Roger is Fed up of his tag as favourite
ROGER FEDERER dismissed talk he is the clear favourite for Wimbledon with the same clinical manner he rips winners past rivals.
Yes, he may be playing some of the best tennis of his record-breaking career after claiming the Australian Open in January and another three tour events since.
And, of course, having bagged a sensational seven SW19 titles between 2003 and 2012, the Swiss ace just adores dancing and dazzling across the grass.
Then there are the added bonuses that holder Andy Murray is struggling with injury, Novak Djokovic has won two tournaments in 11 months, and French Open champ Rafa Nadal is always an unknown quantity at the All England Club.
Yet Federer, 35, last night rubbished the idea that those factors mean he is once more the one to beat out of the game’s Big Four.
The world No.5 said: “If Andy is anything close to 100 per cent physically, I consider him one of the big favourites to win the tournament.
“It’s that simple – and it’s same for Novak and Rafa. I think it’s very even when we’re all able to put it out on the line.
“Everybody has their little story right now.
“But losing at Queen’s for Andy doesn’t matter because he’s one of the best in the first week at Wimbledon.
“He can play himself into shape for week two.
“Look, Novak is just coming back from winning Eastbourne – and Rafa is coming in red hot from the clay.
“I see that as a positive for them rather than a negative. They are going to be very tough to beat.”
That does not bode well for the rest of the field as they attempt to end the dominance of the Fab Four at Wimbledon – which has been unbroken for 15 years.
The No.3 seed’s bid for a 19th major title opens up with a first-round encounter with Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov, whose SW19 best is reaching the third round in both 2013 and 2014.
Federer is coming in fresher than anybody in the draw, having opted not to compete on the clay this year.
He said: “I was ready to play in Paris.
“But I decided with my team that anything other than winning there was not giving me the best chance at Wimbledon.
“I’m 35. I’ve won the French once so it’s not the best preparation.
“We just felt it better to save myself for the rest of the season.”
Which is why, says the legendary Las Vegas tennis ace, Djokovic sits fourth on the all-time list, has 12 Grand Slams to his name already and can bag a load more before hanging up his racket.
Agassi believes that when the Serbian’s mind and soul align and unite, he becomes pretty much invincible – in anything and everything.
And that is exactly what Djokovic’s new, part-time American coach is aiming for at Wimbledon – to get the genius world No.4’s huge brain and heart back together as one and beating in perfect harmony.
Agassi, 47, who will stay at Wimbledon for the duration of Djokovic’s run, said: “My thoughtfulness about the game and life is something we share equally.
“He’s just better at it than me. I think he’s going to do great things on the court – and great things off it when his career has passed.
“If I can be a help guiding that, I want to do it.
“Novak is a deep feeler and a deep thinker – and they need to be lined up. He sees himself as incredibly good but doesn’t quite understand the magic of when it all works together on and off court yet.”
Agassi, who after f i nishing a rollercoaster career with eight Grand Slam triumphs married former women’s No.1 Steffi Graff, sounds more like a therapist than tennis coach.
But the complex Djokovic, 30, probably needs a few sessions on the couch after falling off his perch at the top of tennis in such dramatic, unfathomable fashion.
Since arriving at Wimbledon last year the proud holder of all FOUR slams, he has lost the lot – and, seemingly, the plot.
Ag a s s i suffered a far worse slide from