Former French number one Marion Bartoli has told Britain's Heather Watson and Kyle Edmund the secrets to beating their French opponents in the first round at Roland Garros on Monday.
Watson takes on Mathilde Johansson for a place in the French Open second round while Edmund makes his debut in the main draw against fellow qualifier Stephane Robert.
The incentive is particularly strong for Watson given she has made it to the second round in Paris three times before, and Bartoli insists victory over Johansson is certainly within her capability.
"I know Mathilde extremely well," Bartoli, who won Wimbledon in 2013, told Press Association Sport.
"She is a good ball striker, she hits the ball very flat and hard and she gets a lot of power.
"For Mathilde though it is going to be really hard for her to deal with the pressure of the French Open because I'm not sure how many more French Opens she will get to play.
"Sometimes it gets overly emotional for her and it's very difficult for her to close out matches when she is leading.
"Heather should try to be very steady and have a very consistent game and stay mentally stable - if she is able to do that she will be better.
"If she comes out trying to hit winners from all over the place it will be a tough match for Heather.
"If she can move well and have that great counter attacking game and don't try to overpower Mathilde, I think Heather is going to be better."
Watson will be making her fifth appearance in the first round at Roland Garros but for Edmund, the experience is a new one.
The 20-year-old has made it through to his second consecutive grand slam after some impressive performances in qualifying and Bartoli believes he can beat Robert, who is ranked 550th in the world, if he is tactically astute.
"Stephane has a very unusual game," Bartoli said.
"He plays very, very flat and takes the ball very early.
"He comes from qualifying as well so he is coming with momentum.
"Against Stephane, it is about how quickly you can work out his game because he takes the ball very early and puts a lot pressure on himself.
"So it's about finding his weaknesses quickly and using them. You have to work out how you can hurt him.
"I would recommend Kyle to be very aware in the first few games, to work out Stephane's game and work out which shots he is not so comfortable hitting."
Edmund and Watson are two of five British players in action on Monday.
Andy Murray plays Argentine qualifier Facundo Arguello, Aljaz Bedene faces Austria's Dominic Thiem while in the women's draw Johanna Konta is up against Czech Denisa Allertova.
Source: PA
