TENNIS news: Top seed Roger Federer will begin his challenge for a third consecutive Wimbledon title against Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu following the draw at the All England Club yesterday.
Women's top seed and world number one Lindsay Davenport also received a straightforward opener, against Russia's Alina Jidkova. Champion and second seed Maria Sharapova plays Spain's Nuria Llagostera-Vives.
Having retained his Wimbledon title last year, Federer said he was feeling far less pressure than in 2004 as he prepares for Monday's opener.
"There is not so much pressure . . . that was all last year when I had to prove I could defend," the Swiss world number one said.
Federer's main rival for the crown, last year's runner-up and second seed Andy Roddick, was drawn against Czech Jiri Vanek.
French Open champion and fourth seed Rafael Nadal faces American Vince Spadea. Nadal's teenage rival Richard Gasquet, beaten at the French Open by the Spaniard, could get his revenge in the third round.
Britain's main hope, Tim Henman, faces Finn Jarkko Nieminen in the opening round. The sixth-seeded Briton could meet Roddick in the last eight.
The leading women mostly missed tricky early encounters, although Justine Henin-Hardenne was drawn against heavy-serving Greek Eleni Daniilidou and could face her French Open final victim Mary Pierce in the fourth round. The Belgian will fancy her chances of winning the only grand slam title missing from her collection.
Fourth seed Serena Williams starts against her US compatriot Angela Haynes.
Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, still seeking a first grand slam title, plays Argentinian doubles specialist Paola Suarez.
The season's third grand slam runs from June 20th to July 3rd.
Meanwhile, Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Nathalie Dechy of France yesterday to reach the semi-finals of the Eastbourne tournament.
The US Open champion now plays her good friend and former world number one Kim Clijsters, who enjoyed a 6-2, 6-2 win over Mashona Washington of the US.
Russian qualifier Vera Douchevina, who beat top seed Amelie Mauresmo on Wednesday, went through to today's semi-finals after Marion Bartoli of France retired at 0-5 with a foot strain.
Douchevina, ranked 54th in the world, will play fourth-seeded compatriot Anastasia Myskina or another qualifier, Italy's Roberta Vinci, in the last four.
