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Reuters 17y

Tennis-Federer begins quest to join Budge and Laver

By Pritha Sarkar

PARIS, May 28 - Roger Federer will begin his quest
to complete his set of grand slam titles against little-known
American Michael Russell in the first round of the French Open
on Monday.

With rain having washed out all but seven of Sunday's 24
scheduled matches, fans visiting Roland Garros can expect a
crammed programme as organisers try to clear the backlog.

Venus Williams will attempt to join sister Serena in the
second round but will have to deal with a hostile reception as
she takes on local hope Alize Cornet.

In-form Serbian fourth seed Jelena Jankovic, many people's
tip for the crown, will also have the crowd cheering against her
when she steps out for the fourth match on Centre Court against
France's Stephanie Foretz.

Federer's season had looked to be unravelling as he lost
four tournaments on the trot earlier this year but his victory
over nemesis Rafael Nadal in the Hamburg Masters final has
energised his campaign.

The world number one has never met Russell before but, with
a ranking of 68 in the world, the American is unlikely to pose
much of a challenge.

With the Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australian Open trophies
already in his possession, the Swiss needs to win in Paris to
join Don Budge and Rod Laver as the only men to hold all four
slams at the same time.

World number four Nikolay Davydenko, French favourite
Richard Gasquet and Croatian seventh seed Ivan Lubicic will also
feature on the second day of the claycourt major.

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