updated 10:35 a.m. ET May 25, 2007

PARIS - Roger Federer will face American Michael Russell in the first round of the French Open, the only Grand Slam tournament he hasn’t won.

In the draw Friday, two-time defending champion Justine Henin of Belgium opens against Elena Vesnina of Russia, and No. 2 Maria Sharapova will play Emilie Loit of France.

Serena Williams will face Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria. Williams, who won the Australian Open, is looking for her second French Open title and first since 2002.

“The French Open is my No. 1 priority,” the eight-time Grand Slam winner said.

Federer, who has 10 Grand Slams titles, faces a potentially tough route to the final if he gets past the 71st-ranked Russell.

Fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko, No. 7 Ivan Ljubicic and No. 9 Tommy Robredo are in Federer’s half of the draw, and the Swiss star faces a possible fourth-round match against 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Two-time defending champion Rafael Nadal, whose 81-match clay-court winning streak was snapped by Federer in the final of the Hamburg Masters, will open against 58th-ranked Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina.

“I feel good,” Federer said. “I had a few days off after my win in Hamburg. Obviously the feeling now is better than two weeks ago.”

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Nadal’s first test could be against former two-time Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in the fourth round.

Federer lost to Nadal in last year’s final. Since then, he has won Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open. By winning the French, he would complete a career Grand Slam and a non-calendar Grand Slam.

“I’ve been working a long time for my French Open goal,” Federer said. “(My) confidence is back where it was.”

Federer lost all five clay-court matches to Nadal before beating him for the first time on the surface in Hamburg.

“I’m not going to beat him every time now,” Federer said. “You’ve got to be able to dominate him on the baseline. Will he allow me to do it again?”

Sharapova has missed two tournaments this year with a right shoulder injury, but has shown a return to form this week at the Istanbul Cup in Turkey.

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Williams has won three Australian Opens, two Wimbledons and two U.S. Opens to go with her French Open title.

“I only have one (French Open) trophy and she’s really lonely,” Williams said. “It’s the only one I have that doesn’t have a friend.”

Third-ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova plays Ekaterina Bychkova and No. 4 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia — who has reached at least the quarterfinals in 11 of 14 tournaments this season — plays wild card Stephanie Foretz of France.

Fifth-ranked Amelie Mauresmo opens against American Laura Granville. Mauresmo, formerly the top-ranked player, has not advanced beyond the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. Her two Grand Slam titles came at the Australian Open and Wimbledon last year.

The tournament begins Sunday and ends June 10.

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