The Wimbledon draw ceremony was held on Friday, and it set up a potential semifinal showdown between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Defending champion Andy Murray joins Novak Djokovic in the top half of the bracket.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal was dealt a nightmarish early-round draw when Wimbledon held its much-anticipated pre-tournament ceremony on Friday. After opening with Martin Klizan, Nadal could face his 2012 conqueror at the All-England Club, Lukas Rosol. Huge-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic is on course to get a shot at the top-ranked Spaniard in the third round.
If Nadal advances to the quarterfinals, which would succeed a likely fourth-round date with either Richard Gasquet or fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils, his projected opponent according to seeds would be Milos Raonic. Possible quarterfinals elsewhere in the bracket are Novak Djokovic vs. Tomas Berdych, Andy Murray vs. David Ferrer, and Stan Wawrinka vs. Roger Federer.
Both Wawrinka and Federer may first have to get past the 2010 Wimbledon marathon men. Wawrinka could meet John Isner in the fourth round, while Federer and Nicolas Mahut would square off in the last 32 if both veterans win their first two matches. Additionally, 2013 Wimbledon semifinalist Jerzy Janowicz is a possible fourth-round opponent for Federer.
Murray will kick off his title defense with the traditional Monday afternoon start on Centre Court. The third-seeded Scot will play David Goffin before possible run-ins with Roberto Bautista Agut (third round), Kevin Anderson (fourth round), and either Ferrer or Grigor Dimitrov (quarterfinals).
Djokovic is potentially in line for more meetings with recent French Open foes. The second-ranked Serb may get Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in another fourth-round match and Ernests Gulbis–whom he defeated in the Roland Garros semifinals–in the quarters. Gulbis and Berdych may collide in the fourth round after going head-to-head in the French Open quarterfinals.
The draw, as first revealed by Berdych.
Draw at the Wimbledon website.
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Apparently, these experts don’t feel that Muzza would defend his title..
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/06/2014-wimbledon-our-picks/51824/#.U6cDtPmSybg
thanks for sharing ,abhirf…
I am surprised very few are leaning towards Murray.The reasoning given by Ed Mcrogan is not convincing…well he barely has space to justify his pick but I really like bodo’s and tignor’s lines regarding their picks
“If we know one thing about Nadal, it’s that he’s often at his best when he’s trying to recapture or prove something. He’s had hard luck at Wimbledon for a number of years, but he’s much too good a grass-court player not to win there again.” – Peter bodo
well said, bodo… rafa’s at his killer best when trying to prove something !,indeed…
“It would be easy to write off Rafa after his early losses here the last two years, and his fairly tough draw. But he says he’s determined to right the grass ship this time, and that his knees feel much better. If he gets on a roll, who is going to stop him?” Tignor
Yes, I also wonder who’s gona stop him? If rafa gets on a roll, watch out everyone !
@vamosrafa,
I think that for once Bodo is right. What got my attention was when Rafa mentioned Wimbledon in his interview with JMac after he won RG. He doesn’t talk just for the sake of it. When he says something, it’s because he means it. Many of these so-called experts seem to have forgotten Rafas’ record at Wimbledon. The last two years were marred by injury. But you never write off a five time finalist and two time winner.
How come tiggy believes more in Rafa’s chances at Wimby, a tougher proposition than RG at the best of times, than he believed in his chances at RG? I guess he got caught up in the hype of Nole’s RG year, and lost sight of Rafa’s (usual) increasing match fitness as RG was nearing and during RG.
^^maybe Tiggy is just your run of the mill fair weather Rafan??
I just hope Rafa is still in the draw this time next week.
Vamos Rafa