PARIS, 24 May 2003 — Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi were yesterday both given easy draws for the first round of the French Open which gets under way here on Monday.
Top-seeded Hewitt is down to play Brian Vahaly of the United States while Agassi, the second seed, meets Karol Beck of Slovakia. Three-times former winner Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil was given a tougher task going up against giant Swiss veteran Marc Rosset, while title-holder Albert Costa takes on a qualifier.
Top ties included last year’s beaten finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain against Michel Kratochvil of Switzerland, home hope Arnaud Clement against Swedish star Thomas Enqvist and an all-American clash between James Blake and Taylor Dent.
If all goes according to plan, Hewitt would meet up with Kuerten in the last 16, Agassi would play former finalist Alex Corretja of Spain and Costa would take on last year’s Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian of Argentina.
In-form Argentine seventh seed Guillermo Coria is a potential threat in Agassi’s quarter. Costa said that despite some patchy form in the run-up to the claycourt season grand finale he was confident he could go all the way once again.
“I am pretty relaxed and can now draw on the experience of winning previously,” said Costa. Three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil hopes to pull out of his recent nosedive in form — he has had a poor time of it in the Masters Series even of his favorite surface.
But the samba star from Florianapolis finds Hewitt in his top quarter of the draw and could have to get past Argentine seed Gaston Gaudio beforehand — not an easy draw given Kuerten’s current form. First of all the Latin American has to beat Rosset of Switzerland.
If Ferrero, the Monte Carlo champion, sees off Kratochvil, he could come up against 200 finalist Magnus Norman of Sweden, who first has to get past Chilean Nicolas Massu.
And then the Spaniard could tussle with Britain’s 25th seed Tim Henman, who starts off against Vladimir Voltchkov of Belarus.
Roger Federer, Swiss fifth seed and one of a clutch of players who could go all the way, start off against Peru’s Luis Horna and he is slated to meet Carlos Moya of Spain, the 1998 champion, in the last eight.
Williams Set for French
Open Showdown
Meanwhile, Serena and Venus Williams were set on course for another Grand Slam final showdown when the draw for the French Open was made here yesterday.
Serena, winner of the last four Grand Slam tournaments, is in the top half of the draw and will go up against experienced German Barbara Rittner, while Venus, who has yet to win in Paris, is in the bottom section opening against a qualifier.
Second seed Kim Clijsters of Belgium will start with a tough tie against dangerous American Amy Frazier and will need to defeat both Wiliams one after the other if they all reach the semifinals.
The projected last 16 would see Serena taking on Ai Sugiyama of Japan, Venus playing Russia’s Elena Dementieva and Clijsters meetingMagdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria. Fourth seed Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium would be meeting Eleni Daniilidou of Greece. Home hope Amelie Mauresmo opens with a tester against up-and coming compatriot Virginie Razzano.
