ROGER: GRASS IS GREENER

ROGER FEDERER has given himself the best possible chance of winning Wimbledon for the first time in five years.

The 35-year-old No.3 seed (left) said he had sacrificed any chance of success on the clay court circuit to be ready to challenge for his first victory at the All England Club since 2012.

Federer resisted the lure of the French Open to play on grass in Germany in Stuttgart and Halle.

“I gave myself the best chance for the grass so I would never look back and have regrets once I came here,” said the Swiss.

“I was ready to play in Paris. I got on the clay for a couple of days and I just felt that anything other than winning there feels like I am not giving myself the best chance for Wimbledon.

“I am 35 years old. I have won the French Open once.

“And I never regretted pulling out even though it hurt because it was the first time I pulled out of a Slam actually feeling 100 per cent ready to go.

“Now I will be fresh, that is the positive. The negative is I haven’t had any matches.

“But we felt, within my team, that it was better to save myself and give it all I have for the rest of the season – looking forward all the way to the American summer, staying on a fast court tennis mindset.

“In practice I am just trying to play forward, serve and volleying some, making sure I don’t get stuck behind the baseline, just making shots.

“It is more being really proactive in practice right now.”