PARIS -- The second-round clash between top seed Martina Hingis and France's Amelie Mauresmo offers a bittersweet main course on Wednesday's menu at the French Open.

As well as a repeat of this year's Australian Open final, it will also be, in the eyes of French fans angered by Hingis's remarks about her opponent in Melbourne, a fine opportunity for revenge.

Before the Melbourne final, Hingis said that Mauresmo, who has openly professed her homosexuality, played like a man.

Mauresmo exacted some revenge in the Paris Open in February, beating the Swiss in the semifinals before losing in the final to American Serena Williams.

But a war of nerves seemed to have started up again at Roland Garros when Hingis hinted that the match was no more important than any other while, by contrast, Mauresmo said she still had a grudge against the world No. 1.

"It's a big issue because we're playing in Paris. But it would not be if we were playing in Rome or anywhere in the United States," Hingis said.

"Obviously what she said about me will boost my motivation," Mauresmo replied.