PARIS: In his quest for a 10th title at the French Open, Rafael Nadal could face Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

The fourth-seeded Nadal, the only player with nine trophies from one Grand Slam tournament, was handed a tricky first-round opponent in the mercurial Benoit Paire on Friday.

Nadal has been the dominant player of the clay-court season and has won 17 straight matches on his favorite surface, while Djokovic has been struggling with form and confidence recently.

“Rafa, next to Roger [Federer], has been the best player this year in terms of results,” Djokovic said. “Their level of tennis is quite fantastic. Rafa is playing on his favorite surface and playing with confidence, much better than last year. I definitely see him as probably the number one favorite for this title.”

Federer, who won the Australian Open in January, won’t be playing in Paris after he decided to skip the entire clay-court season to focus on his preparations for grass and hard courts.

So much has changed for Djokovic since the Serb completed a career Grand Slam at the French Open last year by beating Andy Murray in the final.

Djokovic’s form nosedived after his triumph on the Parisian red clay as he lost in the third round at Wimbledon for his earliest defeat in a Grand Slam in seven years. He was then beaten in the first round at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, reached the final of the US Open, and lost early again at the Australian Open.

Djokovic, who lost his world number one ranking to Murray last year, has won only one of his last 11 tournaments.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be back and to look at this trophy. It brings back memories from last year,” Djokovic, the second seed, said at the draw ceremony. “Winning here was one of the most special feelings on the court, one of the highlights of my career.”

Djokovic, who hopes new coach Andre Agassi will help him turn his luck around over the next fortnight, will start the defence of his title against Spain’s Marcel Granollers, a man who has won three of his four ATP titles on the red dirt.

Murray, who has been struggling this season, will play Russian Andrey Kuznetsov and faces a potential third-round with either claycourt specialist Nicolas Almagro or Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro.

Injury-plagued del Potro, who lost to Murray in the 2016 Olympics final, is playing Roland Garros for the first time since 2012.

If the seedings work out, 2016 runner-up Murray, who is reportedly suffering from an illness, would face Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the last eight.

Third seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, the 2015 champion, will face a qualifier and could meet Murray in the semi-finals.

In the absence of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, the women’s draw is looking wide open this year.

Czech Petra Kvitova, who has not played competitive tennis since being stabbed during a burglary at her home last December, was included as 15th seed thanks to her protected ranking.

Providing she is fit to play, she will take on American Julia Boserup.

Defending champion Garbine Muguruza was handed a tricky first round as she will take on the 2010 champion, Italian Francesca Schiavone.

“I am super-excited to be here. I am preparing the best I can but there is no magic pattern,” said Muguruza who comes into the tournament having suffered a neck injury in Rome last week.

On her possible path to the final, the fourth-seeded Spaniard could also face American Venus Williams.

World number one Angelique Kerber will open her campaign against Ekaterina Makarova and is due to face Muguruza in the semi-finals.

Second seed Karolina Plisova was drawn to face 2014 runner-up Simona Halep in the semi-finals but will start against Zheng Saisai of China.

Third-seeded Halep will be up against Jana Cepelova in the first round if her right ankle injury does not prevent her from playing.

If the seedings works out, Kerber will face former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the last eight with Muguruza against Dominika Cibulkova.

Elina Svitolina would face Halep, who she defeated in the Rome final, while Britain’s Johanna Konta would be Pliskova’s last-eight rival.

Three-time winner Serena is not playing because she is expecting a child, while Sharapova’s ranking wasn’t high enough to gain direct entry into the tournament after a 15-month doping suspension. Tournament organisers did not grant her a wild card.

Play begins on Sunday at Roland Garros.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2017