Nadal fights for French win

PARIS - WORLD number one Rafael Nadal, whose French Open record stands at 28-0, starts his bid for a fifth successive Musketeers' Cup with a first round match against Brazilian Marcos Daniel on an action-packed Monday.
The Spaniard will be preceded on Centre Court by his female counterpart Dinara Safina of Russia, who is seeking her maiden grand slam title and faces Britain's Anne Keothavong.
Swiss second seed Roger Federer, who has lost to Nadal in the last three Roland Garros finals, takes to the court straight after his rival for his match against Spaniard Alberto Martin.
World number two Federer comes to Paris full of confidence after defeating Nadal in straight sets at the Madrid Masters final last weekend.
'It's important I come through the first round and find my way through the tournament. But of course the tournament victory in Madrid was a big boost for me,' he said on Friday.
The Williams family start their Roland Garros campaign with Venus, seeded third, taking on fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
A regular on Centre Court, former world number one Maria Sharapova of Russia, back from a nine-month injury layoff, will be on Court One to face Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus. -- REUTERS