Azarenka to play Brianti in French opener

Top-seeded Victoria Azarenka, this year's Australian Open champion, will play Italian Alberta Brianti in the opening round of the French Open. A potential quarterfinal match in the Open could feature longtime stars Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams. The tournament begins Sunday in Paris. Azarenka has U.S. Open winner Samantha Stosur in her half of the draw, which was announced Friday. The two other reigning Grand Slam winners on the women's tour, defending French champion Li Na and Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, are on the other side of the draw in Paris. Sharapova is seeded second, Agnieszka Radwanska third, Kvitova fourth, Williams fifth, Stosur sixth and Li seventh. If they keep winning, perennial headliners Sharapova and Williams -- in the Li-Kvitova half of the draw -- could meet in a quarterfinal duel. Sharapova needs only a French Open crown to complete a career Grand Slam. Williams, a 13-time major winner, goes into the clay-court French event with a 17-0 record on clay this season. She withdrew from a tournament iin Rome last week, citing a back problem.