PARIS, May 21 (AFP) - World number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, the 1996 champion, was handed an intriguing first-round opponent at this year's French Open on Friday - 1989 champion Michael Chang of the United States. Chang became the youngest-ever French champion aged just 17 and three months for his only Grand Slam win but has since slid down the rankings and is currently struggling to maintain a place in the top 50. Should Kafelnikov negotiate that hurdle he is in line for a fourth-round clash against Croatia's Goran Ivanisevic, the 16th seed, who faces Hicham Arazi of Morocco in his opener. Kafelnikov, who won the Australian Open in January, is bidding for the first back-to-back Grand Slam wins since 1996. Defending champion Carlos Moya of Spain will face tall Austrian Markus Hipfl, while Australia's third-seeded Pat Rafter, who can close in on top spot with a good showing here, has an intriguing encounter with junior world champion Roger Federer of Switzerland. Moya could face two-time runner-up Andre Agassi - who opens against up and coming Argentine Franco Squillari, the winner at Munich earlier this month - in round four. Pete Sampras, vying for Kafelnikov's top spot as he chases the only Grand Slam he has never won, starts off against Juan Antonio Marin of Costa Rica, ranked in the 80s. Sampras, who reached the semi-final in 1996 for the only time to date, could face Rafter at the semi-final stage. British seeds Tim Henman, the world number seven, and Greg Rusedski, seeded 12, both have potentially tough obstacles to overcome as they prepare for the clay neither feels at home on. Henman plays classy Moroccan Karim Alami while Rusedski, the winner at Bercy on his last visit to Paris last autumn, faces German Davis Cup player David Prinosil. Although both the Britons' opponents are ranked in the 50s, they both have enough ammunition in their locker to cause a surprise on the red clay. In-form Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten, the 1997 champion and seeded eight, opens against Spaniard Galo Blanco, ranked 105, while ninth-seeded Chilean Marcelo Rios faces a qualifier. Alex Corretja of Spain, the sixth seed who lost to Moya in last year's final, will also play a qualifier. World number five Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands, a former Wimbledon champion and semi-finalist here in 1993, will face Jan-Michael Gambill of the United States, ranked in the 40s. In Sampras' quarter of the draw, big serving tenth-seed Mark "Scud" Philippoussis goes straight into an all-Australian clash against Jason Stoltenberg.  