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Luck of the draw

Kafelnikov faces Chang in French first round

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Posted: Saturday May 22, 1999 08:46 AM

Michael Chang's quickness serves him well on clay, and Amelie Mauresmo defeated Martina Hingis at the Gaz de France in February. Clive Brunskill, Jack Atley/Allsport

PARIS (AP) -- Top-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Martina Hingis got tough pairings in Friday's draw for the French Open.

Kafelnikov will play Michael Chang in the first round in a match between two former French Open champions. Hingis faces a possible match against Amelie Mauresmo in the second round, a rematch of their contentious Australian Open final.

The tournament, the only major played on clay, begins Monday at Roland Garros.

Kafelnikov was the French Open winner three years ago and Chang triumphed in 1989 when he was 17. If Kafelnikov beats Chang he could face two-time Roland Garros winner Jim Courier in the fourth round.

Carlos Moya begins his title defense against Markus Hipfl, and would face Petr Korda or Alberto Martin in the second round.

Pete Sampras, who has never won the French Open, starts against Juan Antonio Marin of Costa Rica.

If the No. 1 player advances, he could face Thomas Enqvist in the fourth round and 1997 champion Gustavo Kuerten in the quarterfinals.

Andre Agassi could play 1998 French Open semifinalist Cedric Pioline in round two and 1995 French Open winner Thomas Muster in the third round.

Another first-round highlight features Patrick Rafter against world junior champion Roger Federer.

Hingis, seeking her first championship win at Roland Garros, should beat Amanda Hopmans of the Netherlands in the first round.

She would then face Mauresmo if the Frenchwoman downs Tara Snyder of the United States in their first-round match.

That meeting could reopen the flap before the Melbourne final when Hingis described Mauresmo, who is gay, as "half a man." Mauresmo disparaged Hingis for the remark.

The two have since played once, when Mauresmo beat Hingis at the Gaz de France indoor tournament in Paris.

Defending champion Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario faces 17-year-old Croat Marjana Lucic in the first round.

No. 5-seeded Venus Williams takes on France's Alexandra Fusai in the first round while her younger sister Serena plays Laurence Courtois of Belgium. The sisters cannot meet before the semifinals.

No. 2 Lindsay Davenport takes on countrywoman Jane Chi in the first round.

 

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