05. 06. 2010. ·
Serbian tennis player and world no.3 Novak Djokovic begins his preparation for Wimbledon at the AEGON Championships tournament in London next week.
The ATP World Tour 250 event (grass, € 627,700) will be played from June 7 until June 13.
It is Novak’s third appearance at the Queens Club. He reached round three in 2007, and two years ago Rafael Nadal defeated him in the finals.
Djokovic is second seed and has a first round BYE. In the second round, he will play against the winner of the match between world no.96 Pere Riba (ESP) and world no.95 Paolo Lorenzi (ITA). Novak has never played them before.
Andreas Seppi (ITA,15) is his potential rival in the third round.
If Nole gets to the quarterfinals, Sam Querrey (USA,7), Janko Tipsarevic (SRB,10) or Marc Gicquel (FRA) might ‘wait’ him there.
His possible semifinal opponents are Andy Roddick (USA,4), Gael Monfils (FRA,6) and Richard Gasquet (FRA,11).
Novak can not play against first-seeded Rafael Nadal (ESP) before the finals. Andy Murray (GBR,3), Marin Cilic (CRO,5), Feliciano Lopez (ESP,8), Michael Llodra (FRA,12)… are also in that part of the draw.
Andy Murray is a defending champion. He beat American James Blake in last year’s final 7-6, 6-4.
Winner of the tournament gets €79,260 and 250 ATP points, and runner-up earns €45,130 and 150 ATP points.
Djokovic will defend 150 points from Halle (lost to Tommy Haas in the final 3-6, 7-6(4), 1-6).
