Rod faces tall order

Top seed Roger Federer will begin his bid for a third consecutive Wimbledon title against Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu following the draw at the All England Club on Thursday. Women8217;s top seed Lindsay Davenport also received a straight forward opening match when the world number one was drawn against Russia8217;s Alina Jidkova. Champion and second seed Maria Sharapova plays Spain8217;s Nuria Llagostera-Vives.

Federer8217;s main rival for the men8217;s crown, last year8217;s runner-up and second seed Andy Roddick, was drawn against Czech Jiri Vanek. Roddick is expected to come through that test relatively easily but then could face the tallest man in tennis, Ivo Karlovic, in the second round.

Roddick narrowly beat the 6 feet 10 inches 2.08 metres Croatian 7-6, 7-6 in the final of the Queen8217;s warm-up event at the weekend.

Men8217;s third seed and former champion Lleyton Hewitt plays Belgian Christopher Rochus in round one. Hewitt came out in the top half of the draw and could meet Marat Safin in the quarter-finals and Federer in the semis.