PARIS // Novak Djokovic's bid to win a fourth consecutive grand slam championship - and first French Open title - might require a semi-final victory over Roger Federer.
Yesterday's draw set them up to face each other in Paris at the same stage as last year, when Federer beat Djokovic in four epic sets to end the Serb's 43-match winning streak that dated to December 2010.
That was Djokovic's last loss at a major. Since then, he won the titles at Wimbledon, the US Open and Australian Open, and is trying to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win four grand slam trophies in a row.
Djokovic's quarter-final opponent could be No 5 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Other possible quarter-final match-ups include Federer against 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro or No 7 seed Tomas Berdych.
Six-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal could be up against No 8 seed Janko Tipsarevic in the last eight, and world No 4 Andy Murray could face No 6 David Ferrer at the same stage.
The highlight of the women's quarter-finals set up in the draw could be Serena Williams against Maria Sharapova.
No 1 seed and Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and US Open champion Sam Stosur are scheduled to meet at the quarter-final stage, barring any upsets, as are defending champion Li Na and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
In her first Grand Slam tournament since revealing she has an autoimmune disease, seven-time major champion Venus Williams could meet Radwanska in the second round and 2009 French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the third.
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