Nole Patrol is TENNIS.com's Wimbledon blog that will provide on-site news, insight and commentary on Novak Djokovic as he aims for a fifth consecutive Grand Slam singles title.
WIMBLEDON, England—Three quick thoughts on Novak Djokovic's draw:
Djokovic begins his journey for his third Grand Slam title of 2016 by facing British wild card James Ward. Ranked No. 177, there’s no doubt Ward will do everything he can to prolong what could very well be the experience of his tennis lifetime. It’s not every day a player ranked outside the Top 150 faces a world No. 1 at his home Slam. Still, despite Ward’s recent heroics in Davis Cup, there’s little doubt that the match will be business as usual for Djokovic.
If he can get by Sam Querrey in the first round, Lukas Rosol could attempt to reprise his 2012 stunner of Rafael Nadal, this time against Djokovic. The Czech is dangerous, but odds are Djokovic won’t really run into serious trouble until the fourth round, where he could face David Ferrer or a resurgent Philipp Kohlschreiber, fresh off a runner-up finish in Stuttgart.
Milos Raonic is due for a deep run at a Grand Slam, but odds are it won’t happen at Wimbledon if he meets Djokovic—he’s 0-7 against the world No. 1. Playing the huge-serving Canadian in the quarters wouldn't be ideal, and another challenging encounter could follow in Roger Federer. The seven-time champion is well rested, to say the least, and has little to lose for the first time in many years. The pressure is off Federer, which could turn this blockbuster semifinal into the match of the tournament.