Easy draw for Djokovic? Tell that to Ferrer, Del Potro and Berdych

By Steven Oldham

Since the Wimbledon draws have been made, there has been some talk of number one seed Novak Djokovic getting an easy ride to the final.

It's true that the Serb cannot meet any of the 'big four' - Murray, Federer and Nadal - until the final as they're in the other half of the draw.

Djokovic, meanwhile, is in the same half as the fourth seed David Ferrer.  It's a bit disrespectful to the Spaniard to disregard him as a player with no hope of beating Djokovic.  He's won a third of their 15 meetings to date.

Among the other also rans in this side of the draw are Tommy Haas, Tomas Berdych and Juan Martin Del Potro.  All three have notable victories over the established top four, memorably Del Potro's bronze medal match victory over Djokovic at the London 2012 Olympics on Wimbledon's courts.

Indeed, the 25-year-old would be within reason to be annoyed at onlookers suggesting he will progress to the final with ease.  He has rightly pointed out that Wimbledon is a Grand Slam, and the competing players are of the quality that the grandest of tennis tournaments deserve.

There is always the chance of an upset.  Who would have thought Lukas Rosol could produce the sort of tennis that knocked out Rafael Nadal last year? Or how Federer was blown away by Berdych in 2010? This is not a closed shop.  Yes, Djokovic, Murray, Federer and Nadal are the best of their generation.  They are not unbeatable however.

There's a chance that players like Berdych, Del Potro, Haas and Richard Gasquet will be out to prove it's not a foregone conclusion who wins Grand Slams in this era.

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