Federer set for first test at French Open

PARIS, June 2 (Reuters) Roger Federer can expect his first real test of this year's French Open today when he meets Chilean Nicolas Massu in the third round of the French Open.

The world number one, who is trying to win the only grand-slam title to elude him, cruised through his first two matches.

Massu, though, the 32nd seed, is likely to put up more of a fight, having won five of his six career titles on clay.

Second seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain will be looking to take his record run of consecutive wins to 55 when he plays American lucky loser Kevin Kim in a second-round match held over from yesterday because of rain.

Two former champions, 2003 winner Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain and Argentine Gaston Gaudio, the 2004 champion, will open proceedings on centre court in round three.

Gaudio came into the French Open after two early defeats in Rome and Hamburg and the Argentine 10th seed said he was struggling for confidence.

''There is no magical solution, no magical formula or I'd look for it,'' Gaudio said.

''Every time you go onto the court, you do the best you can.

Sometimes it works. If you can find a solution, just help me out because I'm a bit desperate.'' Third seed David Nalbandian meets Dmitry Tursunov of Russia in round three, while German Nicolas Kiefer faces Czech Thomas Berdych.

Women's top seed Amelie Mauresmo will face Jelena Jankovic from Serbia and Montenegro in what could be a tough third-round match.

World number one Mauresmo has never been past the quarter-finals in front of the Roland Garros crowd and Jankovic will be confident, having last month reached the quarter-finals of the Italian Open and then made the semi-finals last week in Strasbourg.

Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova of Russia faces Australian Alicia Molik, while 11th seed Venus Williams takes on Karolina Sprem of Croatia.

Two former world number ones, Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis, will be playing catch-up in the second round.

Second seed Clijsters, twice the runner-up at Roland Garros, plays Spaniard Conchita Martinez Grandados, while Hingis, the 12th seed, takes on Zuzana Ondraskova of the Czech Republic.

Reuters AY RN1000