Last year’s finalists Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer were drawn in the same half and could potentially face off in the Wimbledon semi-finals while Andy Murray will take on a fellow Brit at the All England Club for the first time in his career.
Defending champion and tournament top seed, Djokovic, will on Monday play his first match since completing the career grand slam by winning the French Open three weeks ago.
The world No1 will be looking to capture a sixth consecutive major title this fortnight at SW19 and will commence his campaign against local wildcard James Ward, the draw revealed on Friday.
Another Brit, Kyle Edmund could be Djokovic’s second round opponent, while 28th-seeded Sam Querrey of the United States is the first seed in the Serb’s potential path.
Sixth-seeded Milos Raonic was drawn as a potential quarter-final foe for Djokovic in a match-up that would revive the John McEnroe-Boris Becker rivalry.
Raonic added McEnroe to his coaching staff this month, while Becker is into his third year helping Djokovic.
Cilic practicing with Raonic, with coaches McEnroe, Moya and Ivanisevic watching on pic.twitter.com/HkjSWQcTZI
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) June 24, 2016
The big-serving Raonic opens his campaign against Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta and could play No11 seed David Goffin in the fourth round.
Federer, playing his first major since January’s Australian Open, having missed Roland Garros with a back injury, will start his assault on a record-extending eighth Wimbledon title against Argentina’s world No51 Guido Pella.
The Swiss world No3 could play 30th-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov in the third round, Gilles Simon (16) or Gael Monfils (17) – who is back from injury after missing the French Open – in the last-16, and Kei Nishikori (5) in the last-eight.
Tunisian Malek Jaziri, the only Arab in the field this fortnight, also lies in Federer’s quarter of the draw and faces American Steve Johnson in the first round.
In the other half, Murray commences his quest for a second Wimbledon title and third major trophy, against British wildcard Liam Broady.
In 10 previous appearances at SW19, Murray had never faced a compatriot, but that will change when he takes on world No234 Broady.
Murray’s first potential seeded opponent would be 26th-seeded Benoit Paire of France. Nick Kyrgios (15) or Feliciano Lopez (22) loom ahead in the fourth round while seventh-seeded Richard Gasquet or 12th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – who could face-off in an all-French last 16 clash – are possible quarter-final rivals for the Scot.
Fourth-seeded Stan Wawrinka might await Murray in the semi-finals, but the Swiss must first tackle ATP NextGen teenager, American Taylor Fritz, with a mouth-watering second round against Juan Martin del Potro possibly in the cards.
Tomas Berdych (10) or Stuttgart champion Dominic Thiem lie ahead for Wawrinka in the quarter-finals.
Men’s first rounds to watch:
Dominic Thiem (AUT x8) v Florian Mayer (GER)
Bernard Tomic (AUS x19) v Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
Stan Wawrinka (SUI x4) v Taylor Fritz (USA)
John Isner (USA x18) v Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)
Nick Kyrgios (AUS x15) v Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) v Jack Sock (USA x27)
Men’s projected quarter-finals (according to seeding):
Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) v Milos Raonic (CAN x6)
Roger Federer (SUI x3) v Kei Nishikori (JPN x5)
Stan Wawrinka (SUI x4) v Dominic Thiem (AUT x8)
Andy Murray (GBR x2) v Richard Gasquet (FRA x7)
Quarter by quarter look:
First quarter
A section of the draw that has Sam Querrey (28), Philipp Kohlschreiber (21), David Ferrer (13), David Goffin (11) and Kevin Anderson (20), who almost beat Djokovic last year here. However, you feel none of them will be able to stop the highest two seeds – Djokovic and Milos Raonic (6) – from making it to the quarter-finals.
Sport360 quarter-final pick: Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic
Second quarter
Federer is coming back from injury but has played seven grass court matches in the build up to SW19. Dolgopolov could be a tricky third round opponent but he’s never made it past the last 32 at Wimbledon, while Gilles Simon, another potential obstacle for Federer just lost to Kyle Edmund in Queens. Nishikori withdrew injured from Halle and hasn’t had much success on grass.
Sport360 quarter-final pick: Roger Federer v Ivo Karlovic
Third quarter
A stacked section with Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Tomas Berdych, Bernard Tomic, Juan Martin Del Potro and Stan Wawrinka. Call it the upset quarter.
Sport360 quarter-final pick: Alexander Zverev v Bernard Tomic
Fourth quarter
Another packed quarter with Nick Kyrgios, Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, John Isner, Feliciano Lopez, Dustin Brown, Marcos Baghdatis, Benoit Paire, Viktor Troicki and Andy Murray.
Sport360 quarter-final pick: Andy Murray v John Isner
