Elena Baltacha paired with No 8 seed

BRITAIN'S women have been handed tough first-round draws for the French Open at Roland Garros.

Elena Baltacha, Britain's No 1, and predecessors Anne Keothavong and Katie O'Brien face a pair of seeds and a battle-hardened veteran in their opening matches.

Scot Baltacha has the toughest task after drawing No 8 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, although if she can get past the Pole, the tournament may open up for her. The world No 63 beat last year's quarter-finalist Sorana Cirstea at the Internationaux in Strasbourg earlier this week before pulling out of the tournament with a back injury.

She said of Radwanska: "I've played her before, but it was three or four years ago and I'm a different player now. Coming in here after beating Cirstea earlier this week in Strasbourg has given me a lot of confidence.

"I went into that match feeling like I had nothing to lose and ready to play the best I can and I'll take the same attitude into the match against Radwanska.

"My back is getting better every day and I'm very confident it will settle down by the time I play."

British No 3 Keothavong plays 14th seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy. Keothavong, crushed 6-0, 6-0 at the same stage of the tournament by Dinara Safina last year, said: "It's a tough match. She's seeded and she's a very good player but given what happened here last year I hope whatever happens against Pennetta will be an improvement.

O'Brien, the nation's No 2, takes on 35-year-old American Jill Craybas, and said: "I played Jill at Eastbourne but it was a few years ago. She's very experienced but I'll go out there feeling confident."