The Wimbledon draw came out today, and Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are on the same side of the draw. Apparently, whomever plants the grand slam seeds managed once again to keep Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal from potentially encountering each other before the finals, thus keeping alive the hope of the elusive “Fed-Al Final.”
Since they met in the 2007 U. S. Open finals, Federer and Djokovic have been on the same side of the draw in 16 out of the 19 grand slams played. If you think that’s skewed, 4th seed, Andy Murray, has landed in Rafael Nadal’s section 18 out of the 19 times. Sorta gives a new definition to the "luck of the draw", doesn’t it?
Djokovic became the world’s number one after winning Wimbledon in 2011. In the four grand slam tournaments since (U. S. Open, Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon), only one (the Australian Open 2012) has placed 2nd seeded Nadal and 3rd seeded Federer on the same side of the draw. In contrast, in the six slams preceding Djokovic's ascent to the top of the tennis pile, the 2nd and 3rd seeds were on the same side of the draw. Apparently the tennis gods are doing whatever is necessary to keep Federer and Nadal out of each other’s way.
Had Wimbledon seeded the top four this year as they did last year and the year before, Federer and Nadal would have been in the same half, destroying any possibility of their meeting in the finals. Can’t have that.
You'd think the ATP, which is supposed to be looking out for all the players, not just those named Federer and Nadal, would lodge a protest. If not, then certainly Djokovic and Murray, the pawns in this apparently ongoing pursuit of an elusive Feder-Nadal Final, would at least grouse about it to the sports writers. And why haven't Brad Gilbert, the McEnroes, Mary Carillo or any of the other tennis commentators commented?
Maybe this year. Or maybe not.
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