Who are you? The guide on top seeds
PARIS: Who are the men handed the task of taking down Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the top three seeds at the French Open?
Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) vs David Goffin (BEL)
Belgian 22-year-old David Goffin, the world number 57 from Liege, enjoyed a stunning debut at the French Open last year when he came through qualifying as a lucky loser to reach the last 16 where he took a set off Federer before losing in four.
“He’s got great potential in terms of his touch and the way he reads the game. He impressed me and I enjoyed the match,” said Federer.
Goffin has yet to get beyond the third round of a tour event in 2013.
Roger Federer (SUI x2) vs Pablo Carreno-Busta (ESP)
Carreno-Busta, is at 166 in the world having started at 654 in January, an ascent boosted by winning seven Futures events. However, he is still only Spain’s 16th-best player and has come through qualifying to make his Grand Slam debut against a man who was the 2009 champion and is playing in a 15th Roland Garros and 54th successive major.
Carreno-Busta, 21, made the semi-finals on clay at Oeiras last month where he lost a three-setter to Stainslas Wawrinka.
Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) vs Daniel Brands (GER)
Brands, 25, is the world number 60, made the last 16 at Wimbledon in 2010 and began the year with a semi-final run in Qatar. Has lost all four first round matches he has contested at Roland Garros and now must try and snap that record by defeating the seven-time champion whose Paris record, by comparison, stands at 52 wins and only one defeat.
Has some claycourt form at the moment having reached the semi-finals in Munich this year for the second time in his career.
