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Confident Federer eyes second Wimbledon crown
A photographer at last week's Halle Open complained that the Swiss made a poor subject because he looks bored when he is playing.
A photographer at last week's Halle Open complained that Roger Federer made a poor subject because he looks bored when he is playing.
It is an ominous sign for rivals hoping to steal the Swiss world number one's Wimbledon crown when the grand slam grasscourt event begins on Monday.
Federer, 22, strolled to a second consecutive Halle title without dropping a set, crushing American Mardy Fish 6-0 6-3 in the final on Sunday in less than an hour and extending his winning streak on grass to 17 matches.
"I'm much more confident this year than last year and I'm definitely playing better," said Federer, who was travelling to London on Tuesday to begin training.
"There are always little things I would like to improve but if I'm playing at this level already then obviously things are looking good for Wimbledon too," he added.
Federer's success at last year's Halle tournament, when he beat local favourite Nicolas Kiefer 6-1 6-3 in the final, paved the way for his ascent to the top of the world rankings and for his triumphs at the All England Club and the Australian Open.
The Swiss believes his main rivals at Wimbledon this year will be Briton Tim Henman, former champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia and world number two Andy Roddick of the United States.
"Henman is really one of my biggest rivals and it's going to be tough if I have to play him," Federer said.
CROWD SUPPORT
The 29-year-old Henman, who surprised the tennis world by reaching the semi-finals of the French Open on clay earlier this month, has beaten the Swiss in six of their eight meetings, though he has never made it to a Wimbledon final.
"I would not like to play Henman in the final," Federer said. "He always has the crowd behind him and it's very difficult to play him on grass."
The Swiss said he hoped he would not suffer the same fate this year as Hewitt, who in 2003 became the first defending Wimbledon champion to lose in the first round.
"I'm feeling good but I also feel slightly uneasy and the fear is certainly there," Federer said.
"There's going to be a lot of pressure on me as defending champion, I know that," he added. "Also from myself. I really want to do well again this year."
Fish said Federer was definitely the favourite to win Wimbledon but insisted that the Swiss was not invincible.
"Anything's possible -- he's only human," the American said on Sunday. "But the thing about Roger is that he returns so well and gets so many returns in play," he added.
"Usually you serve well and then your returns are maybe the worst part of your game but his returns are just on a par with his serve and he's just got no weaknesses at all."
