London, England (Sports Network) - The Wimbledon draw was revealed on Friday
and reigning champion Novak Djokovic could face six-time winner Roger Federer
in a marquee semifinal in two weeks.
The world No. 1 Djokovic, who currently holds the Wimbledon, U.S. Open and
Australian Open titles, will open his 2012 Championships fortnight against
former top-ranked star Juan Carlos Ferrero on Centre Court at the storied All
England Club, which will also play host to the London Olympic Games later this
summer.
Djokovic would appear to have a clear road to the quarterfinals, where he
could face sixth-seeded 2010 Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych. Federer could
then loom in the semis.
The Serbian stalwart Djokovic, who owns five major titles, beat Rafael Nadal
in last year's Wimbledon final to secure his first-ever title at tennis' most
prestigious event.
Meanwhile, the second-seeded former No. 1 and seven-time French Open champion
Nadal will open his 2012 Wimbledon stay against Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci. The
Spanish left-hander would appear to have a nice draw into the quarters, where
he could be opposed by fifth-seeded former Aussie Open runner-up Jo-Wilfried
Tsonga, who will open his stay at the AEC against former world No. 1 and 2002
Wimbledon champ Lleyton Hewitt.
Another potential quarterfinal opponent for the two-time champion and three-
time runner-up Nadal could be 10th-seeded American Mardy Fish, who has been
sidelined for the past two months while battling fatigue issues, which wound
up requiring a minor heart procedure. Fish could face Tsonga in the fourth
round.
Nadal's potential semifinal opponent could be fourth-seeded British favorite
Andy Murray, seventh-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer, ninth-seeded former U.S.
Open champ Juan Martin del Potro, or three-time Wimbledon runner-up Andy
Roddick.
The three-time Grand Slam finalist Murray will open against former top-five
Russian star Nikolay Davydenko and could have his hands full with rising 21st-
seeded Canadian Milos Raonic in the fourth round. Murray's potential
quarterfinal opponent could be Ferrer, del Potro or Roddick, who will open his
stay versus British wild card Jamie Baker next week.
Ferrer and Roddick could do battle in the third round, and Ferrer or Roddick
could tangle with del Potro in the fourth in the star-studded top section in
the bottom half of the draw.
The third-seeded Federer will open up against Spaniard Albert Ramos and
appears to have a nice path into the quarters, where the 16-time Grand Slam
great could meet eighth-seeded Serb Janko Tipsarevic or 11th-seeded towering
American John Isner. Tipsarevic should have his hands full with 2002 Wimbledon
runner-up David Nalbandian in the opening round.
The 6-foot-9 Isner will open up against Colombian Alejandro Falla after
starting his last two Wimbledons against France's Nicolas Mahut, including
their epic three-day, more-than-11-hour first-rounder on Court 18 two years
ago, which was won by Isner.
Djokovic and Nadal could meet in a record fifth straight Grand Slam final. The
super Serb has won three of the last four and four of the last six majors,
with Nadal claiming a pair of French Open titles during that span.
The Championships, Wimbledon will commence Monday.
The Sports Network