Champion Nadal handed easy draw at French Open

PARIS, May 26 (Reuters) Defending champion Rafael Nadal was handed a relatively easy draw at the French Open today.

The Spaniard, seeded second, will face Swede Robin Soderling in the first round with a likely fourth round clash against 14th seed Lleyton Hewitt, who is suffering from a foot injury.

At the top of the draw, world number one Roger Federer will take on Frenchman Arnaud Clement in the first round with 13th seed Nicolas Kiefer of Germany as his likely opponent for a quarter-final spot.

In the women's draw, world number one Amelie Mauresmo should not be bothered until the quarter-finals when she faces a possible match-up against 11th seed Venus Williams.

France's Mauresmo, who has been an under-achiever on home clay, will start her tournament against American Meghann Shaughnessy.

Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne, the defending women's champion seeded fifth this year, will take on Estonian Maret Ani in the first round.

REUTERS PG PC1637