Roger Federer's bid for a third straight Wimbledon title will begin with a first round meeting with French Davis Cup player Paul-Henri Mathieu. The world number one will not be losing too much sleep about an encounter with an opponent who has managed only one victory in his two previous appearances at the All England club.
Federer could face 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt at the semi-final stage. Hewitt had been hoping to avoid Federer until the final but he could face him in the last four as a result of only being seeded third, a place below his world ranking.
Australia's Hewitt faces Belgian Christophe Rochus in the first round.
Second seed Andy Roddick, fresh from winning the warm-up tournament at Queen's for the third year in a row, is in the bottom half of the draw along with fourth seed and French Open champion Rafael Nadal.
Roddick opens up against Jiri Vanek of the Czech Republic while Nadal, who has written off his own chances of winning Wimbledon this year, begins his campaign against American Vince Spadea.
The top seeds all managed to steer clear of dangerous floaters in the draw although Australian Open champion Marat Safin, the 5th seed, faces a tough opening match against Thai number one Paradorn Srichaphan, a winner on grass at Nottingham last year.
The winner of that match could face a second round tie with 2003 finalist Mark Philippoussis.
British number one Tim Henman, four times a semi-finalist here, will begin against Finland's Jarkko Nieminen and could come up against Roddick if he makes it through to the quarter-finals.
Henman, 30, again represents the best chance of British success but he may have to share some of the limelight this year with the rapidly emerging Andrew Murray.
The Scottish teenager - winner of last year's US Open junior tournament - is being tipped as a potential successor to Henman and his hopes of making an impact at his first Wimbledon have been boosted by the draw.
Murray, a wildcard entrant, will face a qualifier in the first round, while big-serving Greg Rusedski should not have too much trouble disposing of Spanish clay courter Alberto Martin in his first round tie.
Maria Sharapova will start the defence of her ladies' singles title against Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives.
World number one Lindsay Davenport, winner here in 1999, is this year's top seed and will meet Russian Alina Jidkova in the first round.
French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne - ranked seventh - will face Elini Daniilidou of Greece.
Former Wimbledon winners Venus Williams and Serena Williams, who could meet in the fourth round, are set to be in first-round action against a qualifier and American Angela Haynes respectively.