Federer faces Gasquet in tough first round

LONDON, June 23 (Reuters) Roger Federer faces a difficult start to the defence of his Wimbledon title after he was drawn to face Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the first round today.

The Swiss triple defending champion needs to beat the talented 20-year-old to break Bjorn Borg's record of 41 consecutive wins on grass.

Top seed Federer faces a potential second round match against four-times semi-finalist Tim Henman, if the Briton overcomes Swede Robin Soderling in their opening round match.

French Open champion Rafael Nadal, the second seed, plays British wild card Alex Bogdanovic while American third seed Andy Roddick takes on Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.

Roddick, runner-up the past two years, is in line for a potential quarter-final against Australian Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 champion. Sixth seed Hewitt drew Italian Filippo Volandri in round one.

American Andre Agassi, possibly making his final appearance at the grasscourt grand slam which he won in 1992, plays Serbian Boris Pashanski.

Briton Greg Rusedski landed former world number one Marat Safin of Russia while Rusedski's compatriot Andy Murray faces Chile's Olympic champion Nicolas Massu.

REUTERS DH KP1630