Federer faces tricky draw in Paris
PARIS, France -- World No.1 Roger Federer faces a potential third round clash with three times winner Gustavo Kuerten in a tough opening week for him at the French Open.
The Wimbledon and Australian Open champion has never made it past the quarter-finals at Roland Garros and the draw has not helped him this year.
In the top half of the draw are the winners of the last four finals in Paris, holder Juan Carlos Ferrero, fellow-Spaniard Albert Costa, Brazil's Kuerten and Federer.
Ferrero's participation was still doubtful on Friday with a wrist injury and his coach said the Spanish fourth seed would make a decision on Saturday.
After a first-round match against a qualifier, Federer could meet France's Thierry Ascione or German Nicolas Kiefer before a likely clash with the 1997, 2000 and 2001 winner.
Federer also has two other former grand slam winners, Australian Lleyton Hewitt and Russian Marat Safin, in his half of the draw as well as French favourite Sebastien Grosjean.
LESS GRUELLING
By contrast, Andy Roddick's path looks a little less gruelling. The U.S. Open champion will start his campaign against compatriot Todd Martin in a bottom half of the draw comprising past Roland Garros winners Andre Agassi and Carlos Moya.
Third-seeded Argentine Guillermo Coria, the most successful clay-court specialist this season, is in the same quarter of the draw as Moya.
The other main seeds in Roddick's half are serve-and-volley players like Briton Tim Henman, seeded ninth, and Australian Mark Philippoussis.
In the women's draw, world number one Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne begins her campaign against Frenchwoman Sandrine Testud.
France's Amelie Mauresmo, the third seed who won her last two tournaments on clay in Berlin and Rome, was drawn against Slovak Ludmila Cervanova.
