Nadal to play Clement if his knees can stand
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AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 20, 2009 00:00
LONDON - Rafael Nadal will begin the defense of his Wimbledon title against France's Arnaud Clement if the world number one decides his knees can take the strain.
Nadal was forced to pull out of last week's pre-Wimbledon warm up event at Queen's due to knee tendinitis and he is set to make a decision on his participation after playing an exhibition match against Stanislas Wawrinka at London's Hurlingham Club. The Spaniard, who defeated Roger Federer in an epic five-set final last year, could play Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 champion, in the second round.
Nadal could face Russia's Dmitry Tursunov in the third round and David Ferrer or Radek Stepanek in the fourth round, followed by a potential quarter-final against two-time finalist Andy Roddick and a meeting with world number three Andy Murray in the semi-finals.
Nadal is far from certain to play however after looking uncomfortable during an exhibition against Hewitt on Thursday.
His uncle Toni Nadal, who also acts as his coach, said: "It is not too good. We will see if he is going to play or not. At the moment it is difficult to play because his knees are not too good. It is difficult to get down to low balls."
British winner?
Murray's attempt to become the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936 will start against Robert Kendrick. Murray, the third seed, has won all three of his meetings with world number 76 Kendrick.
Murray could play is Serbia's Viktor Troicki in the third round followed by a potential fourth round clash against former world number one Marat Safin.
Elsewhere in Friday's draw, Federer, the second seed, was handed a first round clash against Chinese number one Lu Yen-hsun.
In the women's draw, the reigning champion Venus Williams, seeded third, has been drawn in the same half as the world number one and top seed Dinara Safina.
Venus will play Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele first, while sister Serena takes on qualifier Neuza Silva.
Maria Sharapova, the 2004 champion, has drawn qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova in the first round. Kuznetsova's first match will be against Akiko Morigami.
Nadal could face Russia's Dmitry Tursunov in the third round and David Ferrer or Radek Stepanek in the fourth round, followed by a potential quarter-final against two-time finalist Andy Roddick and a meeting with world number three Andy Murray in the semi-finals.
Nadal is far from certain to play however after looking uncomfortable during an exhibition against Hewitt on Thursday.
His uncle Toni Nadal, who also acts as his coach, said: "It is not too good. We will see if he is going to play or not. At the moment it is difficult to play because his knees are not too good. It is difficult to get down to low balls."
British winner?
Murray's attempt to become the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936 will start against Robert Kendrick. Murray, the third seed, has won all three of his meetings with world number 76 Kendrick.
Murray could play is Serbia's Viktor Troicki in the third round followed by a potential fourth round clash against former world number one Marat Safin.
Elsewhere in Friday's draw, Federer, the second seed, was handed a first round clash against Chinese number one Lu Yen-hsun.
In the women's draw, the reigning champion Venus Williams, seeded third, has been drawn in the same half as the world number one and top seed Dinara Safina.
Venus will play Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele first, while sister Serena takes on qualifier Neuza Silva.
Maria Sharapova, the 2004 champion, has drawn qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova in the first round. Kuznetsova's first match will be against Akiko Morigami.