Roger Federer handed nightmare Paris Masters draw - Nadal and Djokovic also learn fate
ROGER FEDERER may have to beat Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Kevin Anderson if he is to win the Paris Masters after being handed a nightmare draw.
Novak Djokovic reveals intense Paris Masters training workout
Federer, 37, has skipped the final Masters event of the season for the last two years because of his need to manage his schedule more carefully.
However, he will join Nadal and Djokovic at the competition in the French capital next week.
All three players are seeded so have been handed a bye for the opening round.
But Federer will then face either former world No 3 Milos Raonic or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round. The Swiss star is also in the same quarter as his Wimbledon conqueror Kevin Anderson.
Meanwhile, Djokovic is in the same half of the draw as Federer and the Serbian could meet his French Open victor Marco Cecchinato in his opening tie.
World No 1 Nadal, who needs to match Djokovic’s result this week to stay top of the rankings, will face the winner of Fernando Verdasco vs Jeremy Chardy first up.
The Spaniard is playing for the first time since suffering a knee injury at the US Open and he could meet Jack Sock in the third round before a mouth-watering clash with Dominic Thiem in the last eight.
British No 1 Kyle Edmund is the 12th seed in Paris and will get underway in round two against either Karen Khachanov or Filip Krajinovic.
Roger Federer potential route to final
R1: Bye
R2: Raonic / Tsonga
R3: Fognini
QF: Anderson
SF: Djokovic
F: Nadal
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Rafael Nadal potential route to final
R1: Bye
R2: Verdasco / Chardy
R3: Sock
QF: Thiem / Coric
SF: Zverev / Isner
F: Federer / Djokovic
Novak Djokovic potential route to final
R1: Bye
R2: Cecchinatio / qualifier
R3: Tsitsipas
QF: Cilic / Dimitrov
SF: Federer
F: Nadal