Hewitt faces a tough draw

Top men8217;s seed Lleyton Hewitt faces a tough first week at the French Open as his quarter of the draw, made on Friday, is by far the most difficult of the Paris title favourites.

In the women8217;s draw, the Williams sisters will not meet before the final after Serena and Venus were drawn in different halves.

Australian Hewitt, the World No 1, was handed an easy first opponent in little-known Brazilian Andre Sa but things will quickly become a lot tougher for the US Open winner.

Hewitt has no less than three past winners in his quarter of the draw 8211; Spaniard Carlos Moya, veteran American Michael Chang and Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten 8211; plus former World No 1 Pete Sampras and fellow-Australian Mark Philippoussis.

Defending champion Kuerten meets Swiss Ivo Heuberger in the first round. Fourth-seeded American Andre Agassi, champion in 1999, has an easier task than Hewitt, meeting a qualifier in the first round. In-form Swiss Roger Federer, who faces a tricky first round match against Moroccan Hicham Arazi, and Spaniard Juan-Carlos Ferrero 8211; the most two successful players on clay this season 8211; are Agassi8217;s main rivals in the third quarter of the draw.

Second seed Marat Safin of Russia will play against the French crowd and wild card entrant Michael Llodra, one of French tennis8217;s big hopes.

Another great French prospect, 16-year-old Richard Gasquet, faces a daunting task in his first Grand Slam tournament when he playss Spanish clay court specialist Albert Costa.

The clash between Australian Open winner Thomas Johansson and former French semi-finalist Franco Squillari is probably the highlight match of the men8217;s first round. In the women8217;s draw top seed and title-holder Jennifer Capriati is certain to meet compatriots for two rounds at least, starting with Marissa Irvin in the first round. Serena Williams, seeded third, plays Martina Sucha of Slovakia in the first round and big sister Venus, the second seed, starts against Bianka Lamade of Germany.

Reuters