Elise Mertens highlights 'special' note from Amélie Mauresmo ahead of her 10th Roland Garros

Elise Mertens will never forget Paris, literally. The Belgian took to social media ahead to share the "special" gift and note she received from Roland Garros tournament director Amélie Mauresmo ahead of her 10th main-draw appearance at the tournament.

The Grand Slams have made a habit of delivering personal touches to players in recent years, and Mauresmo's clay-court major is no exception as the former No. 1 runs the event for the third year. Mertens received a swan-themed token from the tournament in honor of her cumulative appearances in Paris, and a touching (and decidely French) tribute.

"The swan, with its grace and timeless elegance, mirrors the spirit of tennis itself, where every movement on the court is a dance of finesse and determination," the note read. It was also adorned with the Roland Garros logo and Mauresmo's signature.

"As we present you this emblem, we honor your unwavering dedication, your unwritten chapters of success, and your indelible mark on the courts of Roland Garros," it concluded.

The uber-consistent Belgian made her debut at the clay-court major in 2016 and owns 17 career main-draw wins in Paris. It's her second-most successful major after the Australian Open (where she famously reached the semifinals in her main-draw debut in 2018), and she's never lost before the third round in her seven main draws.

She also played the junior event in 2012, accounting for her 10 trips to Paris.

"Time really does fly!" the now-28-year-old wrote on her social media accounts to accompany the photos.

Mertens, seeded No. 25 at this year's Roland Garros, opens her tournament against Argentina's Maria Lourdes Carle on Tuesday. She could be the projected third-round opponent for No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina. She and Hsieh Su-wei are also the No. 1 seeds in doubles.