2017 Wimbledon draw: Roger Federer faces difficult path to 8th title

World No. 5 Roger Federer will begin his quest for an unprecedented eighth Wimbledon championship starting Monday. But the Swiss Master has been drawn in an extremely challenging half that features the likes of Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Milos Raonic, Dominic Thiem and Dominic Thiem.

Odds makers have tipped Federer as the favourite to prevail at the All-England Tennis Club at the end of the next two weeks. He will begin his campaign against Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov in the first round before a possible clash with either veteran 27th seed Mischa Zverev or Australia's Bernard Tomicin the third round. Federer would then move onto face No. 13 seed Grigor Dimitrov in the Round of 16.

If Federer can get through the fourth round, he'd likely have to contend with either Zverev or Raonic -- two of the fastest rising players in the #NextGenATP movement -- in the quarter-final. Raonic had defeated Federer during last year's semi-final before losing to eventual winner Andy Murray in the final. This year, however, a reinvigorated Federer is playing unbelievable tennis and won't be easy to dispatch.

2017 Wimbledon draw: Roger Federer vs Novak Djokovic semi-final?

And then, of course, Federer would be on a collision course with three-time champion and archrival Novak Djokovic in the semi-final. If the top seeds avoid upsets through the first two weeks, the tennis world could be treated to The Big 4 running roughshod over the semi-finals. World No. 1 and reigning champion Andy Murray and World No. 2 Rafael Nadal are on a collision course in the other semi-final.

The Big 4 of Federer (7), Nadal (2), Djokovic (3) and Murray (2) have won a combined 14 Wimbledon championships. Australia's Lleyton Hewitt was the last player outside of the Big 4 to prevail at SW19.

Could the tennis world be treated to another Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal final come July 16? The 2017 Wimbledon gets underway on Monday, July 3.