Djokovic debuts in Wimbledon against Kohlschreiber

London, June 27 (IANS/EFE) Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic will face German Phillip Kohlschreiber on Monday in the first round of Wimbledon, media reported on Saturday.

The world No. 1, who is playing on grass for the first time this year, will debut in front of the world No. 33, who plays very well on grass.

Djokovic may play the quarterfinals against Japan's Kei Nishikori, ranked fifth in the world.

In the semifinals, there is a chance that Djokovic will play against the Swiss Stan Wawrinka, ranked fourth in the world, who beat the Serb in the final of Roland Garros, while he may not face the Spanish Rafael Nadal, the world No. 10, until the final, in case the both reach it.

Nadal debuts against the Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci, whom he faced four times before, which were all won by Rafa, including a previous match in the first round of Wimbledon 2012, which the Spaniard won 7-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Nadal could face his compatriot David Ferrer, the world No. 7, who is debuting against Britain's James Ward (110th).

The Swiss Roger Federer, seven-time Wimbledon champion and the world No. 2, will face the Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, ranked 87th in the world, during the first round, while U.K. player Andy Murray , the world No. 3 and the winner of Wimbledon 2013, will be debuting against the Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin (58th).

Wimbledon starts next Monday and will last until July 12 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

--IANS/EFE

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