AEGON CHAMPIONSHIPS – MURRAY FACES BEDENE IN ALL-BRITISH FIRST ROUND MATCH
The main singles draw for the Aegon Championships has been made, with top seed and five-time champion Andy Murray beginning his title defence against fellow Brit Aljaz Bedene. The pair met in the second round last year as Murray won 6-3, 6-4 in his first match against a Brit in 10 years.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is a possible quarter-final opponent for Murray. The Frenchman faces his compatriot Adrian Mannarino in the first round.
In the second quarter of the draw, the 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, who won the title at The Queen’s Club five years ago, has been drawn against 6’10” John Isner in what promises to be a big-serving opening round clash.
Also in that section is Nick Kyrgios who, on his third appearance at The Queen’s Club, is still looking for his first win.
Speaking at the draw ceremony, which was streamed live (and can still be viewed) on Facebook the Australian commented on his opening match against Donald Young: “I’m happy with that,” he said. “But at the same time he’s a tricky player, a lefty and on the grass he can play some sneaky tennis so I’m not going to take him lightly at all. He can play some good tennis, for sure.’
In the bottom half of the draw, second seed and recent Roland Garros runner-up Stan Wawrinka takes on grass specialist Feliciano Lopez in an eye-catching opening match. Elsewhere Milos Raonic, last year’s finalist, faces Australian wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round.
As well as the Murray-Bedene first round match, there is plenty of British interest throughout the 32-man draw. Kyle Edmund, who was a direct entrant into the draw for the first time in his career, plays a qualifier in round one, while wildcards Cameron Norrie and James Ward begin against Sam Querrey and a qualifier respectively.
Last year, the Aegon Championships was voted ATP-500 Tournament of the Year by the players – the fourth successive year that the event has received a tournament of the year award.
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