LONDON: Seven-time champion Roger Federer and two-time winner Rafael Nadal were lined-up for a potential Wimbledon quarterfinal blockbuster when the draw for the season’s third Grand Slam was made Friday.
The draw was good news for world number one Novak Djokovic, the 2011 champion, after second-seeded Andy Murray was also placed in the same half as Federer and Nadal.
That would leave Australian Open champion Djokovic free from facing any of his major rivals until the final.
Third seed Federer and Nadal, who have met 30 times in their careers, were placed in the same quarter of the draw after the Spaniard was only seeded five having lost in the second round in 2012.
Federer defeated Nadal in the 2006 and 2007 finals before Nadal, who still admits he is concerned over the staying power of his knees, avenged those losses for his maiden London title in 2008.
If the seedings play out, then the quarterfinals would see Djokovic tackle Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer, the fourth seed, would meet Juan Martin del Potro, Nadal would face Federer while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga would take on Murray.
Djokovic starts his campaign against Germany’s Florian Mayer while Murray, the runner-up to Federer in 2012, starts against another German, Benjamin Becker, who he beat in the quarterfinals at Queen’s last week.
Federer, bidding to become the first man to win Wimbledon eight times and celebrating the 10th anniversary of his first triumph at the All England Club in 2003, starts against Romania’s Victor Hanescu.
Nadal, the champion in 2008 and 2010 but whose second-round loss to Lukas Rosol last year put him on the sidelines for seven months, is fresh from his record eighth French Open win.
He begins against Belgium’s Steve Darcis.
Murray, Federer and Nadal will all play on Monday, the opening day of the tournament. (Agencies)