For a second straight year, Roger Federer comes to Wimbledon with a chance to win a record-breaking eighth title at the All England Club.
But unlike last year, when he came into the tournament as the defending champion, the Swiss has some unfortunate memories from his last match at SW19 – a shock second-round loss to Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky.
Disappointment was a natural reaction but that’s not to say the uncharacteristic defeat has left him bitter or resentful. Federer even joked about it with Stakhovsky at his final ATP Player Council meeting as president the other day and the 32-year-old admits he is feeling better ahead of this year’s tournament, which kicks off on Monday.
“I’m totally at peace. I can accept these defeats, even though they were not fun in any way. But they’re part of a player’s life,” Federer told reporters at Wimbledon on Saturday.
“I feel like I’m a contender for the tournament. I hope to utilise my fitness, the amount of matches I’ve played this year. So I’m really coming in with a much better feeling than maybe in the last year.
“This year, I feel all the options are there. Return, serve, serve and volley, come in, my backhand, everything is working to my liking. For that reason, I feel I’m a bit more relaxed mentally.”
Federer opens his campaign against Italian Paolo Lorenzi and has been drawn to potentially face good friend and fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka in the quarter-finals.
On the opposite side of the draw lies defending champion Andy Murray, who has done well to rebound from the back surgery he had last October and has clawed his way back into the world’s top-five following an impressive semi-final showing at Roland Garros.
“I think he is where he wants to be before Wimbledon, in my opinion,” said Federer of Murray.
Another player who has some demons to banish – not just at Wimbledon, but on grass in general – is world No1 Rafael Nadal.
The Spaniard, seeded No2 this fortnight, has won just two matches on grass since his final defeat to Novak Djokovic here in 2011.
Despite his continued success on clay and his unbelievable dominance on American hard courts last season, Nadal has shown great vulnerability on grass in recent years, losing in the second round in 2012 and first round in 2013.
His opening round defeat in Halle to Dustin Brown less than two weeks ago means he has now lost his last three consecutive matches on grass.
The two-time Wimbledon champion faces a tricky opener against Slovak big-hitter Martin Klizan before a potential second round with Lukas Rosol, his conqueror in 2012, and a daunting possible third round with monster server Ivo Karlovic.
“I think he (Nadal) might be slightly more vulnerable in the early rounds, but like most of the guys,” said Federer. “This new, fresh, lush grass, we’re not quite used to it. As you go deeper in the tournament, it’s easier to move, the ball bounces a bit higher, it becomes more what we’re used to. I think the early rounds are key for most of the top guys.”
Nadal is aware of his dangerous draw and has been putting in the work after taking just a few days off.
“I am practicing a lot since I arrived here (on Wednesday),” he said. “Practicing more hours than I usually do in the tournament. What’s positive is that my physical performance, especially my knee, gives me the chance to practice that much more.”
Meanwhile, top-seeded Novak Djokovic is trying to change an unwanted trend of his own. The Serb has lost four of his last five grand slam finals and has been unable to add to his tally of six majors since the 2013 Australian Open.
He says he’s looking forward to experiencing Wimbledon for the first time with his new coach Boris Becker – a man who has won at the All England Club three times and is considered a legend at the tournament – and is determined to get back to collecting majors.
“I have to keep on moving,” said Djokovic. “I have to try to improve myself not just on the court, but understand the mental aspect, what is happening in those finals, why I am not able to win a grand slam title in the last couple of years.”
On the women’s side, top-seeded Serena Williams has already been in Wimbledon for a week prepar¬ing, hoping to move past her bizarre second-round loss to Garbine Muguruza at Roland Garros – a loss she concedes she is yet to get over.
French Open champion Maria Sharapova, who could face Williams in the quarters, is looking to capture a second Wimbledon title, and a first since she triumphed here as a young teenager 10 years ago
