Sport
Rafael Nadal is up first for Dudi Sela at Wimbledon
He will face the former Wimbledon champion in the first round of the Men's Singles at the grand slam tournament
July 1, 2018 11:19
He will face the former Wimbledon champion in the first round of the Men's Singles at the grand slam tournament
July 1, 2018 11:19Ranked 122 in the ATP, Dudi Sela, who is 33 and from Tel Aviv, has never beaten the Spaniard who has had a break after winning the French Open earlier this month.
Rafael Nadal, 32, is confident of a good run at SW19 and said: "I'm feeling good. Of course, I decided to be here in Wimbledon again. It's a very special event, of course. I always loved to be around here, it has always been a special thing."
Asked about why he decided not to play at Queen's last week, Nadal remarked: "I am not 20 anymore. I had to take decisions on the schedule sometimes. I decided not to play Queen's because after a long clay-court season, the body needed a rest, needed a slow adaptation to adapt to the grass. That's what I did.
“I'm feeling good. Wimbledon is a very special event, of course. I always love to be around here."
Sela has failed to win a set off the two-time winner in their two previous meetings in grass in south London.
Diego Schwartzman of Argentina has been seeded 15th in the Men's Singles. The 25-year-old Davis Cup star will be looking to build on a strong run at the French Open - where he took a set off Nadal a rain-affected quarter-final, when he takes on Mirza Basic.
Schwartzman, ranked 11 in the world, is yet to pass the first round at Wimbledon.
2014 Junior Wimbledon winner Noah Rubin missed out on the main draw after he was beaten in a first-round qualifier by Michael Mmoh.
Camila Giorgi will be looking to impress in the Ladies Singles. Taking part in the tournament for the fourth time, the Italian will play Anastasija Sevastova.
Doubles specialist Jonathan Erlich and top Israeli junior Yshai Oliel are also set to feature at Wimbledon this year.