体坛英语新闻：Nadal facing tough ride in Paris

BEIJING, May 24 -- Triple champion Rafael Nadal faces a tough task in his bid to win a fourth consecutive French Open after Friday's draw for the event which begins tomorrow.

    The second seed, who has never been beaten at Roland Garros since his debut in 2005, is in the same half of the draw as Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Argentine sixth seed David Nalbandian.

    Following a first round match against a qualifier, the Spaniard could meet Finn Jarkko Nieminen and Russian Mikhail Youzhny before a possible quarterfinal against Nalbandian and a rematch of last year's semifinal with Djokovic.

Spain's Rafael Nadal and Serbia's Ana Ivanovic arrive at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris for the draw ceremony for the French Open Friday

    World No. 1 Roger Federer, chasing the only grand slam title to have eluded him, faces a first round test against American Sam Querrey, who had a surprising run to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters last month.

    A possible fourth-round encounter with Argentine Juan Monaco, the world No. 14, could be on the cards.

    One of the highlights of Federer's campaign could be a quarterfinal with compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka, seeded ninth. Wawrinka broke into the limelight this season by reaching the Barcelona Open semifinals and the Rome Masters final, where he lost in three sets to Djokovic.

    Then a semifinal battle with Spaniard David Ferrer looms for Federer.

    In the women's draw, last year's runner-up Ana Ivanovic of Serbia faces a daunting task if she is to claim her first grand slam title.

    Ivanovic could meet aggressive Czech Lucie Safarova as soon as the second round. The Australian Open finalist could then meet another Czech, Nicole Vaidisova, in the fourth round, 2002 champion Serena Williams in the quarterfinals and compatriot Jelena Jankovic in the semis.

    Top seed Maria Sharapova, the world No. 1 since Justine Henin retired, enjoys an easy ride before a possible Russian steeplechase from the fourth round where she could meet Dinara Safina. A theoretical quarterfinal with 2004 finalist Elena Dementieva could be next, with fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova likely next.