Friday 15 / November / 2024
Paris: World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is on a French Open semifinal collision course with nine-time champion Rafael Nadal after the draw was made on Friday.
The Serb, who holds 11 Grand Slam titles but is still chasing his first win at Roland Garros, will start his campaign against Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun. Nadal has been paired with big-serving Australian Sam Groth.
The Spaniard, promoted to fourth seed after Roger Federer pulled out citing fitness concerns, could meet France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals.
In the other half of the draw, second-seeded Briton Andy Murray is on course to meet Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori in the last eight and defending champion and third seed Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals.
French hopes of lifting the trophy for the first time since Yannick Noah won in 1983 took a hit when former semifinalist Gael Monfils -- a perennial crowd favourite in Paris -- pulled out because of a virus.
In the women's draw, top seed, defending champion and strong favourite Serena Williams takes on Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova in the first round.
She faces a potential quarterfinal against former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka and last-four clash with German third seed Angelique Kerber, who beat her in this year's Australian Open final.
The French Open starts on Sunday and ends on June 5 with the men's final.
