This combo made from 2009 (L), 2008 (C) and 2011 file photos shows from left: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic after winning at Wimbledon. — APLONDON – Rafa Nadal's hopes of winning a third Wimbledon title were given a boost when he avoided a possible semifinal clash with rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. The Spanish second seed, who will begin his campaign against Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci, was handed a relatively easy path to the final when he was placed in the opposite side of the draw to defending champion Djokovic and six-time winner Federer. The Serbian world No. 1 and top seed will play Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero, who topped the rankings in 2003, in his opening clash while third seed Federer faces another Spaniard Albert Ramos. Britain's Andy Murray, who would face Nadal in the semifinal should he get that far, faces Russia's former world No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko. Nadal has beaten Murray in the last two Wimbledon semifinals. In the women's competition, top seed and world No. 1 Maria Sharapova was placed in a different half of the draw to reigning champion Petra Kvitova, four-times winner Serena Williams and world No. 2 Victoria Azarenka. Sharapova, who became only the 10th woman to complete the career grand slam at Roland Garros earlier this month, faces Australia's Anastasia Rodionova in the opening round. Williams will play Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, Kvitova takes on Akgul Amanmuradova from Uzbekistan and Azarenka plays the United States' Irina Falconi. All the top seeds avoided an early encounter with Venus Williams who is ranked 55 in the world and was lurking in the draw with the potential on grass to derail their hopes. Argentina's David Nalbandian, who was defaulted in the Queen's final Sunday for kicking an advertising hoarding into a line judge, starts his Wimbledon campaign against Serbian world No. 8 Janko Tipsarevic. While in another eye-catching tie, 2002 winner Lleyton Hewitt, a wildcard this year, plays France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who reached the semifinals in 2011. Paszek stuns Bartoli Tamira Paszek recovered from a set and 4-0 down Friday to reach her first final in two years as she beat defending champion Marion Bartoli 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 at wind-blown Eastbourne. Paszek will next German fifth seed Angelique Kerber, winner of two trophies this season, who beat Czech Klara Zakopalova 6-0, 6-3. After a Thursday washout on the men's side of the draw, all four ATP quarterfinals were played Friday. As a result, men's winners were doing double duty at an event which ends Saturday. Andy Roddick will line up against holder Andreas Seppi for the title as the former No. 1 American advanced 6-3, 3-1 when Belgian Steve Darcis retired. Italy's Seppi, the third seed, beat American Ryan Harrison 7-5, 6-1. The win was the 600th of his career for Roddick. Earlier, the wild card defeated Italian Fabio Fognini 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in the quarterfinals while Seppi advanced in 62 minutes as German Philipp Kohlschreiber retired trailing 7-5, 2-1. Clijsters pulls out Kim Clijsters withdrew from the Unicef Open at Den Bosch, the Netherlands, before the semifinals Friday because of a stomach muscle strain, saying she did not want to jeopardize playing in her last Wimbledon before retirement. Clijsters' physiotherapist, Sam Versleghers, said the 29-year-old Belgian felt the injury on Thursday during her tough two-set quarterfinal against Francesca Schiavone. The announcement came just hours before Clijsters was due to play Urszula Radwanska, who subsequently advanced to the final. On court Friday, Philipp Petzschner of Germany beat Xavier Malisse of Belgium 7-5, 7-5 to become the first finalist. He will meet top-seeded David Ferrer in Saturday's final after the Spaniard beat Benoit Paire of France 7-6, 3-6, 6-1. Kirsten Flipkens kept Belgian hopes alive by beating Roberta Vinci of Italy 6-4, 7-6 (5) in a quarterfinal halted by rain on Thursday night, but she later lost 6-4, 6-2 to Nadia Petrova of Russia.— Agencies
