress has been impressive.
She reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon and then her second major final in Australia in January, only to come across an unstoppable Maria Sharapova - who briefly held the number one spot following Henin's shock decision.
Given that experience, it was the manner of her victory on the Paris clay that was so exciting.
On a slow surface that usually rewards patience more than aggression, Ivanovic blasted her way to the trophy, beating compatriot Jelena Jankovic in a thrilling semi-final, then shrugging off the pressure of being favourite to see off surprise finalist Dinara Safina in straight sets.
Ivanovic's thunderbolt of a forehand is clearly her main weapon, but she can also hit winners off the backhand side and possesses a strong serve.
The mental aspect of her game is also becoming a major strength. She was behind in the deciding set against Jankovic and saw Safina come back from two breaks down in the first set to level at 4-4, but she kept her belief on both occasions and came out on top.
Often French Open champions have found the grass at Wimbledon not to their liking, but Ivanovic has the game to succeed on all surfaces.
She could have broken her grand slam duck at SW19 last year but for the incredible run of eventual champion Venus Williams.
Although the American has proved her doubters wrong so many times, she has struggled again this year and surely cannot repeat those heroics.
Sharapova, Jankovic, Serena Williams and the like will all fancy their chances, but Ivanovic is likely to be the one to beat.
It is all a far cry from practising in an abandoned swimming pool, which Ivanovic was forced to do in the winter in Belgrade.
Heroine
She began playing tennis at the age of five after watching her heroine, Monica Seles, on television. She memorised the number of a local tennis club and persuaded her parents, a businessman and a lawyer, to take her along.
None of her family played tennis, but blazing a trail was not a problem for Ivanovic.
She turned professional in 2003, three years after Jankovic - who is three years her senior - and at the same time as 21-year-old Djokovic.
Together they have turned Serbia into a real force, with Djokovic winning his first grand slam in Australia earlier this year and all of them ranked in the top three, but Ivanovic is starting to look like the best of the trio.
She won her first WTA Tour title in Canberra in 2005 as a 17-year-old qualifier and enjoyed a breakthrough season, finishing ranked inside the top 20 and reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open on her debut.
She continued her progression in 2006, maintaining her place in the top 20 and capturing her first Tier I event in Montreal, beating Martina Hingis in the final.
Last year saw Ivanovic, who lives in Switzerland, really make the big time as she broke into the top 10 and claimed three more titles.
Roland Garros was the obvious highlight, despite the 6-1 6-2 thrashing at the hands of Henin, while two more Tier I titles in Berlin and Los Angeles - where she saved match points against Jankovic in the semi-finals - helped lift her towards the top of the rankings.
This season has been a bit hit and miss, with early losses on four occasions, but at the big tournaments no-one has performed better.
Aside from the French title and final in Australia, she also triumphed in Indian Wells, again beating Jankovic in the last four - she has won five of their six meetings.
Ivanovic even finds time to study for a degree in private finance, which she began in September last year.
After lifting the trophy on Philippe Chatrier court, the second seed revelled in her moment of triumph.
"I feel so happy," Ivanovic said.
"I have no words to describe it. But winning a grand slam is something that I have dreamt of since I was a little kid, so achieving that goal, it's very thrilling.
"You work so hard and you put so much effort into it. I love the game and I enjoy playing, so this is the best reward I can get."
And on this evidence, it is unlikely Ivanovic will be waking up from her dream any time soon.
