Roddick will go down challenging road at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England – To get to the Wimbledon final, Andy Roddick may first have to get past the tallest player on the tour, the local favorite and the game’s newest darling.

Defending champion Roger Federer seems to have an easier path after Thursday’s draw. His toughest projected match could come in the semifinals, with possible opponents being 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt or last year’s semifinalist Mario Ancic.

On the women’s side, Serena Williams could face sister Venus in the fourth round after both were drawn in the bottom half.

Roddick was seeded second by the All England Club, two spots higher than his ranking. He’ll face Jiri Vanek, a Czech ranked 92nd in the world who was beaten in the first round of Wimbledon in 2000 and ‘01, in his opening match.

Then things get more difficult.

Roddick could face Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in the second round. The two met in Sunday’s final of the Queen’s Club tournament, with Roddick beating the 6-foot-10 Karlovic in two tiebreakers.

If he gets past Karlovic, Roddick’s toughest potential opponents to reach the quarterfinals would be Xavier Malisse and Ivan Ljubicic.

In the quarterfinals, Roddick could face four-time semifinalist Tim Henman or Sebastien Grosjean, the ninth seed.

Roddick may play Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. Earlier this month, Nadal won the French Open in his first attempt. The two have played twice, with Roddick winning on hardcourt and Nadal on his favored clay.