Djokovic avoids Federer, Murray, Nadal in Wimbledon draw
LONDON – Another Grand Slam draw, another difficult quarterfinal for Rafael Nadal.
Seeded No. 10 after a drop in the rankings after his final-eight loss at the French Open, the Spaniard could face British hope Andy Murray in the quarters at Wimbledon.
It's the standout match from the men's draw ceremony – and one the British tabloids are already drooling over. Nadal, a two-time winner here, is seeded No. 10, his lowest seed ever in the tournament and lowest placement in the draw since making his debut in London in 2003 as the world No. 76.
Murray and Nadal both sit in the bottom half of the draw, along with No. 2 seed Roger Federer, the seven-time champion.
World No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic has a difficult path to a third Wimbledon crown, drawing German Philipp Kohlschreiber to start, then potentially former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in the second round.
Djokovic is joined in the top half by French Open champion Stan Wawrinka, the No. 4 seed, as well as No. 5 Kei Nishikori. The Serb could meet the Japanese star in the quarterfinals, as No. 7 Milos Raonic the big-serving Canadian, looms for Wawrinka.
No. 6 Tomas Berdych and No. 8 Luca Vanni are slated on the bottom half of the draw along with Nadal, Murray and Federer. Luca Vanni replaces David Ferrer after he withdrew from Wimbledon due to a wrist injury. Vanni is set to face the No. 10 seed in the fourth round should they make it that far.
Djokovic was the heavy favorite to win in Paris, having beaten nine-time champion Nadal in the quarterfinals and facing Wawrinka, whom he owned a 17-3 head-to-head record against, in the final. But he fell short there, and now enters Wimbledon with looming questions having not played a match since that June 7 loss.
Murray and Federer arrive at the All England Club with grass titles under their belts, Murray winning Queen's Club for the fourth time and Federer in Halle, Germany, for a record eighth time. It's the most of any title that Federer has won, of the 86 he's captured in his career. He's also seeking an eighth crown at SW19.
American Jack Sock, the No. 31 seed, is drawn to meet Federer in the third round. Another American, Sam Querrey, could meet Federer in the second round. John Isner, the top-ranked American, could meet No. 9 seed Marin Cilic, the reigning U.S. Open champion, in the third round.