This year, Novak Djokovic has not minded a challenge, but he’s probably feeling good about his draw for Wimbledon as he won’t face the Holy Trinity: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, until further on.
Interestingly enough, the number one ranked tennis player in the world struggled against teenager Alexander Zverev at the Boodles warm-up event losing 6-4, 6-3. The Serb struggled with Zverev’s serve, going down in straight sets marking his second grass court match of 2015. He did beat Richard Gasquet in his first grass court outing.
“I’m getting ready. I played two matches and I think that’s going to be enough to get myself ready for Wimbledon,” said Djokovic afterwards.
“Wimbledon is number one for me because it’s the most prestigious, most historic event we have. I play against Kohlschreiber in the first round there, which is one of the toughest first rounds, so I have to focus on that.”
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Novak Djokovic avoided his three biggest rivals in the Wimbledon draw on Friday as the other members of the so-called Big 4 in men’s tennis were placed on the opposite side of the bracket.
Serena Williams had no such luck in the women’s draw, where she may have to get past three former top-ranked players — her sister Venus, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova — just to get to the final.
The draw at the All England Club set up some intriguing possibilities, especially with the former champions Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal — the rest of the Big 4 — grouped together in the bottom half of the men’s draw. Murray and Nadal could face each other in the quarterfinals, with Federer possibly awaiting the winner in the semifinals.
The bottom half also includes the former finalist Tomas Berdych and the former semifinalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Djokovic, the defending champion, could play a semifinal against Stan Wawrinka, who beat him in the French Open final.
Djokovic does face a potentially tricky match at the start of the tournament, though, as he will open play on Centre Court on Monday against the German veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber and could face the former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in the second round. Hewitt, the 2002 champion, is playing Wimbledon for the final time.
Nadal, a two-time champion, is seeded No. 10 after a disappointing beginning to his season, including only his second loss at the French Open. He could face his fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the fourth round.
Murray, who will be trying to win the tournament for a second time, was given one of the toughest possible draws, potentially facing Tsonga in the fourth round, Nadal in the quarterfinals, Federer in the semifinals and Djokovic in the final.
Federer will start his quest for a record eighth title with a match against Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina and could face Berdych in the quarterfinals.
In the women’s tournament, the top-ranked Williams could come up against her sister — also a five-time champion — in the fourth round, Azarenka in the quarterfinals and Sharapova in the semifinals in the draw’s tough upper half.
Williams, who is halfway to completing a calendar-year Grand Slam, opens play against Margarita Gasparyan of Russia. Williams lost in the third round last year and the fourth round in 2013.