The Wimbledon favourites Novak Djokovic, left, and Andy Murray, right, cannot meet until the final. Pascal Guyot / AFP
The Wimbledon favourites Novak Djokovic, left, and Andy Murray, right, cannot meet until the final. Pascal Guyot / AFP

Wimbledon 2015 draw: Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray placed in same half



Former champions Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal were placed in the same half of the Wimbledon draw on Friday.

Top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic was kept apart from the other members of the “Big Four”.

However, the Serb may have to beat third-seeded Stan Wawrinka, the man who defeated him in the French Open final earlier this month, in the semi-finals.

Djokovic begins his title defence against experienced German Philipp Kohlschreiber before a possible second-round clash with 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt, who is playing in his last Wimbledon.

If the tournament proceeds according to seedings, the last-16 matches in the top half of the bracket would see Djokovic face Kevin Anderson of South Africa, US Open champion Marin Cilic against Kei Nishikori, Wawrinka facing David Goffin and Grigor Dimitrov taking on Milos Raonic.

In the bottom half, seven-time champion and second seed Federer could face Feliciano Lopez, Tomas Berdych would meet Gilles Simon, 2013 winner Murray could play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and two-time champion Nadal, seeded 10 this year, up against compatriot David Ferrer.

Federer, the holder of 17 grand slam titles and the runner-up to Djokovic last year, starts his campaign against Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur, whom he beat in the French Open third round.

Murray, seeded third, begins against Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.

That is a clash which will invite more questions over women coaching men.

Murray has Amelie Mauresmo in his corner while Kukushkin is coached by his wife, Anastasia.

French Open champion Wawrinka, who has never gotten past the quarter-finals at the All England Club, starts against Portugal’s Joao Sousa.

Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion who is at his lowest ranking for a decade, begins with a clash against Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci.

WOMEN’S DRAW

In the women’s competition, five-time champion Serena Williams and 2004 winner Maria Sharapova were drawn to meet in the semi-finals.

Top seed and world No 1 Williams, who is bidding to hold all four majors at the same time for the second time in her career – the “Serena Slam” – has a 17-2 record against Sharapova.

The Russian’s last victory over the American was in the 2004 Wimbledon final.

Serena could meet sister Venus, a fellow five-time champion and playing in her 18th Wimbledon, in the fourth round.

Serena starts against Russian world No 113, Margarita Gasparyan.

First up, Sharapova will take on British wild card Johanna Konta, who made the quarter-finals on grass in Eastbourne this week.

Second seed and defending champion Petra Kvitova would potentially meet Simona Halep in the semi-finals.

Kvitova, also champion in 2011, starts against Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands.

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).

Second leg

Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm

Games on BeIN Sports

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

MATCH INFO

Euro 2020 qualifier

Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)

TV: Match on BeIN Sports 

UFC Fight Night 2

1am – Early prelims

2am – Prelims

4am-7am – Main card

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The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

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