22 May 2016

French semi-final beckons old rivals

2:14 pm on 22 May 2016

World tennis No.1 Novak Djokovic is on a French Open semi-final collision course with nine-times champion Rafael Nadal after the draw was made.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal pose before the start of their Monte Carlo semi-final, 2015.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal pose before the start of their Monte Carlo semi-final, 2015. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

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 quarter-finals.

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 semi-finals.

French hopes of lifting the trophy for the first time since Yannick Noah won in 1983 took a hit when former semi-finalist 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.

Williams faces a potential quarter-final against former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka and last-four clash with German third seed Angelique Kerber, who beat the American great in this year's Australian Open final.

The French Open starts on Monday.

-Reuters