Wimbledon 2016 draw: Murray and Konta best of number of British hopes
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | June 24, 2016
Wimbledon 2016 men and women’s draws
- Murray meets fellow Brit Broady first
- Scot in same half as Wawrinka and Thiem
- Djokovic starts against Brit Ward
- Women’s 16th seed Konta takes on Puig
- Top half of men’s draw and bottom of women’s start on Monday
Murray in same half as Wawrinka and Thiem
As second seed for the Wimbledon 2016 men’s singles, Andy Murray avoids ATP world number one Novak Djokovic in his side of the draw while seven-time champion Roger Federer is also in the top half.
One Briton, though, will get to face the superstar Serb (8/11 favourite with Coral) as early as the first round, as Londoner James Ward is the unlucky man to have been pitted against the Super Slam chaser.
Ward reached the third round last year, but is highly unlikely to do so again, even though there is the prospect of playing compatriot Kyle Edmund next.
South African-born Yorkshireman Edmund is up against Adrian Mannarino of France first, but can he take Djokovic the distance like he did with Murray recently at the Queen’s Club Championship?
Talking of Murray (5/2 title second-favourite), he has been handed a relatively straightforward start against another Brit, the third he’s faced in just a week despite the last before then being a decade ago.
Possible Murray opponents
First round: Liam Broady
Second round: Lu Yen-Hsun
Third round: Benoit Paire
Fourth round: Nick Kyrgios
Quarters: Richard Gasquet
Semis: Stan Wawrinka/Dominic Thiem
Final: Novak Djokovic
British payers aplenty in men’s draw
English wildcard Liam Broady, who got to the second round in 2015, will certainly not fancy his chances against the Scottish home hope.
Double Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka is on the same side as Murray, but a meeting with Nick Kyrgios is on the cards to come sooner in the last 16. Rapidly rising star Dominic Thiem could be a semi-final opponent.
Swiss compatriot Federer starts against Argentine Guido Pella, and looks set for a semi-final showdown with Djokovic.
As for other Brits in action in the men’s singles section, Dan Evans takes on German Jan-Lennard Struff and Slovenian-born Aljaz Bedene has a much tougher test against French world number 10 Richard Gasquet. While, wildcards Brydan Klein and Alexander Ward face Nicolas Mahut and David Goffin respectively.
Watson set for second Serena SW19 showdown
In the women’s singles, defending champion Serena Williams (11/8 favourite) is once again the top seed, and will be determined to reclaim this title after recently losing her French Open crown.
The American great will take on a qualifier up first, while Guernsey-born Heather Watson could get a rematch with Serena, after narrowly losing to her at this stage last year.
Top ranked Briton Johanna Konta, seeded 16, meanwhile, will start her campaign against Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig in the top half of the draw, and will hope to finally get past the first round here at the fifth time of asking.
However, a second round clash with former finalist Eugenie Bouchard looks likely, while third seed Agnieszka Radwanska is a possible last 16 opponent. Konta has been cut to 40/1 from 66/1 for the title following her draw.
Possible Konta opponents
First round: Monica Puig
Second round: Eugenie Bouchard
Third round: Dominika Cibulkova
Fourth round: Agnieszka Radwanska
Quarters: Petra Kvitova/Belinda Bencic
Semis: Serena Williams
Final: Garbine Muguruza
Robson handed tough tie with Kerber
Britain’s Laura Robson has been handed a wildcard for this tournament after dropping way down in the WTA rankings following injury, but has the daunting task of duelling with fourth seed Angelique Kerber up first.
Other Brits to look out for include Liam’s Brody’s sister Naomi, 17-year-old Katie Swan and Tara Moore, who face Elina Svitolina, Timea Babos and Alison Van Uytvanck respectively.
Note that the top half of the men’s and bottom of women’s draw will start on Monday, and vice versa on Tuesday.
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