Sela handed favourable first round tie at Wimbledon

Dudi Sela has been handed a favourable first round match at Wimbledon, after he was drawn to face Marcel Granollers.

His ninth appearance at the Championships, the 32-year-old’s best performance at SW19 saw him reach the fourth round back in 2009.

His Spanish opponent, who’s ranked 22 places below him, has reached the second round in the last three years. The winner will likely face American John Isner in the second round.

Elsewhere in the draw, Diego Schwartzman was handed a tough draw in the form of 13th seed, Bulgarian, Grigor Dimitrov. The Argentine, who’s the top-ranked Jewish player at the event, will be taking part in his thiird Championships, with him having suffered first round exits in the previous two years.

Israeli-born Canadian Denis Shapovalov takes on Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz, while in the women’s draw, Italian Camili Giorgi faces Frenchwoman Alize Cornet.

The doubles draw was also made on Friday morning. Sela is teaming up with Brazilian Andre Sa, with them facing American Nicholas Monroe and New Zealand’s Artem Sitak, while Israel’s other player, Jonathan Erlich, partnering Phillpines’ Treat Huey, take on the sixth seeds, Croatian Ivan Dodig and Granollers – who faces Sela in the singles.

Schwartzman is teaming up with compatriot Nicholas Kicker, as they face Frenchman Julien Benneteau and Canadian Vasek Pospisil, while American Scott Lipsky is teaming up with his compatriot Frances Tiafoe, as they take on Chilean Hans Podlipnik-Castillo and Belarussian Andrei Vasilevski.

The draw for the mixed doubles tournament takes place next week, while other Israeli interest will lie with Yshai Oliel, who is set to take part in the juniors boys’ tournament.