World number one Gregory Gaultier of France will return to defend his Swedish Open crown ©PSA

World number one Gregory Gaultier of France will begin the defence of his Professional Squash Association (PSA) Swedish Open title against compatriot Mathieu Castagnet after organisers conducted the draw for next month's tournament in Linköping.

Gaultier is the top seed for the event, due to be held at the Linköping Sporthall from February 8 to 11.

Egypt's world number three Ali Farag has been confirmed as the second seed and will face a qualifier in his opening match.

Two days of qualification are scheduled to take place at the Linköping Squash Center and Norrköping Squash Center on February 6 and 7.

Gaultier is seeded to face Simon Rösner, the German number one, and Egyptian world number seven Tarek Momen, on his route to the final of the event in the Swedish city.

World number three Ali Farag has been confirmed as the second seed and will face a qualifier in his opening match ©Getty Images
World number three Ali Farag has been confirmed as the second seed and will face a qualifier in his opening match ©Getty Images

Stockholm-based Rasmus Hult takes the tournament wildcard spot for the eighth successive year and he will look to make it past the opening round for the first time when he meets Omar Mosaad of Egypt, the number eight seed.

"We are looking forward to hosting another week of world-class squash for the 2018 edition of the Swedish Open, which looks set to be the most exciting installment yet," tournament promoter Fredrik Johnson said.

"Not only do we have the support of the current world number one, Gregory Gaultier, we will also have four of the world's top 10 players - and nine of the top 20 - competing on the glass court here in Linköping, which is further evidence of the Swedish Open's status as one of the biggest and most highly-regarded European tournaments on the PSA World Tour."