Johanna Konta opens French Open campaign against Yulia Putintseva
Serena Williams could face Maria Sharapova in the fourth round at Roland Garros on her return to Grand Slam tennis from maternity leave
Thursday 24 May 2018 19:17, UK
Britain's Johanna Konta will play world No 93 Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in the first round of the French Open, while Heather Watson faces France's Oceane Dodin.
Three-time champion Serena Williams will face Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic, with a potential clash against bitter rival Maria Sharapova in the last 16.
Former world No 1 Williams, now ranked a lowly 453, is playing a Grand Slam for the first time since she won her 23rd major at the 2017 Australian Open, after which she stepped off the tour to give birth to her daughter in September.
Williams has played just four matches on the tour in 2018, not featuring at all since Miami in March. She will take on Pliskova, who is the twin sister of world No 6 Karolina, and has never won a main draw match at Roland Garros.
Sharapova, champion in 2012 and 2014, missed last year's event after being refused a wild card as she battled to rebuild her career following a 15-month doping ban, and the Russian will take on a qualifier in the first round.
Top seed and two-time runner-up Simona Halep faces American Alison Riske in her opener, second seed and Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki starts against another American, Danielle Collins, and third-ranked Garbine Muguruza will tackle Svetlana Kuznetsova in a battle of the former champions.
Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko will begin the defence of her title against Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova.
The tournament starts on Sunday.
