Defending champion Roger Federer [ Images ] was paired with familiar foe Alejandro Falla [ Images ] when the draw for next week's Wimbledon [ Images ] championships was made at the All England [ Images ] Club on Friday.

Women's holder Serena Williams [ Images ] will face Portugal's Michelle Larcher di Brito.

The unfortunate Falla will be up against the 16-times Grand Slam champion for the third time in consecutive tournaments, having lost to him in the second round of the French Open [ Images ] and at last week's grasscourt warm-up in Halle.

Federer, bidding to equal Pete Sampras's [ Images ] modern era record of seven Wimbledon titles, is top seed despite losing the world number one ranking to Rafael Nadal [ Images ]. His first tough test could be a third round clash with Spain's Tommy Robredo [ Images ].

The Swiss is in the same half as Novak Djokovic [ Images ] and 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt [ Images ] of Australia [ Images ] who beat Federer in the Halle final last Sunday.

Nadal, who won the title on his last visit in 2008, returns with a first round against Japanese wildcard Kei Nishikori but potential danger lurks in round three in the form of Latvia's Ernests Gulbis [ Images ].

Third seed Djokovic faces a tricky first round against Belgium's Olivier Rochus [ Images ] while fourth seed Andy Murray [ Images ], one of just two British men in the main draw, begins against experienced Jan Hajek.

Andy Roddick [ Images ], beaten by Federer in last year's epic final, faces fellow American Rajeev Ram.

Three-times champion Serena Williams will be wary of Portugal's Larcher di Brito, who has caused a stir at the All England Club before because of the ear-splitting noise she makes when hitting the ball.

Serena is seeded to meet older sister Venus again in the final although she has a tough looking draw with a prospective second round against either Anna Chakvetadze [ Images ] or powerful German Andrea Petkovic.

Venus, who celebrated her 30th birthday on Thursday, begins her quest for a sixth Wimbledon title against Rosana de los Rios. Fourth seed Jelena Jankovic [ Images ] faces a nervy start against British teenager Laura Robson while third seed Caroline Wozniacki [ Images ] plays Tathiana Garbin.

US Open [ Images ] champion Kim Clijsters [ Images ], back at Wimbledon for the first time since 2006 after coming out of retirement last year, has been drawn against Maria Elena Camerin.

Fellow-Belgian Justine Henin [ Images ], also back after a retirement U-turn, faces Anastasia Sevastova of Latvia.