Federer handed Hrbaty test in Wimbledon first round

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Roger Federer will begin his bid for a sixth Wimbledon title against Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty, while his main rival Rafael Nadal faces a first round clash against Germany's Andreas Beck.

Federer, the defending champion and top seed, has won his last 59 matches on grass but lost his only two previous meetings with the unseeded Hrbaty.

French Open champion Nadal, fresh from his first grass-court title at Queen's, is the second seed and can't play Federer until the final. He is scheduled to meet Nikolay Davydenko in the semi-finals.

Novak Djokovic, the third seed and Australian Open champion, plays Michael Berrer of Germany first and could meet Federer in the semi-finals, while British number one Andy Murray, seeded 12th, will open his campaign...