Roger Federer handed tough draw for Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England — Roger Federer was handed a tough draw Friday in his bid for a record-equaling seventh Wimbledon title.

The defending champion and top-seeded Federer was drawn in the same top half with Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic and former champion Lleyton Hewitt.

Federer beat Roddick in a marathon five-set final last year.

Second-seeded and 2008 winner Rafael Nadal has Andy Murray and Robin Soderling in the bottom half of the draw.

Federer, winner of 16 Grand Slam titles, will open Monday against Colombia's 65th-ranked Alejandro Falla. Federer hasn't lost a set in four previous matches with Falla, including a 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 rout at Wimbledon in 2004 and 6-1, 6-2 win on grass in Halle, Germany, last week.

Nadal plays Japan's Kei Nishikori in the first round.

In the women's draw, the Williams sisters are seeded to meet again in the final for the fifth time.

Top-seeded and three-time champion Serena has former winner Maria Sharapova and French Open runner-up Samantha Stosur in her half. Five-time champion Venus has Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, both returning to Wimbledon after coming out of retirement, in her half.

Serena will play 148th-ranked Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal in the opening round, while Venus opens against Paraguay's Rossana De Los Rios.

Federer, who has reached a a record seven consecutive Wimbledon finals, is trying to match Pete Sampras with seven titles at the All England Club.

Federer has won a record 16 Grand Slam titles, including this year's Australian Open. However, he has not won a tournament since Australia. It's the first time since 2001 that Federer has come to Wimbledon with only one tournament victory for the year.

The men's draw sets up potential quarterfinals in the top half between Federer and fifth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko and No. 3 Djokovic vs. No. 5 Roddick. Looming in the bracket, however, is No. 15 Hewitt, the 2002 champion who beat Federer in Sunday's final in Halle. The Australian could meet Djokovic in the fourth round.

Federer could face Roddick in a semifinal showdown. Federer has beaten the American in three Wimbledon finals, including last year's classic that went to 16-14 in the fifth set.