World number one Rafael Nadal faces a potentially treacherous task in his bid to win a fifth consecutive French Open title following yesterday's draw for the tournament starting tomorrow.

The top seed, unbeaten at Roland Garros since his debut in 2005, is in the same half of the draw as Andy Murray and eighth seed Fernando Verdasco, who gave him a rough time in the Australian Open semi-finals.

Following a first-round match against a qualifier, the Spaniard could meet former world number one Lleyton Hewitt and compatriot David Ferrer before a possible quarter-final match against Verdasco or twice French Open semi-finalist Nikolay Davydenko.

Third-seeded Murray starts his bid for a first grand slam title against Juan Ignacio Chela.

Swiss second seed Roger Federer, chasing the only grand slam title to have eluded him, faces Alberto Martin en route to a possible fourth consecutive final with Nadal, whom he beat in the Madrid Masters final earlier this month.

Federer has a possible quarter-final encounter against sixth seed Andy Roddick, beaten in Madrid in their only claycourt meeting in 20 duels.

One of the highlights of Federer's campaign could be a semi-final with Novak Djokovic who, following a first-round match against Nicolas Lapentti, is looking at a quarter-final clash with Juan Martin del Potro.

In the women's draw, world number one Dinara Safina's path looks smooth until a possible quarter-final clash with holder Ana Ivanovic, her executioner in last year's final.

Russian Safina, chasing her first grand slam title, will start her campaign against unheralded Anne Keothavong, of Britain.

She could then face compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, seeded 27th, in the third round and Chinese 15th seed Zheng Jie in the fourth round.

Second seed Serena Williams, who has yet to win a match on clay this season, looks set to progress smoothly before a potential quarter-final against Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova.