Federer Opens Wimbledon Against Russian

Jun 22, 09:55 AM

Current Headlines: Roger Federer's attempt at a fifth consecutive Wimbledon championship begins against a player who's never played in tennis's highest profile event.

Federer is looking to become the first man to win five straight Wimbledon single titles since Bjorn Borg, who accomplished the feat from 1976-80. His first step will be a match versus Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili, who is ranked 85th in the world, the Wimbledon draw announced Friday showed.

If the draw plays to form, Federer is also likely to face Marat Safin, 13th-seeded Tommy Haas, either No. 9 James Blake or No. 8 Fernando Gonzalez in the quarterfinals and third-seeded Andy Roddick in the semifinals.

No. 2 seeded Rafael Nadal, the French Open champion, has his first-round Wimbledon match against 36th-ranked Mardy Fish and is in a draw that could send him against strong grass-court players such as Sebastien Grosjean and Lleyton Hewitt.

Play begins at Wimbledon, the year's third Grand Slam tournament, on Monday. The men's singles is to be decided July 8.