World number one Novak Djokovic is on a French Open semi-final collision course with nine-times champion Rafael Nadal after the draw was made yesterday.

The Serb, who holds 11 grand slam titles but is still chasing his first win at Roland Garros, will start his campaign against Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun. Nadal has been paired with big-serving Australian Sam Groth.

The Spaniard, promoted to fourth seed after Roger Federer pulled out, could meet France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last eight.

In the other half of the draw, second-seeded Briton Andy Murray is on course to meet Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori in the last eight and defending champion and third seed Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals.

French hopes of lifting the trophy for the first time since Yannick Noah won in 1983 took a hit when former semi-finalist Gael Monfils – a perennial crowd favourite in Paris – pulled out because of a virus.

“@Gael_Monfils withdraws from #RG16 because of a bad virus. Get well soon and see you for #RG17 Gael,” tournament organisers said in the official French Open Twitter feed.

The 29-year-old Frenchman joins world number three Federer on the sidelines.

Federer pulled out of the year’s second grand slam on Thursday, citing a lack of fitness.

A quarter-finalist at the year’s opening grand slam in Melbourne in January, Monfils has had a mixed claycourt season so far.

He was knocked out in the second round of the Madrid Open earlier this month, then lost his first round match at the Italian Open, but had been runner-up at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.

In the women’s draw, top seed, defending champion and strong favourite Serena Williams takes on Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova in the first round.

She faces a potential quarter-final against former world number one Victoria Azarenka and last-four clash with German third seed Angelique Kerber, who beat her in this year’s Australian Open final.

The French Open starts tomorrow and ends on June 5 with the men’s final.