ESPN 2008 French Open

Tournament: French Open
Surface: Clay
Draw: 128
Prize money: $24,519,000
Top seeds: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko

Roger Federer must be breathing a little easier. The somewhat beleaguered Swiss, still seeking that elusive French Open crown with time running out, won't have to face archrivals Novak Djokovic or David Nalbandian as he attempts to reach a third consecutive final. A repeat of Rafael Nadal's blockbuster with Djokovic in the Hamburg Masters semifinals appears likely for the same stage in Paris, while the United States, 0-for-9 in last year's opening round, will have -- sigh -- at least one man in the second round.

First Quarter: Gentle for Federer
There's not much good news when you draw Federer straightaway, but California's Sam Querrey should look at it this way: The world No. 1 might be vulnerable in early rounds, and Querrey reached the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters, where the conditions most resemble those of Roland Garros. At 6-foot-6, Querrey is known for his big serve, although he says clay gives him time to let rip from the baseline.

Spain's Albert Montanes, Federer's likely second-round opponent, has a bit of momentum, having reached the quarterfinals at the Hamburg Masters. But there's little to suggest the veteran clay-court specialist will trouble Federer, especially since Djokovic drilled him in Germany.

A floater awaits in the third, either the vastly improving Andreas Seppi or former world No. 7 Mario Ancic. Federer demolished a clearly pooped Seppi in the Hamburg semis and toppled Ancic in the 2006 French Open quarters in a tight three sets.

Dark horse Juan Monaco, if he can navigate past big-hitting Swede Robin Soderling, figures to be Federer's fourth-round foe. The 13th-seeded Argentine notched the second-most wins on clay in 2007 and went toe to toe with Federer in Hamburg in 2007. That one intrigues.

If the seedings stick, it will be Federer versus local favorite Richard Gasquet in the quarterfinals. Gasquet, however, is slumping badly, just split with his coach and crumbles under the pressure at the French. Igor Andreev, the surging Fernando Gonzalez or Stanislas Wawrinka is a better bet to get there. Swiss No. 2 Wawrinka, ranked 10th, has a tasty first-round encounter with German shotmaker Philipp Kohlschreiber. Georgia residents Robby Ginepri and Donald Young square off in the first round, so one American will get through.

Prediction: Federer

Second Quarter: Davydenko's tribulations
When he is on his game, fourth-ranked Russian Nikolay Davydenko is devastating. When he is off it, it ain't pretty to watch. Which one will turn up in Paris?

Davydenko, the Miami Masters winner, began the clay-court season well, making the semis in Monte Carlo. He then disappointed at the Rome Masters and in Hamburg. He likely will face countryman and two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin in the second round.

A few months ago, that wouldn't have scared him. Safin, though, recently advanced to his first top-tier quarterfinal in a year, qualified for Hamburg and got to the third round.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, spared surgery for a knee injury, seems to be France's best men's hope, even if he excels on faster surfaces. Tsonga is into the semifinals at a warm-up event in Casablanca this week and has a nice-looking road to the fourth round. Interestingly, he could tangle with compatriot Gael Monfils in the round of 64. Monfils was supposed to be the big French hope by now.

Fifth-ranked David Ferrer, perhaps fatigued the past few weeks, has tailed off. But he should be energized, thanks to a cushy draw to the quarters. Former French Open finalist Guillermo Coria, beset by arm injuries, makes his first visit in three years.

Prediction: Ferrer

Third Quarter: Hello Novak, farewell Guga
Djokovic is more prolific on hard courts, but he reached his first Grand Slam semifinal at the French Open last year. The Serb has more than a routine opener -- he'll meet German Denis Gremelmayr. Gremelmayr snared a set off Federer in the semis in Estoril, Portugal, in April and found himself in the Barcelona semis, too, having knocked off Nicolas Almagro and James Blake.

Guillermo Canas is faltering. Still, meeting Djokovic in the third round looks good on paper. Bashing French baseliner Paul-Henri Mathieu has a decent chance of reaching the fourth round versus Djokovic. He opens against three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten, contesting his final event before retiring.

Blake, a quarterfinalist in Rome, won't get a better opportunity to land in the quarterfinals in Paris. A potential third-round match with another Serb, Janko Tipsarevic, is probably his biggest obstacle, given that Czech 11th-seed Tomas Berdych is rusty.

Prediction: Djokovic

Fourth Quarter: It's all about Rafa
Simply put, there's little to trouble Nadal, the three-time defending champion, until the fourth round, where dangerous floater and Davis Cup teammate Fernando Verdasco lurks. Verdasco, also a lefty, is supremely talented and enters the French with a career-best ranking of 23rd.

Nalbandian has been known to labor through early rounds of majors, but a shock beckons if the Argentine can't get to the fourth round. There, Almagro, a dangerous floater himself, has a chance.

Nalbandian has crushed Nadal in both their meetings, none of which have been on clay or in a best-of-five set tilt.

Prediction: Nadal

Semifinals
Djokovic, according to many, played as well as he could have on clay against Nadal in Hamburg. His forehand routinely punished the Spaniard; he patrolled the court in Nadal-esque fashion, mixed it up from the baseline and threw in more than a few good drop shots. It still wasn't enough. Over five sets, it won't be, either.

Ferrer has elevated his game in the past year, and he's most comfortable on the dirt. He could stretch Federer to four sets, maybe five, although he won't collect his first victory in nine against the world No. 1.

Prediction: Nadal, Federer to advance

Final
Nadal toiled against Djokovic for three hours a day earlier, was playing in Hamburg, where conditions suit his opponent, and trailed 5-1 in the first set facing Federer last week. He still won.

Federer continues to suggest he's getting closer to finding that winning formula versus Nadal on clay, but again, over five sets, the task looks almost impossible.

Prediction: Nadal in four sets

Ravi Ubha is a frequent contributor to ESPN.com.