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Murray must get past Nadal to reach first final

TENNIS WIMBLEDON DRAW: ANDY MURRAY must beat Rafael Nadal if he is to reach his first Wimbledon final after yesterday’s draw…

Sat Jun 19 2010 - 01:00

TENNIS WIMBLEDON DRAW:ANDY MURRAY must beat Rafael Nadal if he is to reach his first Wimbledon final after yesterday's draw produced mixed fortunes for British competitors.

Fourth seed Murray opens his fifth appearance at the All England Club when he meets Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic, 26, for the first time.

Hajek has made just one visit to Wimbledon, losing in the first round in 2007, and is ranked 80th in the world.

But the draw has not been so kind to former Wimbledon junior champion Laura Robson, who faces Serbian fourth seed Jelena Jankovic in the opening round.

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A likely last-eight opponent for Murray, who reached the semi-finals last year, is Spanish ninth seed Fernando Verdasco, though gifted Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is also a possibility.

The fourth round, however, could prove very tricky for the British number one with American Sam Querrey, a standout performer on grass who won Queen’s last week, or 17th seed Juan Carlos Ferrero waiting.

Should he progress, Murray’s route to the fourth round should include matches against Jarkko Nieminen of Finland and 26th seed Simon Gilles — giving him time to find some form before facing the big guns.

World number one and second seed Nadal, Wimbledon champion in 2008, will launch his Championships against Kei Nishikori of Japan with a semi-final against Murray looming later in the tournament.

Roger Federer will open his title defence against Colombian Alejandro Falla, who has never progressed beyond the second round at SW19.

Top seed Federer, second in the rankings behind Nadal, is targeting a seventh title at SW19 and has been handed the kindest passage into the final of the top four seeds.

Not so lucky is fourth seed Novak Djokovic, who is likely to have to overcome 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt and three-time finalist Andy Roddick in order to set up a semi against Federer.

In the women’s singles, defending champion and top seed Serena Williams has been drawn against Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal.

Larcher de Brito is ranked 148th in the world and failed to progress beyond the second round on her Wimbledon debut last year.

Second seed Venus Williams will battle with Roassana De Los Rios of Paraguay for a place in the second round.

SELECTED MATCHES:Men's Singles: Rr Federer (Swi) (1) v A Falla (Col); K Nishikori (Jpn) v R Nadal (Spa) (2); J Hajek (Cze) v A Murray (Gbr) (4); N Djokovic (Ser) (3) v O Rochus (Bel).

Women’s Singles: S Williams (USA) (1) v M L De Brito (Por); R De Los Rios (Par) v V Williams (USA) (2); C Wozniacki (Den) (3) v T Garbin (Ita); L Robson (Gbr) v J Jankovic (Ser) (4).