LONDON - Former champions Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal were all placed in the same section of the Wimbledon draw yesterday.

Top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic was kept apart from the other members of tennis' "Big Four".

However, the Serb may have to beat third-seeded Stan Wawrinka, who defeated him in the French Open final earlier this month, in the semi-finals.

Djokovic begins his title defence against experienced German Philipp Kohlschreiber before a possible second-round clash with 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt, who is playing in his last Wimbledon.

If the seedings work out, the last 16 would see Djokovic face Kevin Anderson of South Africa, US Open champion Marin Cilic against Kei Nishikori, Wawrinka playing David Goffin and Grigor Dimitrov taking on Milos Raonic.

In the bottom half, seven-time champion and second seed Federer could face Feliciano Lopez, Tomas Berdych would meet Gilles Simon, 2013 winner Murray could play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and two-time champion Nadal, seeded 10th this year, would be up against compatriot David Ferrer.

Federer, the holder of 17 Grand Slam titles and runner-up to Djokovic last year, starts his campaign against Bosnia's Damir Dzumhur, whom he beat in the French Open third round.

Murray, seeded three, begins against Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.

That clash will invite more questions over women coaching men. Murray has Amelie Mauresmo in his corner while Kukushkin is coached by his wife Anastasia.

Wawrinka, who has never got beyond the quarter-finals at the All England Club, starts against Portugal's Joao Sousa.

Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion who is down at his lowest ranking for a decade, begins with a clash against Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci.

In the women's draw, five-time champion Serena Williams and 2004 winner Maria Sharapova are drawn to meet in the semi-finals.

Top seed and world No. 1 Williams, who is bidding to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time for the second time in her career, has a 17-2 record over Sharapova.

The Russian's last win over the American was in the 2004 Wimbledon final.

Serena could meet sister Venus, a fellow five-time champion and playing in her 18th Wimbledon, in the fourth round. Her first match is against Russian world No. 113, Margarita Gasparyan. First up, Sharapova will take on British wild card Johanna Konta, who made the quarter-finals on grass in Eastbourne this week.

Second seed and defending champion Petra Kvitova would potentially meet Simona Halep in the semi-finals.

Kvitova, also champion in 2011, starts against Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE