Nadal given tough French Open draw

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PARIS, France -- Defending champion Rafael Nadal, bidding to match Bjorn Borg by winning three French Open titles in a row, has been handed an awkward draw for the claycourt grand slam which starts at Roland Garros on Sunday.

Nadal faces highly-rated Argentinian teenager Juan Martin del Potro in his opener before a second round clash with either a qualifier or Russia's Teimuraz Gabashvili.

Britain's surprise 2004 semifinalist Tim Henman could be a third round opponent, with 2004 champion Gaston Gaudio or former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, who took a set off the Spaniard in the Hamburg semifinals last week, possibly waiting to pounce in the fourth round.

Former champion Carlos Moya of Spain and American Andy Roddick, seeded third, could then stand in the muscular 20-year-old's way before a scheduled semifinal encounter with up and coming Serbian Novak Djokovic.

World number one Roger Federer, desperate to win to become only the third man in history to win all four grand slams, has a marginally easier passage in the opening rounds. He will start his campaign against America's Michael Russell, the world number 71, before facing either a qualifier or Frenchman Thierry Ascione in the second round and either another qualifier or Potito Starace of Italy in round three.

Former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain may be his first serious test in the fourth round.

If he survives that, a possible semifinal clash against Chilean Fernando Gonzalez could be on the cards, while dangerous Argentinians Guillermo Canas and David Nalbandian are also in his half of the draw.

Federer returned to form by ending Nadal's 81-match winning run on clay in the final in Hamburg. "I've never entered Roland Garros feeling so strong mentally," he told a news conference later on Friday.

"I'm no longer afraid of this tournament. I'm not afraid of having to play five sets, I'm not afraid about being the favourite and I want to win here more than ever," he said.

Henin defends

In the women's tournament, top seed and defending champion Justin Henin, who is seeking her third consecutive title and fourth in the last five years, opens her campaign against Russian world number 67 Elena Vesnina.

But the Belgian must face up to the likelihood of a mouthwatering quarterfinal clash with 2002 champion Serena Williams of the United States. Williams has played sparingly since her demolition of Maria Sharapova in the final of the opening grand slam of the season in Australia, but has been practicing hard on clay.

Second-seeded Sharapova, who has never got beyond the quarterfinals in Paris, faces experienced Frenchwoman Emilie Loit in the first round.

Leading home hope Amelie Mauresmo, a potential last eight opponent for Sharapova, starts against Laura Granville of the United States.

Third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova faces Russian compatriot Ekaterina Bychkova in the first round with fellow Russian, and 2004 winner, Anastasia Myskina a possible second round opponent.

Williams, playing at Roland Garros for the first time in three years, will open against Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria.

Fourth seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic, widely tipped as potential champion after winning the Italian Open in Rome last week, faces French wildcard Stephanie Foretz in her opening match.

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