Serena handed easy first round draw

London, June 29: Defending champion Roger Federer will begin his quest for a record- extending ninth Wimbledon title with a first round clash against Serbian world number 57 Dusan Lajovic.

The 36- year- old Swiss, seeded one, has been placed in the same half of the draw as in- form Croatian third seed Marin Cilic who he beat in last year’s final.

Seven- time women’s champion Serena Williams was handed a comfortable looking first-round draw after being paired with 107th ranked Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus.

The 36- year- old, who has played only a handful of matches this year after giving birth last September, is seeded 25th after being bumped up from a current world ranking of 183.

Defending women’s champion Garbine Muguruza of Spain will play Briton Naomi Broady in the first round.

Men’s second seed Rafael Nadal starts against Israel’s Dudi Sela while Novak Djokovic faces American Tennys Sandgren.

British favourite Andy Murray, still a 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.

Women’s top seed Simona Halep will play Japan’s Kurumi Nara in the first round.

YUKI MEETS FABBIANO

IN OPENER India’s top singles player Yuki Bhambri was drawn to meet old nemesis Thomas Fabbiano in his Wimbledon opener and as many as six Indians will feature in the doubles main draw. In the men’s doubles, Grand Slam debutants Vishnu Vardhan and Sriram Balaji open their campaign against Wesley Koolhof and Marcus Daniell. — Agencies