Second Quarter
Headlined by number 4 seed Rafael Nadal, Q2 will see the Spaniard – who recently won his tenth French Open title – open against an injury-stricken John Millman, with a potential Round 2 clash against Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, who ousted Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open this year.
The difficulty in Nadal’s draw begins in Round 3 against Russian Karen Khachanov, who is enjoying quite the purple patch of form. The 21-year-old, part of the ATP’s NextGen, is currently at his career-highest ranking of 34th and recently made the semi-finals of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany, losing to eventual champion and Greatest of All Time, Roger Federer there.
Khachanov has done well at Grand Slams this year, reaching Round 4 at Roland Garros – where he defeated the higher-ranked Tomas Berdych and John Isner before eventually losing to Andy Murray.
Should he pass that hurdle, Nadal will have one of two difficult options – Ivo Karlovic or Gilles Muller to face in Round 4. Karlovic, who still holds the record for career-most aces, is a big server and his style of play is especially aided by the quick grass-courts of Wimbledon. Karlovic, a former quarter-finalist here, has seriously taxed Roger Federer at the All-England Tennis Club – so Nadal will want to be wary of him. The Croat made the finals at s-Hertogenbosch this year, losing to Gilles Muller.
Muller, a serve-and-volley specialist, is also good on grass and currently enjoying some form. The Luxembourgish player recently won the title at s-Hertogenbosch, then reached the semi-finals of the Queen’s Club championship, losing to, but taking a set off Marin Cilic.
Which brings us to Nadal’s continuing difficult draw – he has to face Cilic in the quarter-finals should he reach that stage.
Q2 will be quite the packed quarter, and offers quite the difficult draw for fresh Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, who has also not played any warm-up grass-court tournament ahead of Wimbledon.
Who Are Roger Federer's Kids? Know All About Federer's Twins
