Federer, Nadal in the way of Djokovic's bid for historic 'Djoko Slam'

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Draw published for the second major tennis championship of the year that begins on Sunday. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were placed in the same half of the draw for the French Open on Thursday meaning the two longtime rivals could meet in the semi-finals.

Nadal starts against qualifiers in the first two rounds while 37-year-old Federer, bidding to become the oldest Grand Slam title winner of all time, faces Italy's Lorenzo Sonego, ranked at 73.

Top seed and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic starts his campaign against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, ranked 43rd in the world.

Djokovic, the 2016 champion, is bidding to become only the second man in history to hold all four Slams at the same time.

Rafael Nadal (R) beats Novak Djokovic (L) to win the Rome Masters, May 19, 2019. /VCG Photo

Only Rod Laver, who swept to calendar Slams in 1962 and 1969, has previously achieved the feat.

If the seedings work out for the quarter-finals, then 15-time major winner Djokovic would face Germany's Alexander Zverev who has still to get past the last eight at a Slam.

Fourth seed Dominic Thiem, the 2018 runner-up to Nadal, would face eighth seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro while Federer would meet Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek who stunned him at the Australian Open in January.

Nadal, whose record at Roland Garros stands at a staggering 11 titles and a win-loss record of 86-2, claimed a ninth Italian Open title and a record 34th Masters on Sunday.

After losing to Nadal in the Italian Open final last weekend, the Serb was in no doubt that it was the Spaniard who would likely be celebrating a 12th Roland Garros title in a little over two weeks' time.

"Nadal, number one favorite, without a doubt- then everyone else," he said.

Roger Federer prepares for the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros, Paris, France, May 23, 2019. /VCG Photo

Federer and Nadal, with 20 and 17 career Grand Slam titles each respectively, may be ahead of 15-time major winner Djokovic in total hauls and have also completed career Slams.

Federer is returning to Roland Garros for the first time since 2015 having turned his back on clay court tennis to focus on Wimbledon.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of his one and only Paris triumph and should the 37-year-old defy the odds and clinch the 2019 title he would become the oldest Grand Slam champion of all time.

Age hasn't dimmed his ability with Federer saving match points to beat Gael Monfils in Madrid and in Rome against Borna Coric as he found his feet again on European red clay.

"It's been interesting and fun, but not so challenging, to be honest," said Federer despite his Rome campaign being cut short by a leg injury.

Source(s): AFP