Somdev to lead Indian challenge in French Open qualifiers

Paris:

He is not sizzling on the tennis courts these days but Somdev Devvarman will once again carry the Indian hopes when he strives to make the men's singles main draw of the French Open - the second Grand Slam of the year.

Somdev, India's number one and world number 138, has been seeded 26th in the qualifying event and will open his campaign against Brazil's world number 223 Joao Souza.

Prakash Amritraj is also in the fray but has been handed a tough draw as he is up against third seed and world number 96 Brazilian Daniel Marcos.

In the first Grand Slam of the year - Australian Open - Somdev had beaten Prakash in the first round but lost in the second to Poland's Lukasz Kubot.

Since making a spectacular start to the season at Chennai Open, where he finished runner-up, Somdev is struggling on the courts and has hardly reached the later stages of various ATP Challenger Tour events he competed in.

Meanwhile, the seasoned duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will present their challenge in the men's doubles while Sania Mirza as usual will be the sole Indian player in the women's competitions in the clay court event.