He will open his campaign against America's Michael Russell, the world number 71, before facing either a qualifier or Frenchman Thierry Ascione in the second round.

Another qualifier or Potito Starace of Italy will be a third round opponent.

By contrast, Nadal, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Bjorn Borg by winning three French Opens in a row, faces highly-rated Argentinian teenager Juan Martin del Potro in his opener before a second round clash with either a qualifier or Russia's Teimuraz Gabashvili.

Britain's surprise 2004 semi-finalist Tim Henman could be a third round opponent, with 2004 champion Gaston Gaudio or former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, who took a set off the Spaniard in the Hamburg semi-finals last week, possibly waiting to pounce in the fourth round.

Federer comes into the French Open having beaten Nadal for the first time on clay in the Hamburg Masters final last weekend where he recovered from a first set loss to win in three.

The victory also snapped Nadal's record 81-match winning streak on clay and was sweet revenge for the straight sets mauling the Swiss suffered at the hands of his nemesis in the Monte Carlo Masters final in April.

"In Monaco, I had a bad approach," Federer told the French media on Friday.

"I went into the final saying to myself: 'I'm going to see what happens'. In Hamburg, that wasn't the case. I was certain I was going to beat him and I was sure of the way I was going to play him. It was very important for me mentally.

"I am happy with my clay season. I have played enough matches and I am ready physically and mentally."

Amongst Federer's possible quarterfinal opponents are Spain's Tommy Robredo, twice a last eight player here, former world number one Marat Safin of Russia and Italy's Filippo Volandri who knocked the world number one out of the Rome Masters in the second round.

That defeat prompted Federer to split with coach Tony Roche.

American third seed Andy Roddick, who has never survived beyond the third round, opens against Russia's Igor Andreev, the last man to beat Nadal before the Spaniard went off on his record-breaking epic.

Meanwhile, women's top seed and defending champion Justin Henin, who is seeking her third consecutive title and fourth in the last five years, opens her campaign against Russian world number 67 Elena Vesnina.

The Belgian world number one is seeded to meet 2002 champion Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.

Second seeded Russian Maria Sharapova, who has never got beyond the quarter-finals in Paris, faces experienced Frenchwoman Emilie Loit in the first round with the best home hope Amelie Mauresmo, a potential last eight opponent, taking on Laura Granville of the United States.

Third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova faces Russian compatriot Ekaterina Bychkova in the first round with fellow Russian, and 2004 winner, Anastasia Myskina a possible second round opponent.

Wimbledon champion Mauresmo, who has consistently failed on home clay, never getting beyond the quarterfinals in 12 attempts, is a potential last eight opponent for Sharapova.

Serena Williams, playing here for the first time in three years, is seeded eight and will meet Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria.

Fourth seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic, widely tipped as potential champion after winning in Rome last week, faces French wildcard Stephanie Foretz in her opening match.

The French Open gets underway on Sunday.