Dream Federer v Nadal final a possibility

Falling on opposite sides of the men’s singles draw at Wimbledon, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have set up the very real prospect of reprising their classic 2008 decider.

The legendary duo have not faced each other at the All England Club since Nadal’s thrilling five-set triumph in near darkness nine years ago.

But given their form in 2017, a rematch this year could well eventuate.

Federer and Nadal have between them scooped all the biggest titles so far this year – with the exception of Rome, won by Alexander Zverev – and currently sit in the top two positions of the ATP Race to London.

Federer’s path

Federer, seeded third, fell in No.2 seed Novak Djokovic’s half while Nadal landed in the half of defending champion Andy Murray, the top seed. Should the seedings hold, this would make for a pair of mouth-watering semifinals.

The Big Four were the top four seeds at Wimbledon in 2009 – although Nadal ultimately pulled out of that year’s event, causing the draw to be reshuffled – and eight years later, not a lot has changed.

RELATED: Federer crushes Zverev for Halle title

Federer, the favourite for the title according to bookmakers, opens against Alexander Dolgopolov and potentially faces his first seeded test in the form of No.27 Mischa Zverev in the last 32.

The Halle champion could face stylistic twin Grigor Dimitrov – seeded 13th – in the fourth round before a projected quarterfinal against last year’s finalist Milos Raonic.

Up one end – @RafaelNadal. At the other – @GrigorDimitrov. #wimbledon #practicemakesperfect pic.twitter.com/Iw7qm55Fng

— Tennismash (@tennismash) June 30, 2017

Threats aplenty for Djokovic

Should Djokovic win through the draw, he would likely await Federer in the semifinals – but the Serb, currently racking up match wins in Eastbourne, has plenty of hurdles to clear before then.

RELATED: another victory at Eastbourne for Djokovic

Juan Martin del Potro looms as a potential third-round foe for the three-time Wimbledon champion, while lurking in the last 16 could be 16th seed Feliciano Lopez, the Queen’s champion and Stuttgart finalist in recent weeks on grass.

Eighth seed Dominic Thiem is the projected quarterfinal opponent for Djokovic but other threats could come in the form of former Wimbledon finalists Tomas Berdych or grasscourt gun Richard Gasquet, seeded players who could stand in Thiem’s way in the fourth round.

Murray’s title defence

Meanwhile, the top-seeded Murray opens against qualifier Sascha Bublike – who apparently wasn’t too thrilled about that – and will wary of the grasscourt prowess of Dustin Brown, who lurks as a possible second-round opponent.

Biggest luck of life, playing my first round at @Wimbledon against @andy_murray

— Sasha Bublik (@AlexanderBublik) June 30, 2017

The Scot, short of match practice after losing early at Queen’s and pulling out of two exhibition matches in at London’s Hurlingham Club, faces a potential showdown in the last 16 against either Aussie firebrand Nick Kyrgios (seeded 20th) or last year’s quarterfinalist Lucas Pouille, seeded 16th and the recent champion in Stuttgart.

RELATED: Murray will be ready, says Lendl

No.5 seed Wawrinka is seeded to meet Murray in the quarters, but has historically struggled on grass and faces a tricky opener against Daniil Medvedev, the young Russian enjoying a stellar grasscourt season.

Should Wawrinka progress past that test, seeds Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) and Sam Querrey (24) have the chops on the surface to potentially cut the Swiss down in round four.

Nadal hoping for better showing

Nadal opens against Australian John Millman and faces a tough potential test in round three against #NextGen star Karen Khachanov, seeded 30th and a recent Halle semifinalist.

Nadal hasn’t been past the fourth round at Wimbledon since 2011 and could at the same stage this year take on No.16 seed Gilles Muller, the serve-and-volleying lefty who won the title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and then advanced to the semis at Queen’s.

RELATED: Nadal to miss Queen’s

In his first appearance at Wimbledon in 2005, Muller beat Nadal in the second round.

Should he navigate that section, Nadal faces a likely quarterfinal showdown with No.7 seed Marin Cilic, who reached last week’s Queen’s final and who last year held match points on Federer in a thrilling Wimbledon quarterfinal.

The Croat has reached the quarters the last three years running at SW19.