Nadal Djokovic
The duo could be set for a mouthwatering showdown once again in French Open 2016 semifinals. Pictured: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic shake hands at the net after the Qatar Open final, January 9, 2016.Reuters

'King of Clay' Rafael Nadal, one of the most established names to have played and dominated the French Open, will take on Sam Groth in the opening round of the French Open 2016. Expected to be an easy tie for the nine-time winner in Roland Garros, the big test could come for the Spaniard in the semifinals of the competition.

Nadal, who could face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter finals this time around, could also potentially have a showdown with World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the men's singles semifinals of the competition.

Djokovic had beaten Nadal in the quarterfinals last year in the Roland Garros, before getting defeated by Stan Wawrinka over four sets in the final of French Open 2015.

The Serbian, on his part, takes on Lu Yen-hsun in the first round, before a potential quarterfinal showdown with Tomas Berdych. 

Defending men's singles champion Wawrinka, meanwhile, will start his campaign this year against Lukas Rosol and could potentially meet Andy Murray in the semifinals of the competition.

In the women's draw, defending champion Serena Williams starts off her campaign in Roland Garros 2016 against Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia in the opening round, before a potential quarterfinal showdown with two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka.

Williams, 34, will be vying for her fourth French Open title this time around.

It was earlier announced that Roger Federer has had to quit from participating in the Grand Slam after having failed to recover from a back injury. The 34-year-old Swiss tennis legend, who won the French Open in 2009, will thus miss a Grand Slam for the first time in 17 years.

Caroline Wozniacki, Belinda Bencic and Frenchman Gael Monfils have also pulled out of the competition owing to injuries. Maria Sharapova, meanwhile, is not a part of French Open 2016 as well, as she is provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

The draws in full: