Hingis v Clijsters tops today's bill in Paris

PARIS, June 6 (Reuters) Former world number one Martina Hingis must rise to the challenge of Belgian second seed Kim Clijsters in the quarter-finals at the French Open today.

The Swiss will step on to the centre court full of confidence but as an outsider against Clijsters, a finalist at Roland Garros in 2001 and 2003.

Hingis, who has yet to be challenged at the French Open this year, never failed to reach the semi-finals on the Paris clay in her last five appearances. That run, though, ended in 2001, before she decided to take time out from tennis.

Her match against Clijsters should be the tightest of the day's six men's and women's quarter-finals.

Defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne takes on German Anna-Lena Groenefeld who will be playing her first grand slam quarter-final.

In the top part of the draw, Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova, who knocked out world number one Amelie Mauresmo in the previous round, plays the last American in Paris, 11th seed Venus Williams.

In an all-Russian match, Dinara Safina faces 2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

In the men's draw, world number one Roger Federer continues his quest for the only grand slam missing from his collection when he plays Croatian Mario Ancic, the last man to beat him on grass.

Russian sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko will be in action against third seed David Nalbandian of Argentina.

REUTERS AY RK0950