Federer to play Tursunov in 1st round at Olympics

[August 07, 2008]  BEIJING (AP) -- Top-ranked Roger Federer will play Russia's Dmitry Tursunov in the first round of the Beijing Olympics tennis tournament.

Rafael Nadal, who will replace Federer atop the rankings in the week after the Olympic tournament, drew Italy's Potito Starace in the first round and could meet either former No. 1-ranked Lleyton Hewitt or Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden in the second round.

No. 3-ranked Novak Djokovic faces American Robby Ginepri and James Blake is against Chris Guccioni of Australia.

On the women's side, top-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia drew Ukraine's Mariya Koryttseva and No. 3 Svetlana Kuznetsova takes on China's hope, Li Na.

Bjorkman and Koryttseva were among the 12 players granted special places in the Olympic tournament by the International Tennis Federation.

[Associated Press]

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