French Open Features Tough Draws for Top Seeds

The top seeds at the French Open have been given tough draws this year with Britain's Andy Murray having the worst of it. Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have been placed in the top half of the draw, while Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have been placed in the bottom half.

Top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal from Spain, who is hoping to win his fifth straight Roland Garros title, plays Brazilian qualifier Marcos Daniel in the first round and is likely to take on Russian Igor Kunitsyn in the second, but could possibly be troubled by Australian and former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in the third.

He may face fellow Spaniards David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco in the fourth round and quarterfinals respectively.

Second seed Roger Federer from Switzerland, who is yet to win Roland Garros after finishing runner-up three times in a row, plays Spaniard Alberto Martin in the first round and could play tough Argentine Jose Acasuso in the second.

He may face a tough challenge from French player Paul-Henri Mathieu in the third round, Czech Tomas Berdych in the fourth, and American Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals.

Third seed Andy Murray from Great Britain, who recently took over the No. 3 ranking, plays Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela in a tough first round match and could be challenged by Italian Potito Starace in the second.

He may have to play Spaniard Feliciano Lopez and Croatian youngster Marin Cilic in the third and fourth rounds respectively. He could then play French player Gilles Simon in the quarterfinals.

Fourth seed Novak Djokovic from Serbia, who has had a good clay-court season so far, faces Nicolas Lapentti from Ecuador in the first round and could play Argentine Brian Dabul in the second.

He might take on German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round and Spaniard Tommy Robredo in the fourth. He is most likely to play Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarterfinals.