With the monkey well and truly off his back after a career-defining victory at the French Open, Roger Federer will begin his pursuit of a record 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon on Monday. The Swiss, five-time a Wimbledon champion, arrived in London in buoyant mood after finally winning his first title at Roland Garros earlier this month, making him only the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam. On the eve of trying to reclaim the crown he lost in a dramatic final to Rafael Nadal 50 weeks ago, a relaxed Federer sat down to have a chat with Reuters about how the Spaniard's withdrawal due to a knee injury will affect him, about the pressure he faces as he tries to break records and about fatherhood. Q: People have almost started to see you and Rafa as a double act in tennis because of the epic finals you have contested. Do you feel like you have lost your sidekick here this year? Federer: A little bit maybe, it just shows that it's not normal to play finals week in and week out for both of us. It's a statement to me that what I've accomplished, being so injury free and so lucky for all these years, you can't take it for granted. It just shows how hard it really is. I'm of course very sad for Rafa that he can't be here. Because knowing even before the first point is played at the championships that it's not possible to repeat the great final we had last year it's disappointing for me as well. Specially having played him for the last three finals here. Q: Is Rafa to blame for his own plight and the fact that he has suffered the injury at such an important stage of the season or is he a victim of the demands of the tour? F: Injuries are unlucky sometimes. Of course he's going to go back to the drawing board and say ‘what could I have done better?. What do I need to change for the future so I'm not going to be injured at the biggest tournaments that matter the most'... But only he knows as he's in charge of his schedule. But it's sad for the game and it's sad for him. Q: Does the men's ATP Tour need to address this issue and reduce the load and demands on the players? F: We've had so much debate about how much should we play, are we not playing too much, are we not being chased around all over the world? I don't buy into this because I always think the player is in charge of his own schedule. So it's only the player to blame. Sometimes you get unlucky like he did right now. Q: When you burst on to the international stage by beating Pete Sampras in the fourth round here in 2001, and if someone told you seven or eight years down the line you would have contested 20 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals, 15 out of the last 16 Grand Slam finals and had 14 major trophies in your possession, what would you have said? F: No way! I would have said no chance. Q: Did walking through the All England Club gates feel any different this year considering it's the first time in six years you've arrived here not as the defending champion? F: Actually not. I guess Paris helps. Q: Some things do not change though because after Rafa's withdrawal, you've been chosen to open proceedings on Monday like a defending men's champion. F: I shouldn't deserve it this year because Rafa deserves it but am obviously very honored that the championships chose me again to open the tournament. Q: You've mentioned that becoming a dad later this European summer won't affect your mindset towards tennis. But why do you think only eight men since 1980 have won majors after becoming a dad? F: It's just because you usually get kids later in your career. Maybe when you're getting slower. But you've also got to compare what kind of players (have) got kids. I'm only one of two players who have reached 14 Grand Slams. So I'm also in a different league than other players. Sure the stats are there but they don't worry me in any way. I'm excited about what's ahead in my personal life, my tennis life, really everything is going very well and I'm excited that (my wife) Mirka's doing very well. That's fantastic and I'm looking forward to it and it's going to be a nice new life. Q: Are you looking forward to 14-hour flights with a screaming baby? F: I'm worried about those as well. Because you don't want to upset the whole plane. But what can you do? Hopefully people will understand. Q: Has Pete Sampras sent you any message as you try and break the 14-Slam record you share with him? F: He's been very happy for me. We've tried to reach each other (since Paris) but miss each other on the phone. He's been supporting me throughout Roland Garros. He's always been texting me and wishing me all the best. He's wished me luck for these championships, he's not bitter. There's a chance (he could come for the final if I'm there). The club would love to see him back and the game would love to see him back.
