FRENCH OPEN

Nadal could get Djokovic in French Open semifinals; Williams to face Tatishvili in 1st round

5/24/2013

PARIS — Seven-time champion Rafael Nadal has been drawn to possibly face top-seeded Novak Djokovic in the French Open semifinals.

That would be a rematch of last year's final at the clay-court Grand Slam tournament.

Roger Federer could face David Ferrer in the other semifinal.

No man has won the title at Roland Garros as many times as Nadal. He also has reached the final at every tournament he's entered in 2013.

But because the Spaniard missed about seven months with a left knee injury, his ranking slipped to No. 4, and the French Open decided not to bump him to a higher seeding.

He's seeded No. 3 because second-ranked Andy Murray, the reigning U.S. Open champion, withdrew from the French Open with a back injury.

On the women's side, Serena Williams will begin her bid for a second French Open championship and 16th Grand Slam title overall by facing 83rd-ranked Anna Tatishvili in the first round.

A year ago in Paris, Williams lost her opening match to 111th-ranked Virginie Razzano, the American's only first-round loss in 50 career Grand Slam tournaments.

Williams is seeded No. 1 this year and is on a career-best 24-match winning streak. Tatishvili is 0-2 at Roland Garros.

Friday's draw for the clay-court major tournament set up these possible women's quarterfinals: Williams against No. 8 Angelique Kerber, defending champion Maria Sharapova against No. 7 Petra Kvitova, No. 3 Victoria Azarenka against 2011 champion Li Na, and No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska against 2012 runner-up Sara Errani.

The tournament begins Sunday.