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Federer, Kiefer hoping to break jinx
May 27, 2004 12:15 IST
Roger Federer and Nicolas Kiefer will both try to break a French Open jinx when they meet in the French Open second round on Thursday.
The Swiss world number one, who spent only 75 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen to dismiss Belgian qualifier Kristof Vliegen in the first round, takes on his German opponent on centre court.
Federer, beaten in the first round in 2002 and last year, pointed out before the start of the tournament that he had never won a match, let alone a set, on the Philippe Chatrier court.
Kiefer's French Open record is even worse. The former great hope of German tennis, who reached fourth in the world in 2000, has never been past the second round in seven previous appearances at Roland Garros.
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Their clash is the second scheduled match on centre court.
Jennifer Capriati, the 2001 champion, is first in action against Czech Kveta Peschke.
Serena Williams, the highest seed in the women's draw after champion Justine Henin-Hardenne's second round defeat, tackles Russia's Maria Krilienko on Court Suzanne Lenglen while her sister Venus plays Croatia's Jelena Kostanic.
Defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, seeded fourth, is scheduled for the last match on centre court against Russia's Igor Andreev.
But the most exciting match on offer on Thursday could well be the one scheduled for the evening between Marat Safin and former French Open semi-finalist Felix Mantilla on court one.