Wimbledon 2012 Schedule: Day 1 TV Coverage, Matches and Bracket Guide

There's just something special about Wimbledon.

Sure, the clay at Roland Garros is unique, and the fast play at the US and Australian Opens is always fun. But for my tastes, there's nothing quite like that faded grass at Wimbledon.

This year, the event comes at a fascinating time in the sport. On the men's side, the domination of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal has become one of the finest rivalries in the sport and has left the rest of the field wondering if they are simply delaying the inevitable by showing up.

Meanwhile, the women's side has wonderful parity at the top of the rankings, with Maria Sharapova currently holding the No. 1 ranking but a slew of contenders capable of winning at Wimbledon.

Will Serena Williams rebound from a first-round exit at Roland Garros? Can Caroline Wozniacki finally win her first Grand Slam? Will Victoria Azarenka regain her early-year form? Will we see Petra Kvitova build on her breakthrough 2011 this year?

There are many questions galore in the game of tennis. I can't think of a better stage to answer them than on Wimbledon's grass. Be sure to check out the bracket guide, Day 1 primer and full television schedule below.

Bracket Guide

For the full bracket, be sure to check out Wimbledon.com.

On the men's side, Novak Djokovic should have a clear path to the semifinals in Section 1. Intriguing players in the section include young American Ryan Harrison, Tomas Berdych, Nicolas Almagro, Juan Monaco and Richard Gasquet. But Djokovic should cruise to the semis.

In Section 2, Roger Federer should have little trouble. John Isner and Nicolas Mahut could face each other in a rematch of their epic 2010 Wimbledon clash. Gilles Simon, Janko Tipsarevic and Isner are the top threats to Federer.

Section 3 should be the most competitive, with Andy Murray, David Ferrer and Juan Martin Del Potro all serious contenders to make the semifinals. And who knows, maybe Andy Roddick will find a bit of magic as well.

Section 4 should belong to Rafael Nadal, though he'll likely have to contend with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals. Well, if Tsonga survives his first-round match against Lleyton Hewitt, that is. Other notable contenders include Mardy Fish and Feliciano Lopez.

In the ladies' draw, Section 1 is Maria Sharapova's to lose, though Angelique Kerber, Vera Zvonareva and Sabine Lisicki could have something to say about that.

Section 2 has a lot of depth, with Samantha Stosur, Agnieszka Radwanska, Venus Williams, Flavia Pennetta, Na Li and Maria Kirilenko all capable of reaching the semis.

Section 3 looks poised for a fantastic clash in the quarterfinals between Serena Williams and Petra Kvitova, two of the most powerful players in the women's game. Sara Errani will hope to build upon her trip to the French Open final, while Dominika Cibulkova could be a sleeper semifinalist.

Finally, Section 4 is a toss-up, with Carolina Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka, Marion Bartoli and Ana Ivanovic all possibilities to survive to the semis. Woznicaki will looking to win her first Grand Slam, while Azarenka will hope to recapture her run of dominant form at the beginning of this season.

Day 1 Matches to Watch For

For the full Day 1 schedule, be sure to check out Wimbledon.com.

Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Tomas Berdych, John Isner, Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Samantha Stosur, Na Li and Maria Kirilenko will all be in action on the first day. If you love the big names, it's a fine way to start the tournament.

But there are also intriguing matches beyond the top contenders.

Venus Williams will have a tough first match against Elena Vesnina. Kim Clijsters could very well upset 18th seed Jelena Jankovic. Sloane Stephens—who was the United States darling at Roland Garros after advancing to the fourth round of the French Open—will face Karolina Pliskova.

And not even Djokovic—the top-ranked men's player in the world—has a throwaway match, facing off against Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Suffice to say, Day 1 is chock full of intriguing tennis.

Full Television Schedule

Date	Time (EDT)	Round	Channel
Monday, June 25	6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Round 1	ESPN2
Tuesday, June 26	7 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Round 1	ESPN2
Wednesday, June 27	7 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Round 2	ESPN2
Thursday, June 28	7 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Round 2	ESPN2
Friday, June 29	7 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Round 3	ESPN
Saturday, June 30	7 a.m. - 3 p.m.	Round 3	ESPN
Monday, July 2	7 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Round 4	ESPN2
Monday, July 2	8 a.m. - 3 p.m.	Round 4 Centre Court	ESPN
Tuesday, July 3	7 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Women's Quarterfinals	ESPN2
Tuesday, July 3	8 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Women's Quarterfinals CC	ESPN
Wednesday, July 4	7 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Men's Quarterfinals	ESPN2
Wednesday, July 4	7 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Men's Quarterfinals CC	ESPN
Thursday, July 5	7 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Women's Semifinals	ESPN
Friday, July 6	7 a.m. - 5 p.m.	Men's Semifinals	ESPN
Saturday, July 7	9 a.m. - 2 p.m.	Women's Final	ESPN
Sunday, July 8	9 a.m. - 3 p.m.	Men's Final	ESPN

ESPN3 will also be streaming the action online.

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