Wimbledon 2019: SA’s Lloyd Harris to square off against Roger Federer

SA’s Lloyd Harris’ first appearance at the Wimbledon Championships will be on Centre Court against Roger Federer after the tournament draw was conducted in London on Friday.

Wimbledon action gets underway on Monday at the All England Club.

Federer, the veteran South African-born Swiss superstar, enters the fray as the second seed.

Federer is the record eight times winner of this prestigious grass court tournament.

There are four players flying the South African flag at this year’s event, including the fit-again Kevin Anderson (singles), Raven Klaasen (doubles) and Kgothatso Montjane (Wheelchair tennis event)

For the 22-year-old Harris, this is a fourth Grand Slam appearance, having finished in the second round of the recent French Open and losing in the opening round of the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australian Open.

Prior to the draw, Harris said:

“I am feeling excited ahead of my first Wimbledon appearance and feel like I have had good preparations on grass, despite having lost two of my previous matches leading up to the tournament.
“I still have a few days and a lot of practice set up. I will prepare myself to come out and to play my best in the first round.”

Anderson, the fourth seed and last year’s tournament runner-up, returns from a lengthy injury lay off. He plays Frenchman Pierre Hugues Herbert in his first-round match.

The 33-year-old also finished as runner-up at the US Open two years ago and is still in search of an elusive Major tournament title.

In the doubles event, third-seeded pair Raven Klaasen and his New Zealand partner Michael Venus will open their campaign against unseeded British doubles pair Jonny O’Mara and Luke Bambridge on Wednesday.

The duo were runners-up in the tournament last year. They are also fresh from winning the Halle Open, also played on grass, in Germany earlier this month.

Just like Anderson, Klaasen is searching for his first Grand Slam success, having also reached the 2014 Australian Open final.

“It is exciting to back in London playing on grass, with Wimbledon my favourite time and event of the year,” said Klaasen.
“I am looking forward to putting on another good performance.
“Things are looking good for Michael and me on grass since we’ve also picked up a title now, and can take that form into the coming weeks.
“So far, the preparations have been good. We have been working on a few things, so hopefully, we’ll be ready to rumble when the tournament starts.”

Wheelchair tennis action will start from 11 July until 14 July, where Montjane is also in search of a good showing in her second appearance in London.

The 33-year-old from Polokwane was the first black South African to play at Wimbledon when she took part in the tournament last year, and the first African player to feature at all four Grand Slams.

African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Herman Gibbs