Federer starts Paris challenge against Hartfield

PARIS, May 28 (Reuters) Top seed Roger Federer starts his French Open quest today with a first round match against qualifier Diego Hartfield of Argentina.

The Swiss was supposed to play Frenchman Arnaud Clement but the world number 56 pulled out on Friday with a groin injury.

Federer is aiming to become only the sixth man to win all four grand slams at least once and Hartfield, who is 156th in the world, should not pose much of a threat.

The world number one is followed on to centre court by his female counterpart Amelie Mauresmo who plays American Meghann Shaughnessy, having beaten her in all their three meetings.

The Frenchwoman, who has been an under-achiever on home clay, admitted on Friday that she needed a few matches to reach her peak at Roland Garros.

In her part of the draw, fourth-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova, who arrived in Paris very short of match practive, faces another American Mashona Washington.

Hamburg Masters Series winner Tommy Robredo, the seventh seed, takes on Czech Tomas Zib and third seed David Nalbandian of Argentina faces Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.

Briton Tim Henman starts his tournament on court one against Denmark's Kenneth Carlsen while former French Oen champion Carlos Moya, seeded 30th, plays Costa Rica's Juan Antonio Marin.

REUTERS DH KN0806