Federer faces big Sam in Roland Garros opener

PARIS: Roger Federer's bid to win a first French Open will face a testing start after he was drawn to face big American Sam Querrey in the first round.

But the Swiss world No 1 had the comfort of avoiding Novak Djokovic, the best player in the world this year, until a possible final clash.

Instead the Serbian world No 3, who took Federer's Australian Open title in January, was placed in the same half of the draw as triple champion Rafael Nadal who is bidding to become the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1981 to win four titles in a row here.