Draper handed dream first-round draw at Wimbledon against Djokovic

Britain’s 19-year-old Jack Draper handed dream first-round draw at Wimbledon against world No 1 Novak Djokovic… while Andy Murray will battle it out against Nikoloz Basilashvili

  • Jack Draper faces the toughest test in tennis against top seed Novak Djokovic
  • Djokovic is going in search of a third consecutive grand slam title at Wimbledon
  • Andy Murray was drawn against Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round on Friday
  • British No 1 Dan Evans faces a tricky opener against experienced Feliciano Lopez
  • Johanna Konta opens up against Czech Katerina Siniakova at Wimbledon
  • Serena Williams has a possible fourth round with Coco Gauf to look forward to
  • Reigning women’s champion Simona Halep withdrew just moments before draw

Surrey teenager Jack Draper was handed the occasion of a lifetime on Friday morning when he was given a Centre Court first round against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.

Draper, 19, last week reached the last eight at Queen’s Club, but this will be of a different magnitude as he makes his main draw debut in the curtain raiser of the singles on the biggest show court next Monday.

It will be the ultimate test of the big serving left-hander, whose artillery impressed last week when he beat two top 40 players.

Jack Draper will come up against Novak Djokovic in the first round of Wimbledon on Monday

Djokovic heads into Wimbledon fresh from his triumph at the French Open earlier this month

Andy Murray was paired against big-hitting Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, the world number 28 next Monday.

Dan Evans was given a tough opener when pitted against Feliciano Lopez, the Spanish veteran and 2019 Queen’s champion, who unusually prefers grass to clay for someone hailing from his country.

Roger Federer is in the opposite side of the draw to Djokovic and opens against the flat-hitting Adrian Mannarino. 

Andy Murray will kick off his Wimbledon campaign against Nikoloz Basilashvili on Monday

Roger Federer, on the opposite side of the draw to Djokovic, faces Adrian Mannarino

Cam Norrie was also given a French opponent, former top 20 player Lucas Pouille, who has recently been struggling with long-term injuries.  

Meanwhile, British number one Johanna Konta was handed a first round against recent French Open doubles champion Katerina Siniakova, the world number 76 in singles. 

Konta faces a potential third round against women’s world number one Ash Barty of Australia.

Serena Williams has a possible fourth round against Coco Gauff, who has drawn British wildcard Francesca Jones. 

Britain’s No 1 Johanna Konta was handed a first round draw against Katerina Siniakova

Williams opens up against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus, the world number 100.

The women’s draw was conducted just moments after reigning champion Simona Halep announced her withdrawal from Wimbledon due to a calf injury.

The Romanian, who produced a stunning display to defeat Williams in the final two years ago, tore her left calf muscle during a match in Rome in May and was forced to miss the French Open.

And five minutes before the socially distanced draw began on Friday, Wimbledon was hit by another withdrawal.  

Serena Williams could face Coco Gauff – drawn with wildcard Francesca Jones – in fourth round




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