Federer to face Gabashvili

Tennis : Roger Federer will open his Wimbledon defence against Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili, ranked 85th in the world, with the…

Tennis: Roger Federer will open his Wimbledon defence against Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili, ranked 85th in the world, with the Swiss star targeting a fifth successive title.

Federer's conquerer in the final of the French Open, Rafael Nadal, has been given a far harder opener however with Mardy Fish of the USA his first-round opponent.

Andy Murray will face Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti if he recovers from his wrist injury. Murray will leave it until Monday when the championships begin before making a final decision on his fitness after sustaining tendon damage to his right wrist in Hamburg last month.

British number two Tim Henman also faces a tough opener to the 2007 Championships after being drawn against Spain's Carlos Moya.

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Second seed and world number three Andy Roddick will play Justin Gimelstob in an all-American first-round match at Wimbledon.

Roddick, a runner up at the All England Club in 2004 and 2005, moved up two places in the rankings last week following his success at Queen's.

The 24-year-old is in the same half of the draw as Federer but is not scheduled to meet the number one seed until the semi-finals.

Roddick's Davis Cup team-mate James Blake, the number nine seed, will face Russia's Andreev Igor in the first round.

Top seed Justine Henin opens her campaign against Argentinian qualifier Jorgelina Cravero with the French Open champion on course to face Serena Williams in the semi-finals.

Williams, the American world number seven, faces a simple opener against Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain, who was knocked out in the opening round of last year's championships.

Second seed Maria Sharapova should have more trouble dispatching Yung-Jan Chan of Chinese Tapei and could meet compatriot Dinara Safina in the fourth round, while defending champion Amelie Mauresmo faces Jamea Jackson of the USA in her opening match.