It’s been a decade since Roger Federer earned his first Grand Slam singles title and that happened at the 2003 Wimbledon Championships. The 17-time Grand Slam singles titlist will be returning at the All England Club next for the 2013 edition of the grasscourt Slam event as the defending champion. Earlier this month, his rival Rafael Nadal has achieved a feat that’s never been done before – to win the same Grand slam tournament eight times – at the French Open. Federer will have a chance to equal this achievement by winning his eighth Wimbledon title. Can he do it this year?
It cannot be denied that Federer is already 31 and he has to face the fact that his moves that made him win all those Grand slam titles won’t be the same but he has achieved a feat that no one could equal. He has been to 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals. It might be safe to say that he could get to Grand Slam quarterfinal number 37 at Wimbledon but after that it really depends if he can overcome his younger rivals such as Rafael Nadal (potential quarterfinal opponent), Andy Murray (possible semifinal) and Novak Djokovic (possible final).
If Federer wins the Wimbledon title this year, he will become the second oldest champion at this event in the Open era, just behind Arthur Ashe.
There’s a very strong indication that Federer is still a force to be reckoned with at the grasscourt Slam event. Two weeks ago, he won his sixth Gerry Weber Open title in Halle. In the past, Federer has completed a Halle-Wimbledon double win on the same year four times and that was in the period between 2003 and 2006.
“In terms of needing to prove my point that I was a legitimate Grand Slam contender, I had incredible pressure. Now, ten years later, I know Wimbledon, I know Halle, I know my way around and what I need to do to perform well,” Federer was quoted as saying.
“I’m going in with pressure because I’m defending my title. There’s always pressure because it’s a privilege to play at Wimbledon and I want to do so well. I feel good right now and I hope I can show it on the court,” he added.
