Tough draw for British hopes

Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski received no favours in today's draw for the Wimbledon championships, which start next Monday.

Henman is lined up for a quarter-final clash with top seed and seven-times champion Pete Sampras - with a hard route along the way - and Rusedski starts off against the Monaco-based Romanian, Andre Pavel, before a possible meeting with Zimbabwe's Byron Black.

Henman, elevated to sixth seed after reaching the final of the Stella Artois at the weekend, begins against one of the 17 qualifiers and then takes on British wild card Martin Lee or Italy's Gianluca Pozzi, who reached fourth round a year ago.

Next should come Sjeng Schalken, the Dutchman who Henman beat in the French Open last month.

But Schalken is no stranger to grass and played the longest final set in Wimbledon history last year when he lost it 20-18 to Australian Mark Philippoussis, who is absent this time because of injury.

In the last 16, Henman is due to play 12th seed Jan-Michael Gambill, of United States, with Sampras, who has twice beaten the British No1 at the semi-final stage, barring his way to the last four this time. Gambill was in action today against Rusedski in the Samsung Open at Nottingham.

Rusedski, who was a long way from being included in Wimbledon's extended seeding list of 32 players - an increase of 16 - will recognise the need to hit form fast to come through against Pavel and Black. If does manage to reach the third round he can then expect to face the No 32 seed, Spain's Alberto Martin.

Sampras starts against another Spaniard, Francisco Clavet, and then plays one of the British wild card entries, either Barry Cowan or Mark Hilton. Sampras is due to play the fourth seed Marat Safin, of Russia, in the semi-finals.