Federer’s route to latter rounds looks a smooth one
LONDON: Defending champion Roger Federer will begin his quest for a recordextending ninth Wimbledon title with a firstround clash against Serbian world No 57 Dusan Lajovic.
The 36yearold Swiss, seeded one, appears to have been given a smoothish route to the latter rounds, although inform third seed Marin Cilicm, whom he beat in last year’s final, could be waiting in the semifinals this time.
Seventime women’s champion Serena Williams was handed a comfortablelooking firstround draw after being paired with 107thranked Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus.
The 36yearold American, who has played only a handful of matches this year after giving birth last September, is seeded 25th after being bumped up from her world ranking of 183.
It could soon get harder for Williams, though. Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the fifth seed, lies in wait as a potential thirdround opponent.
Defending women’s champion Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, will play Briton Naomi Broady in the first round while Venus Williams, runnerup last year, takes on Swede Johanna Larsson.
Men’s second seed Rafael Nadal, champion in 2008 and 2010, starts against Israeli Dudi Sela while threetime champion Novak Djokovic faces American Tennys Sandgren.
British favourite Andy Murray, still in doubt for the tournament as he makes a comeback from nearly a year out with a hip injury, is unseeded and was drawn to play Benoit Paire.
Twice champion Murray, whose last grand slam match win came against Paire in the fourth round of last year’s Wimbledon, could face Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov in round two and Argentine Juan Martin del Potro in round three.
The biggest match of the men’s first round will be sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov’s tussle against threetime grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka, who is unseeded after an injury break.
Women’s top seed Simona Halep will play Japan’s Kurumi Nara in the first round.
The Romanian world No 1, who claimed her first grand slam title at the French Open this month, could face a rematch with Britain’s Johanna Konta in the fourth round, having lost an epic quarterfinal last year.
Halep’s potential quarterfinal opponent is twotime champion Petra Kvitova, while third seed Muguruza seeded to play against her in the semis.
Women’s second seed Caroline Wozniacki, who won the Eastbourne championships yes terday, starts against American Varvara Lepchenko.
Federer and Nadal, who contested a memorable final 10 years ago and are again dominating men’s tennis, can have few complaints about their draws.
Federer could face 94thranked Lukas Lacko or 285thranked Benjamin Bonzi in round two and his first seeded opponent would be 32nd seed Leonardo Mayer, of Argentina, in round three.
Nadal, who has been vulnerable on the Wimbledon lawns in recent years, will be a little more wary.
Surprise French Open semifinalist Marco Cecchinato, seeded 29, or German serveandvolleyer Mischa Zverev could await in the third round. Should he reach the quarterfinals, Nadal could face Del Potro or even Murray.
Federer will open centre court action tomorrow while Serena Williams also starts on day one.
Murray will have a Wednesday start against Paire, giving him an extra day to assess his fitness.