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Fourth seed Nadal, who has only lost one match on clay this
season, was handed a tricky first-round opponent in the
mercurial Benoit Paire on Friday.
Serbian Djokovic, the second seed, will take on Spain's Marcel
Granollers, a man who has won three of his four ATP titles on
the red dirt.
World number one Andy Murray, who has been struggling this
season, will play Russian Andrey Kuznetsov and faces a potential
third-round with either claycourt specialist Nicolas Almagro or
Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro.
Third seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, the 2015 champion, will
face a qualifier and could meet Murray in the semi-finals.
In the women's draw Czech Petra Kvitova, who has not played
competitive tennis since being stabbed during a burglary at her
home last December, was included as 15th seed thanks to her
protected ranking.
Providing she is fit to play, she will take on American Julia
Boserup.
Defending champion Garbine Muguruza was handed a tricky first
round as she will take on the 2010 champion, Italian Francesca
Schiavone.
On her possible path to the final, the fourth-seeded Spaniard
could also face American Venus Williams.
World number one Angelique Kerber will open her campaign against
Ekaterina Makarova.
Several top names will not feature in this year's tournament as
18-time grand slam champion Roger Federer is skipping the
claycourt season, two-time champion Maria Sharapova was denied a
wild card after returning from a doping ban, and three-time
winner Serena Williams is expecting a child.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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