Paris: Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were drawn to face each other in a blockbuster French Open semifinal on Friday. Nadal is chasing a 10th title at Roland Garros while second seed Djokovic, working with new coach Andre Agassi, is looking to defend the only major he still holds. “Rafa is the number one favourite,” said Djokovic.
World number one Andy Murray is seeded to face 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in the last four. Murray starts against Russia’s world number 85 Andrey Kuznetsov, Djokovic tackles Spanish clay courter Marcel Granollers while Nadal meets combustible Frenchman Benoit Paire. Murray could face dangerous Juan Martin del Potro in the third round. 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. The other quarter-finals would see Wawrinka meet 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, Nadal would meet Canada’s Milos Raonic while Djokovic could take on Dominic Thiem. In the women’s draw, top seed Angelique Kerber starts against experienced Russian Ekaterina Makarova.
Kerber is due to face defending champion Garbine Muguruza of Spain in the semifinals. Muguruza has a tough opener against former champion Francesca Schiavone. Second seed Karolina Plisova was drawn to face Simona Halep in the semifinals but will start against Zheng Saisai of China. The women’s event is regarded as being wide open with Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka all absent.
