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Federer handed tough draw

Wimbledon - Roger Federer was handed a tough draw on Friday in his bid for a record-equaling seventh Wimbledon title.

The defending champion and top-seeded Federer was drawn in the same top half with Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic and former champion Lleyton Hewitt.

Federer beat Roddick in a marathon five-set final last year.

Second-seeded and 2008 winner Rafael Nadal has Andy Murray and Robin Soderling in the bottom half of the draw.

Federer, winner of 16 Grand Slam titles, will open on Monday against Colombia's 65th-ranked Alejandro Falla. Nadal plays Japan's Kei Nishikori in the first round.

In the women's draw, the Williams sisters are seeded to meet again in the final for the fifth time.

Top-seeded and three-time champion Serena has former winner Maria Sharapova and French Open runner-up Samantha Stosur in her half. Five-time champion Venus has Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, both returning to Wimbledon after coming out of retirement, in her half.

Serena will play 148th-ranked Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal in the opening round.

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