Ageless Federer ready to glide on his favourite turf
titles in an epic final against Federer 10 years ago, has not been beyond the fourth round since 2011 but arrives full of vigour and could thrive in the predicted hot conditions.
Third seed Cilic won the Queen’s club title and is a player who can trouble Federer.
Of the new generation Alexander Zverev is seeded fourth but it is Australian Nick Kyrgios who looks the most likely to make an impression. The maverick 23-year-old almost beat Federer in Stuttgart and at Queen’s club.
ALL EYES ON SERENA
The women’s game still dominated by the story lines, if not yet the form, of Serena Williams. She enters the tournament seeded 25th in the singles draw.
She was solid in three earlyround wins at French Open, but no proof that the 36-year-old would pick up where she left off before her maternity leave.
World No.1 Simona Halep, who is also the top seed, has finally broken a psychological barrier by winning at Roland Garros and would be raring to go at the tournament.
NO TIME TO GO DOWN MEMORY LANE: NADAL
LONDON: Ten years older, 10 years more battle-weary and injuryhardened and with a decade’s worth of extra silverware, Rafael Nadal returns to the scene of his most epic triumph against Roger Federer still believing he can reawaken his Wimbledon best.
Yet amid all the fond reminiscing about the anniversary of the 2008 final, with Nadal’s five-set victory still seen as the sport’s finest match, Spain’s world No.1 was in no mood to stroll down memory lane at the All England Club on Saturday.
“Today, I see that (match as) like a long time ago,” Nadal told reporters, adding with a smile: “But the good thing is I still here. I am happy for that.”