PARIS, May 23 (Reuters) - The usually ultra-confident Roger Federer will have reason to be extra cautious when he starts his French Open campaign on Monday as the top names enter the fray.
After a low-key Sunday start, Novak Djokovic, enjoying
an incredible 39-match winning streak, as well as defending champion Francesca Schiavone and world number one Caroline Wozniacki, will bask in the Parisian sunshine.
Federer, a 16-times grand slam champion, is up against Spain's Feliciano Lopez, who almost recorded a first career win over the Swiss maestro in the Madrid Masters where he had a matchpoint before losing the third of three tiebreaks.
"The Lopez match in Madrid was a difficult first round, but I don't believe we're gonna play four or five tiebreakers," Federer told reporters.
"It's not possible anyway. I believe the match will be interesting. We have known each other for a very long time, since we were juniors."
Federer has had a low-key season since winning in Doha in January, failing to add another title and losing to Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the third round at the Rome Masters earlier this month and Austria's Juergen Melzer in Monte Carlo.
Djokovic, the second seed, faces Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker on court Philippe Chatrier where he will be hoping for a comfortable passage to conserve energy for what looks a challenging draw for the 23-year-old.
Defending women's champion Schiavone, seeded fifth, should ease past American Melanie Oudin as she opens proceedings on court Philippe Chatrier.
Wozniacki has yet to win a grand slam title and organisers chose not to put her in the spotlight as the Dane will take on Japanese veteran Kimiko Date Krumm on Court One.
Date Krumm, 40, caused a stir last year at Roland Garros when she knocked out former world number one Dinara Safina.
After a low-key Sunday start, Novak Djokovic, enjoying
an incredible 39-match winning streak, as well as defending champion Francesca Schiavone and world number one Caroline Wozniacki, will bask in the Parisian sunshine.
Federer, a 16-times grand slam champion, is up against Spain's Feliciano Lopez, who almost recorded a first career win over the Swiss maestro in the Madrid Masters where he had a matchpoint before losing the third of three tiebreaks.
"The Lopez match in Madrid was a difficult first round, but I don't believe we're gonna play four or five tiebreakers," Federer told reporters.
"It's not possible anyway. I believe the match will be interesting. We have known each other for a very long time, since we were juniors."
Federer has had a low-key season since winning in Doha in January, failing to add another title and losing to Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the third round at the Rome Masters earlier this month and Austria's Juergen Melzer in Monte Carlo.
Djokovic, the second seed, faces Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker on court Philippe Chatrier where he will be hoping for a comfortable passage to conserve energy for what looks a challenging draw for the 23-year-old.
Defending women's champion Schiavone, seeded fifth, should ease past American Melanie Oudin as she opens proceedings on court Philippe Chatrier.
Wozniacki has yet to win a grand slam title and organisers chose not to put her in the spotlight as the Dane will take on Japanese veteran Kimiko Date Krumm on Court One.
Date Krumm, 40, caused a stir last year at Roland Garros when she knocked out former world number one Dinara Safina.
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