Wimbledon 2013: Where to Watch Live, Preview, Seedings and Schedule
The 2013 Wimbledon Championships are set to start at the All England Club on 24 June. The competition always generates a very special set of emotions among players, pundits and fans, as it is the oldest tennis tournament and the most prestigious Grand Slam title.
This year's tournament has all the makings of a classic, particuarly since none of the top seeds have withdrawn. IBTimes UK takes a look at the top five seeds in the mens' and womens' singles competition and their first round matches.
Where to Watch Live
Each day's play starts at 11.30am BST, with BBC Two and BBC Two HD providing live coverage in the UK. Regular updates and live scores are also available on the Wimbledon Web site. Watch the highlights of the day's action on 8pm on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.
Men's Singles
Seed Rank
1 1 Novak Djokovic [SRB] v Florian Mayer [GER]
2 2 Andy Murray [GBR] v Benjamin Becker [GER]
3 3 Roger Federer [SUI] v Victor Hanescu [ROM]
4 4 David Ferrer [SPA] v Olivier Rochus [GER]
5 5 Rafael Nadal [SPA] v Martin Alund [ARG]
Great Britain's hopes will be pinned on Murray, who enjoyed a breakthrough year last season, winning the Olympic gold medal and the US Open [to become the first British male Grand Slam champion of the Open Era]. The Scot, who defeated seven-time champion Federer at the All England Club and World No 1 Djokovic at the Flushing Meadows, will be confident of his Wimbledon chances this year.
Meanwhile, defending champion Federer will be looking for a record-extending eighth Wimbledon crown this year. No man had ever won eight titles at the same Grand Slam till last month, when Nadal won at Roland Garros. Federer will try to match that accomplishment on his favourite surface.
However, the Swiss will have to do it the hard way after Friday's draw handed him a nightmare run to the title, courtsey of Nadal's drop to No 5 in the recent ATP rankings. Federer will have to beat Nadal in the quarter final, Murray in the semi final and Djokovic in the final to retain his title, if all of them progress as expected.
Also making a strong bid for the title are Nadal and Djokovic, who have won 11 of the last 13 Grand Slams. Meanwhile, David Ferrer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga have been in superb form of late but, to be honest, it's unlikely that anyone other than the big four will triumph at Wimbledon in the near future.
Women's Singles
Seed Rank
1 1 Serena Williams [USA] v Mandy Minella [LUX]
2 2 Victoria Azarenka [BLR] v Maria Joao Koehler [POR]
3 3 Maria Sharapova [RUS] v Kristina Mladenovic [FRA]
4 4 Agnieszka Radwanska [POL] v Yvonne Meusburger [AUT]
5 5 Sara Errani [ITA] v Monica Puig [PR]
In the womens' singles, World No 1 and defending champion Serena Williams heads into the tournament as the odds-on favourite. The American, a five-time champion here, is on a 31-match winning streak; the longest successful run in a season since her sister Venus won 35 in a row back in 2000.
Other women capable of triumphing at Wimbledon are 2004 champion Sharapova, World No 2 Azarenka and 2011 champion Petra Kvitova. However, it's hard to see anyone other than Serena winning the title at the All England Club this year, unless she suffers any injury or fitness issues.
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