News of the day - 2009

TOUGH START FOR THE BIG GUNS

The draw ceremony, which took place at the Palais des Sports de Marseille, unveiled some big first round matches. The tournament seeds will have to be focused from the first minute on in order to get through the first round obstacle so often dreaded by the "major" players.

Novak Djokovic will face Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, recent finalist at the Johanesburg tournament. Marat Safin will have a tough match versus 2006 champion and local hero Arnaud Clément. Davis Cup champion, Feliciano Lopez of Spain will be under fire against Ivan Ljubicic as will Gaël Monfils matching up with compatriot and heavy hitter Paul-Henri Mathieu. Richard Gasquet will not have it easy versus Marc Gicquel just like Gilles Simon who will compete with 17 year old tour sensation Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.

Projected quarter-finals:

Djokovic (SRB, 1) - Safin (RUS, 7, W.C.)

Tsonga (FRA, 4) - Lopez (ESP, 8)

Berdych (CZE, 5) - Monfils (FRA, 3)

Gasquet (FRA, 6) - Simon (FRA, 2)

The truth will now come from the court.