Luck of the draw for Federer

It didn't seem like a big deal at the time when Rafael Nadal failed to slide through a small opening in the world rankings earlier this year to replace Roger Federer as the game's No. 1 player.

That was in January. The fact Nadal is still No. 2 in the world becomes a very big deal on Friday at the French Open. The best clay-court player in the game plays possibly tennis' best current player in the semifinals. That's Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic.

But that's also because of the luck of the draw. Federer's top half of the draw could just as easily have included the third-ranked Djokovic rather than the already eliminated fourth-ranked Nikolay Daveydenko. That's just the breaks of the draw, but in reality the semifinals should pit No. 2 against No. 3, and Nos. 1 and 4.

Yet, if the French open were like Wimbledon where the tournament compiles its own seedings, a three-time defending champion obviously would have been the top seed. That would be Nadal, and he would be a cinch for the final.

Nadal still should be in Sunday's final, although defeating Djokovic might not be easy.

Federer probably would love to play Nadal again in the French Open. His three straight losses to Nadal on Paris' red clay must sting pretty badly.

Just the same, you can bet that Federer wouldn't mind taking his chances against Djokovic's more powerful, yet more erratic game.

Of course, Federer still has to get by sometimes mercurial Fernando Gonzalez today in the quarterfinals as well as a semifinal against clay-court star David Ferrer or Frenchman Gael Monfils before he can worry about Nadal or Djokovic.

A Serb woman?

Now that Maria Sharapova and most of the other superstars have been eliminated from the women's side, you've got to like the chances of Serbians Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic, especially since one of them will be in Saturday's final. Both are due for a Grand Slam title. The only trouble is they're set to meet in Thursday's semifinals.

But hard-hitting Dinara Safina and former U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova are still alive in today's quarterfinals. If someone other than Kuznetsova comes out of the top half of the draw where three of the four players left are Russians, you probably can bank on the Jankovic-Ivanovic survivor.

Combo ready

Lowcountry Tennis Association president Bob Peiffer has announced that registrations for the combo doubles league are now open. Teams have until June 27 to have at least six people and three eligible partnerships registered on their roster. Play will begin in mid-July. The super seniors league will be for players 60 and older.

All-Lowcountry salute

Congratulations to Palmetto Christian Academy junior Don Bruner on being selected as The Post and Courier's Lowcountry boys' player of the year and to first-year Bishop England coach Skip ReVille, who was named the coach of the year. Bruner had a fabulous spring, suffering only a loss to fellow All-Lowcountry first-teamer Richard Pearce of Porter-Gaud. Hats off to all of the athletes named, including Pinewood Prep senior Scott Hayes, who was on the All-Lowcountry honorable mention list.

Reach James Beck at jdbeck@postandcourier.com or (843) 937-5540.