Wimbledon: 1-2-3 for Federer, Nadal, Djokovic
Written by Barry Newcombe
Roger Federer, defending five successive Wimbledon titles, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, were today named the leading three seeds for the Championships which start next Monday.
There is no surprise at all about their nominations for the top three places. Federer's record of success at Wimbledon and elsewhere elevates him to a position no one else can occupy at the moment. Nadal may have beaten him in straight sets in the French Open this month but at Wimbledon, Federer has won the last two finals over Nadal.
But Nadal is looking formidable on grass with Djokovic almost as threatening. Nadal and Djokovic fought out a classic grass court final in the Artois Championships last Sunday with Nadal saying his 7-6, 7-5 victory was dependent on just a few points. At the same time Federer was winning his 59th successive match on grass in the final at Halle, Germany.
Djokovic broke through in Grand Slam terms by winning the Australian Open in January and the confidence he gained from that victory has sustained him on the tour and into the French Open where Nadal beat him in the semi-finals.
If Djokovic can build his game at Wimbledon to an even higher level then both Federer and Nadal would regard him as extremely difficult opponent. The draw on Friday will say which way Djokovic will be heading, either towards Federer at the top of the draw or to Nadal in second place.Nadal beat Djokovic in last year's semi-final when the Serb withdrew injured in their semi-final at one set all and Nadal ahead 4-1 in the third set.
The astonishing finale to the French Open with Nadal defeating Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 to win the title for a fourth year running leaves both players with immense challenges.
Both Nadal know the Wimbledon courts well enough to be confident of what they think is required. They are entitled to believe they will play another final at Wimbledon, the third in a row, because of their form in Paris. For Nadal it is a question of nurturing his game because his confidence alone is so high. Federer may well have to consider every aspect of his preparation in a cold-eyed manner.
Djokovic's place in the mix can be partially judged by his record against Federer, to whom he trails 6-2, and Nadal, who leads him 9-3 in previous matches. Djokovic also has to live with the tennis fever in Serbia which is being sustained by himself and Ana Ivanovic, now the world No 1. Serbia will be hoping for Ana and Novak to pull off an unprecedented double for their country at Wimbledon.
Djokovic is close, very close, to pressing Nadal for the world No 2 place. If he had beaten him in Paris, admittedly a remote possibility as events proved, they would have changed rankings. Djokovic has been hunting behind Nadal for several months and his search for the higher place will continue.Whether Wimbledon will provide the stage for Djokovic remains to be seen.
Djokovic won his first Masters title 15 months ago and if he is frustrated by not being able to beat Nadal on clay it does not show in his general surge of form towards the top. In 2007 Djokovic was in the last 16 in Australia, a semi-finalist in Paris and Wimbledon, and runner up in the US Open - a great foundation for a player who only turned 21 last month. As a result of that form and other wins, he finished the year as the youngest player in the top ten.
Elsewhere, Andy Murray, the British No.1, will start as 12th seed, one place below his world ranking. Both Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus and Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, are moved up from their world rankings, Baghdatis from 25th to tenth, Berdych from 19th to 11th. Baghdatis was a semi-finalistin 2006, Berdych a quarter-finalist for the first time last year.
Andy Roddick of the USA, twice runner up and one of the strongest grass court players, gains sixth place this year and former champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia starts in 27th place.
Article from Wimbledon.org - Here
Roger Federer Photo ©Reuters / E Keogh
Rafael Nadal Photo ©A. Parsons
Novak Djokovic Photo ©Action Images / M Regan
