Roger Federer excited for 9th Wimbledon crown

Roger Federer says he is 'excited' and 'pumped up' as he targets a ninth Wimbledon title - a far cry from the disgruntled figure who exited Halle in the second round earlier this month.

The 39-year-old Swiss accepted the manner of his 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 defeat by Felix Auger-Aliassime both on and off the court had fallen short of the high standards he has set over the past two decades. "I mean, I had a mental moment where I was just, you know, not happy with how things were going in the match," Federer said at his pre-Wimbledon press conference on Saturday.

"I mean, that feeling when I started not liking when things derail, let's say, it was definitely also there's ways to lose and a standard I set for myself how I go about things.

"The good thing now looking back is I know it will not happen here because I'm ready, I'm excited and pumped up."

Seeded six and with just eight tour matches under his belt this year he will face a tough first round opponent in France's Adrian Mannarino, who has reached the Last 16 at Wimbledon on 3 occasions.

Federer, though, insists that having got used to the Wimbledon bubble - due to the coronavirus pandemic both in the hotel and at the All England Club he is raring to go. He had a hit out on the Wimbledon courts with two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray on Friday - something he said they had not done for the best part of 15 years.

He says he has taken whatever positives he can out of the Halle situation - a tournament he had won 10 times and used as his annual prep for Wimbledon.

"I think I got to take the positives out of these last few weeks that I'm actually here at Wimbledon right now and I have a chance," he said.