Fans hoping for a third straight Wimbledon final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will be disappointed by Friday’s draw.
Djokovic, the dominant world No. 1, was placed in the same half as record seven-time winner Federer, meaning a potential semifinal battle may ensue instead.
The Swiss — who lost to Djokovic in a five-set thriller in 2014 and in four sets last season — might consider it job done if he reaches the last four given all his injury woes of late.
The third seed had knee surgery after January’s Australian Open, succumbed to illness, and then a back problem led the nearly 35-year-old to miss his first grand slam since 1999 at last month’s French Open.
In June, Federer was upset by young upstarts Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev at grass-court warmups in Germany.
Djokovic and Federer were handed seemingly comfortable early rounds, with the Serbian beginning against British wildcard James Ward — who hasn’t won a main draw ATP match this term — and the 17-time grand slam champion landing clay-court specialist Guido Pella in his opener.
Djokovic is, undeniably, the favorite at tennis’ most famous postcode of SW19. Not only is he the twice defending champion in southwest London, but he became the first man since 1969 to win four majors in a row when he completed his grand slam collection at the French Open.
Djokovic has defeated Andy Murray in the Australian Open and French Open finals in 2016, and the odds suggest they’ll tangle again in the Wimbledon final on July 10, the same day as the Euro 2016 finale in France. Thankfully for sports fans, the Wimbledon final falls in the afternoon while the football climax is an evening affair.
Standing in the way of Djokovic-Federer semi could be Canadian sixth seed Milos Raonic, who reached last weekend’s final at London Queen’s Club under the tutelage of his new coach John McEnroe, a three-time Wimbledon champion in the 1980s.
Raonic’s conqueror Murray will be hoping this month’s reunion with coach Ivan Lendl brings back his 2013 Wimbledon form. Lendl, an eight-time grand slam winner, was in the Scot’s corner when he became the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
In his last two appearances at Wimbledon without Lendl, Murray exited — in tame fashion — to Federer in last year’s semis and Grigor Dimitrov in the quarters.
It could be deja vu for Murray in the deeper stages of the tournament. He is scheduled to meet Richard Gasquet in the quarterfinals and two-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals — after downing them at the French Open in those respective rounds.
The most enticing first-round men’s clash might be Nick Kyrgios battling veteran Radek Stepanek. The controversial Kyrgios has made strides on and off the court this year, and the young Aussie’s aggressive game is well suited to the grass. Two years ago he memorably upset Rafael Nadal — absent at the All England Club this time as he recovers from a wrist injury.
Stepanek, 37, also likes grass and he extended Murray to five sets in the first round of the French Open. The Czech is expected to retire at the end of this year.
A Williams rematch?
In the women’s draw, defending champion Serena Williams is aiming to capture a record-tying 22nd major after being denied in the finals of the Australian Open and French Open by Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza, respectively.
The American’s run to the title last year was almost derailed by Britain’s Heather Watson in the third round, where Williams was two points from losing before producing a 7-5 third-set triumph.
They could play in the third round again, although the more likely scenario is Williams tussling with Kristina Mladenovic — who took their French Open clash last month to a second-set tiebreak before the 34-year-old prevailed 12-10.
Last year’s beaten finalist Muguruza is attempting to avoid a hangover that often results for new grand slam winners when they compete in their next major, but the Spanish second seed was given a tricky first-round foe in 68th-ranked Italian Camila Giorgi.
German fourth seed Kerber was paired with British wildcard Laura Robson, whose promising career has taken a turn for the worse courtesy of longstanding wrist issues.
Robson, the Wimbledon junior champion in 2008, will be trying for a first victory over a top-30 opponent since Wimbledon in 2013.
While Muguruza and Kerber were drawn in the same half, Williams’ semifinal rival is possibly Poland’s third-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska, who she beat in the 2012 final.
