Federer faces Gasquet in tough first round

Roger Federer faces a difficult start to the defence of his Wimbledon title after he was drawn to face Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the first round yesterday. The Swiss triple defending champion needs to beat the talented 20-year-old to break Bjorn...

Roger Federer faces a difficult start to the defence of his Wimbledon title after he was drawn to face Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the first round yesterday. The Swiss triple defending champion needs to beat the talented 20-year-old to break Bjorn Borg's professional era record of 41 consecutive wins on grass.

Federer needed three sets to beat Gasquet, no.66, at Halle last week and the Frenchman beat the world no.1 at Monte Carlo in 2005.

The top seed faces a potential second round match against four-times semi-finalist Tim Henman, if the Briton overcomes Swede Robin Soderling in their opening match.

French Open champion Rafael Nadal, the second seed, plays British wild card Alex Bogdanovic while American third seed Andy Roddick takes on Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.

Defending women's champion Venus Williams plays fellow American Bethanie Mattek in round one and could face top seed Amelie Mauresmo in the last eight.

Belgian Kim Clijsters, the women's second seed, faces a tricky opener against Vera Zvonareva.

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