World number two Roger Federer8217;s hopes of playing on a baking-hot Centre Court are likely to be dashed on Thursday when he takes on Argentine Jose Acasuso at the French Open in a second-round match.
The Swiss,chasing the only grand slam to have eluded him,likes the sun to beat down on court so the clay plays faster.
Since he was not too thrilled with the 8220;mild8221; conditions in his first-round match 8211; when temperatures soared to 30 degrees Celsius 8211; he is unlikely to be happy about Thursday8217;s 19-degree forecast even though he has a 3-0 record against Acasuso.
8220;In America and Australia we play at,40,45 degrees,so it8217;s still pretty mild for my liking,8221; the 13-times major champion,who lost to Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the last three finals at Roland Garros,said after his first match.
Serb Novak Djokovic,seeded fourth,should not be too bothered by Ukraine8217;s Sergiy Stakhovsky on Suzanne Lenglen Court.
Women8217;s second seed Serena Williams,who needed nine match points to reach round two,will be hoping for a drastic improvement in her form when she takes on Virginia Ruano Pascual and Serbia8217;s Jelena Jankovic will also be in action.
The pick of the day8217;s matches could unfold on Court One,where Australian former world number four Jelena Dokic will be looking to extend a 5-3 record against Russian fourth seed Elena Dementieva.
However,Dokic knows she will have an uphill task as she is playing at the claycourt major for the first time since 2004.
8220;I have a very tough draw in the next round,8221; said the 26-year-old,who reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January.
8220;No one can say I8217;m the favourite. Even on paper,she should probably win easily. There8217;s absolutely no pressure in that match and I can just go out and try and do my best.8221;