Spanish world number two Rafael Nadal [ Images ] will start his 2008 season against Frenchman Mathieu Montcourt in the first round of the Chennai Open ATP event starting on Monday.

Saturday's draw pitted Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis [ Images ], the second seed, against Dutchman Robin Haase while defending champion Xavier Malisse of Belgium will play Giles Muller of Luxembourg.

Malisse, 27, who toppled French Open [ Images ] champion Nadal in the semis last year and also went on to beat the Spaniard in the doubles final, is unseeded after slumping to 112th in the rankings due to a wrist injury suffered in February.

Spain's former world number one Carlos Moya [ Images ], twice a winner in Chennai, is seeded third and Russian number two Mikhail Youzhny fourth.

Baghdatis, the current world number 16, said he was looking forward to a new start.

"This is the first tournament for the new year so it will be tough until I find my rhythm, but I'm ready," he told reporters.

"This year I want to get into the top 10 and stay there," he added.