Paris: There will be no gentle start for the favourites at the French Open starting this weekend, with nine-time winner Rafa Nadal and defending champion Novak Djokovic on a semifinal collision course.
Fourth seed Nadal, who has only lost one match on clay this season, was handed a tricky first round opponent in the mercurial Benoit Paire in the draw which took place here Friday.
Serbian Djokovic, the second seed, will take on Spain’s Marcel Granollers, a man who has won three of his four ATP titles on the red dirt.
World No.1 Andy Murray, who has been struggling this season, will play Russian Andrey Kuznetsov and faces a potential third round with either clay court specialist Nicolas Almagro or Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro. If Murray reaches the semifinals he will have to renew his rivalry with third seed Stan Wawrinka who faces a qualifier in his opening round match.
Defending champion Garbine Muguruza was handed a tricky first round as she will take on the 2010 champion, Italian Francesca Schiavone. On her possible path to the final, the fourth seeded Spaniard could also face American Venus Williams.
World No. 1 Angelique Kerber will open her campaign against Ekaterina Makarova.
Several top names will not feature in this year’s tournament as 18-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer is skipping the clay court season, two-time champion Maria Sharapova was denied a wild card after returning from a doping ban, and three-time winner Serena Williams is expecting a child.
Kvitova in main draw
Paris: Czech player Petra Kvitova was included in the draw Friday for the French Open after recovering from being stabbed during a burglary at her home last December. Kvitova had stated earlier this week that she will play at Wimbledon where she has won the title twice. Last month she said she had left her name on the entry list for the French Open, in part to ensure she had a positive mind-set as she continued her recovery. The 27-year-old will be seeded 15th thanks to her protected ranking and will start off with a first round against US player Julia Boserup. Her best result at Roland Garros came in 2012 when she reached the semis.
Reuters
