The Wimbledon draw ceremony was held on Friday morning at the All-England Club, where Rafael Nadal was already the big story due to his No. 3 seeding.
Nadal is an even bigger story now.
Not only did the two-time champion land in Roger Federer’s half of the bracket, but he could also run into familiar foe Nick Kyrgios in the second round. Kyrgios, who first has to get past an in-form Jordan Thompson, famously took down the Spaniard at Wimbledon in 2014 and most recently in Acapulco a few months ago. The overall head-to-head series stands at 3-3. Nadal’s opener will come against Yuichi Sugita, who crushed Lukas Rosol–also the proud owner of an upset over Nadal at this slam–in the final round of qualifying.
Federer, who is ranked No. 3 but secured the second seed by virtue of Wimbledon’s grass-court formula, has an easier path at the bottom of the bracket. The 37-year-old should completely cruise through his first matches before possibly meeting Lucas Pouille in the last 32 and either Borna Coric or Jan-Lennard Struff in round four. Kei Nishikori would be Federer’s quarterfinal opponent if the seeds hold, but 2018 semifinalist John Isner and a red-hot Mattero Berrettini are also looming.
No section is more wide open than Kevin Anderson’s. The fourth-seeded South African finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic last summer in SW19, but he has been plagued by elbow trouble in 2019. With Alexander Zverev–who has never reached a major semifinal–also in this quarter, a spot in the last four appears to be up for grabs. Other contenders include Karen Khachanov, Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic, and Queen’s Club champ Feliciano Lopez.
Whoever emerges can expect to face Djokovic in the semis. That’s not to say the top-ranked Serb has a cakewalk through the top quarter. His first-rounder is against Philipp Kohlschreiber (stunned Djokovic this spring in Indian Wells), while Felix Auger-Aliassime is a possible fourth-round adversary and Stefanos Tsitsipas (1-1 in the H2H vs. Djokovic) can hope to get another shot at the world No. 1 in the quarters.
Other first-round showdowns to watch are Dominic Thiem vs. Sam Querrey, Fabio Fognini vs. Frances Tiafoe, Marin Cilic vs. Adrian Mannarino, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Bernard Tomic, Anderson vs. Pierre-Hugues Herbert, and Struff vs. Marcos Baghdatis in what will likely be the retiring Cypriot’s final match.
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who ya got?
So he got NK the one player I didn’t want him to have to meet early on😠is there a reasonable chance NK loses first round?
Always a chance but not a very reasonable one. NK will be even more motivated. But so will Rafa! 🙂
I haven’t seen Fed’s draw but apparently it’s easy. If wimby hadn’t messed around with the seedings that would have been rafa’s. Very unamused to put it mildly.
amy, I think Djoko’s draw is even easier. Plus he has Anderson in his half… But Rafa’s is the most difficult as it appears.
Both Nole and Fed having easy draws doesn’t cheer me up Eugene!☺ Rafa has so much bad luck at wimby!😢
Nole does not have very easy..Felix in fourth n tsitsipas in qtrs could be tough if it goes as per plan
All is not lost. The match in 2014 wasn’t as if Nick blew Rafa off the court.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x21cvg5
Yes but it’s not exactly great is it?! Very fed up that rafa doesn’t have the draw for the #2 seed.
Yes, Rafa has been cheated out of his ranking at Wimbledon again and that’s been the case since 2013, but we can’t cry over spilt milk, I’m sure Rafa and his team will prepare him as best they can. Rafa, more than anyone, can read a match and make the changes he needs to make.
Yeah sorry nadline just feeling really upset. I really want to see rafa in the final rounds.
Guys, it’s not like Wimbledon decided to change the draw process this year. Or Rafa didn’t know he will be the 3rd seed if Fed wins Halle… This was a known fact after RG ended.
yep
Yes, but when it happens this way it just makes the system look ridiculous considering that its the only slam with that system.
And Rafa did not just decide to complain about it. He was asked a question and he gave his view.
If I were him I would not be happy about being demoted to 3 either (as if Roger needs any more favours, esp on grass, sigh!!!) But like i suspect, it’s not going to make a difference bcos this will just motivate Rafa and i believe he will win the title and shut everybody up like he always does!!!
So Nk second rd. Shaps third. Cilic fourth. Dom quarters.That’s a horrible draw.
Shapo may not get past Tsonga, though Tsonga won’t be easy either.
I agree with Nadline, it’s not like Kyrgios blown Rafa away in that 2014 match! If Rafa could go the distance with Muller in 2017 when Muller was serving well the whole match, I dont see why Rafa couldn’t handle Kyrgios’s serve. If Kyrgios is playing well, then Rafa should let the match drag on so that Kyrgios will make more errors as the match gets longer and longer.
Don’t have to worry about Cilic so soon, Cilic also needs to get past his opponents to reach R4.
As long as Rafa serves well and could play like at the AO, he will have his chances. He needs to play an aggressive game and concentrates on holding his own serve, and be calm throughout his matches.
Yeah sorry guys. Just feeling emotional today! Any chance NK loses first round??
if Nadal wasn’t his second-round opponent, Kyrgios would definitely lose to Thompson
as it is, Kyrgios will win in easy straight sets
Yes that’s my thinking as well! However there is always a decent chance NK blows a gasket over something and goes haywire so here’s hoping!
Hahahha this is the truest statement ever Ricky
Rafa will need to return well but that’s true in any case if he wants to win Wimbledon. I hate it that he’s playing NK in the 2nd round. I’d like to kneecap the jerk but I’m going to make an exception to my rule and watch the damn match – and hope I don’t throw something through my tv!
Yes that’s my thinking as well! However there is always a decent chance NK blows a gasket over something and goes haywire so here’s hoping!
Well I am hoping that Nadal can defy all odds and the best laid plans of mice and men, by going all the way. VAMOS Rafa.
Just wondering, but why is it that all other slams stream their draw ceremony, so that it can be seen to be done and Wimbledon, in this day of advanced technology, reveal the draw by broadcasting it on the Radio?
good question…
…but I was there, so I know (or at least THINK!) it wasn’t rigged
Well, if they were going to rig it, I don’t think it’d be obvious to onlookers. Wimbly did use to stream it, didn’t they? I remember watching the draw that paired Isner and Mahut in the first round the year after the famous 60-58 in the 5th.
In general I’m not a fan of rigged draw theories but some of them do make you shake your head…
Some great 1st round matches, and GOAT’s draw pretty favorable!
How did Rafa get the worst of the seeds possible from 25 to 32,13 to 16 and 5 to 8 on grass with big serves n hitters in third,fourth,qf..is this a coincidence .seriously I can’t believe it ..all 3 rounds?
I mean can Rafa get past kyrgios,Tsonga/shapo,cilic,Thiem ..all big big hitters ..I was so hoping for Rafa to get wimby this year .
Feds draw is cupcake. He got even the easiest QTR of all..nishikori
You know, honestly I am not worried about all this. I believe Rafa will win Wimby, just watch!!!,,,,,,,and then what will they do next?! What will they then say?
I think Rafa will use this as a way to hone his skills and make a very big pint!!! Come on Rafa, win your third Wimby!! As I know you are quite capable of winning against all odds!
VAMOS!!
Yes agreed, Monalisa.
It’s no point worrying about the draw, if Rafa wants to win Wimbledon, and is given a tough draw, so be it. If he can navigate past such a tough draw to win it in the end, that’ll silent many naysayers!
I hope Rafa does his best and wins his third Wimbledon this year. Vamos!
Most naysayers, Lucky, are Rafafans here. Complaining about the seed and draw before the tournament even started. Rafa for sure has a different mentality, and he knows he can win it, no matter what.
No, naysayers include those people not at this website.
Oh, yeah, they are too many outside this space. Let’s ignore them.
Amy..feds draw is super easy..
Set up for him well to reach the final..
If Rafa beats kyrgios .he could go very high on confidence
Any proof that it ‘was set up for him well to rich the final’? Or you just react impulsively on your first silly thought? You should challenge your thoughts sometimes. That has the potential to change your life forever.
Set up as in he should breeze through it without any difficulty…I’m not necessarily saying it was fixed for him but I’m not ruling it out either 🙂 his draw is just too easy Eugene..you really think he got all the best fortune and Rafa all the misfortune ? How can Rafa draw the worst out of 25 to 32,13 to 16 and 5 to 8 from a playing style perspective on grass..
Sanju, my idea is not to get attached to a scenario that FITS YOUR NARRATIVE. I wouldn’t be surprised if the draw is fixed in this superficial western ‘capitalism’ where money are the most important factor. If you have 4 white ball in a bucket and a red one, and the red one is withdrawn, you don’t scream ‘ Oh, you see, it’s fixed, I told you!’ . What’s wrong with Rafa playing a Tsonga which is past his peak and Roger playing a young, strong Coric? Who said that Rafa should avoid Kygios, otherwise something doesn’t smell good. The draw for Rafa looks difficult, but here we have to keep an open mind and not adhere to a specific scenario. We simply don’t know. Nothing personal sanju, everyone should challenge their thoughts from time to time.
Coric is injured Eugene..he withdrew from Halle right from his match..
Don’t you agree cilic is stronger on grass than coric and Tsonga /shapo tougher than pouille ?
Mostly agree. I don’t even take Pouille very seriously.
Cilic is historically quite strong on grass, so if he gets back to that sort of form he will be hard to beat. However if you look at his last 6 – 12 months of matches, his overall record has not been good and he has really dropped down a level.
Please do not get personal at me Eugene ..stay off your personal remarks and attacks at me..i did not attack anyone on this forum neither did I attack Federer for you to attack me
“It’s set up for him” does NOT imply that someone deliberately set it up that way. Rafa had an easy draw at RG. This time he has a very tough one. And I expect privately he’ll grouse about it a bit with his family/team for about 5 mins. Then he’ll get back to work and do the best he can.
I did not see Rafa fans complaining when Theim was drawn in Djoker’s half this year at RG. You make your own luck period.
On the seeding..I am not complaining as this is the process since years…they did not change it just this year..whether the process they follow is right or not is debatable..they take total ranking points n still count grass points past one year…why double count…restrict it to adding for 1 year back the best event is what I feel..
Lets us just admit the system is stupid!! Whichever way we choose to look at it.
That’s the problem with a lot of us in this world. Bcos something goes on for a very long time it becomes sort of a tradition and therefore is perceived as good, but many times it is not, and the Wimby seeding system is very much up there as an example of this! If it’s a ‘system’, y does it only affect the men’s game and not the women’s?!!
It just so happens that after Rafa won his 18th GS and is so close to edging out Rodger, anything he says or does now will be an issue and suddenly everybody gets a bit sensitive, and this becomes a ‘controversy’!
Oh boy, I just can’t wait for Rafa to shut them all the hell up!!
I could be wrong but I suspect this will be the last year that Wimbly uses its grass seed system. A lot of people agreed that 1) Rafa got screwed by it and 2) that it’s no longer needed.
i think it’s good, but the French Open should use its own clay-court version too
Wow. That is rough. The funny thing is Thompson would have a solid shot at Kyrgios under normal circumstances. But now Kyrgios knows he’s playing Nadal. Which means he’s might win his first round match 0 0 and 0. #enigma
Please Benny, you think Kyrgios will always have his way??
Why would Thompson lose with those scoreline? In best of five matches, it’ll be worse for Kyrgios. And, I seriously doubt that Kyrgios is going to beat Rafa this time in BO5.
Kyrgios was already finding it hard to beat Rafa in BO3 match at Acapulco, in BO5, he would find it harder even on grass. I think he may even tank his R1 match, knowing he’s not in the best shape right now to face Rafa.
Kyrgios is playing poorly this grass season, and he withdraws from his exho match today. I don’t think he’s in best of shape physically right now. Thompson may have his chances against Kyrgios.
But he’s done it before…. And Lucky I’m obviously exaggerating about his score with Thompson 😂 It’s just when Kyrgios knows he’s primed for a matchup with one of the big three, he seems to always give it 100% (or at least closer to it than usual)
Benny, you have see in what form Kyrgios is right now. The thing about Kyrgios, he’s not that brave that once he sees a big three in the draw, he’ll wake up to play well to meet them. Everything depends on how he feels physically and mentally.
If he knows he’s not playing well, he’ll tank so that he wont need to meet them; it’s only when he knows hes playing well then he’s up for the challenge. To me, he will chicken out once he knows he can’t win.
Not so sure. I think his mentality/mindset depends on his motivation which goes up when he has a shot at a big fish. Either way, Thompson has played a lot of tennis lately and does not hit a very big ball. It’s a good matchup for Kyrgios regardless. And his losses in the grass court swing game at the hands of a red hot Berrettini and red hot Auger Aliassime. So I wouldn’t say he played the worst tennis the last few weeks. He mentally imploded at times however.
See, mentally he’s not there, and he losing to FAA, a teenager who hasn’t played anything on grass in the main tour?
I seriously doubt he could summon up whatever he has with just motivation alone, and I feel he knows this time he may lose so may not be up to it.
Like I said, he’s only up for the challenge when he thinks and feels he can win, not when he doesn’t think so.
We’ll see…..
Kyrgios is slowly but surely drowning in his lack of commitment, laziness and complacency. If he’s not using all his resources to become a top player, will become a total anonymous player soon. Time to decide.
I would be predicting Kyrgios to win, but there is still a chance he could lose to Thompson.
Thompson is really only a scrapper, but he is consistent, plays with margin, works hard for every point and does not mind a five set match (kind of in the Hewitt mould, though he’s not got that talent).
Kirgies is often just not focused enough, if he is too busy thinking about Nadal or he’s just not concentrating properly he could still lose this match.
If you play two exhibition matches and lose both of them to players outside top 15, I am sorry you should not be blaming brutal draw for winning Wimbledon.
If I was ain Wimbledon seeding committee, I would always have Fed over Rafa in Wimbledon seedings.
Ok, salty vs soury!! Who’s going to come out on top?!! Lol!!!
I don’t think Nick’s mentality is crucial in this match vs Rafa! It’s the other way around! If Rafa plays with not to lose attitude and if he is distracted and intimidated by Nick s barbaric behavior he will end up losing again…
It’s not good Rafa lost both of his exhibition matches..he seems already surrendering to this unfavorable draw…
I mean Rafa lost his first exho even when he was not aware of the draw. He lost last year as well. Grass is not nautural to him like its for Djoker, Murray and Fed. I think its right for Wimbledon to have Fed has number 2.
Yes that’s why I am intrigued by Ricky’s pick of Rafa over kyrgios in 3. I hope Ricky tells us why he thinks so n what he makes of Rafa losing both echos.