Mauresmo out for revenge against Safarova

PARIS, June 2 (Reuters) Home favourite Amelie Mauresmo will seek revenge over Lucie Safarova in the third round of the French Open today.

Former world number one Mauresmo, eager to shine in the grand slam tournament where she has never gone beyond the quarter-finals in 12 previous appearances, met Safarova in this year's Australian Open.

Mauresmo, seeded fifth here, was knocked out by the 20-year-old Czech in the fourth round in Melbourne.

Appearing before the Frenchwoman on Centre Court will be world number two Maria Sharapova, who should be too strong for fellow Russian Alla Kudryavtseva.

World number two Rafael Nadal of Spain, chasing a third consecutive Roland Garros title, also faces compatriot Albert Montanes on Centre Court.

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, who hit back from two sets down to defeat former champion Gaston Gaudio in the previous round, could face another marathon contest with Finn Jarkko Nieminen on Court One.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic, seeded sixth and regarded as one of the few players capable of upsetting Nadal and world number one Roger Federer's plans to meet in the final, should overcome French wild card Olivier Patience on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

It should be dry with sunny spells in the French capital, in sharp contrast with the first few days of the tournament when showers kept disrupting play.

REUTERS TB PM1145