Roger Federer keeping Wimbledon tennis expectations in check

WIMBLEDON, England -- After ending his streak of 65 consecutive Grand Slam events played by withdrawing from the French Open last month, Roger Federer kept expectations in check as he addressed the media Saturday, despite having reached the Wimbledon final each of the last two years.

Federer, seeded third, takes the court for his first-round match against 51st-ranked Guido Pella of Argentina on Monday.

"Clearly I'm not thinking of the title right away," said Federer."It's too far ahead, it's too far. Regardless, if Novak [Djokovic] or Andy [Murray] would be in the draw -- and they are in the draw -- they are the big favorites in my opinion. They've had such a great last six months, last few years. To me they are the ones to beat.

"I need to focus on myself, getting myself into those positions, meaning second week, growing momentum. The whole thing starts rolling then, hopefully. Clearly important getting there, getting the job done in the first week."

Federer's Wimbledon runs have rarely been interrupted in the first week. Since 2003, when he won the first of his seven Wimbledon titles, he has compiled a 37-1 record at the tournament, with his lone early loss coming in the second round in 2013.

Despite the back injury concerns that forced him out of the French Open, Federer has compiled a decent if not spectacular Wimbledon preparation, reaching the semifinals of consecutive grass court events in Stuttgart and Halle, Germany.

"The last month has been good; before that, things have not been so good," he said. "Clearly I was somewhat disappointed not playing Paris.  Now at least I've played. I think really for me it was important to get some confidence and some knowledge of where I was going to be in those seven matches in 10 days in Stuttgart and Halle.

"I think that was crucial for me going into Wimbledon knowing, 'Okay, I passed that test, the body can take that amount of tennis, four matches back‑to‑back‑to‑back.' That's really, really important for your mind to know, then you also feel you can manage the five‑setters.  If you get a day off and all that stuff, it's not a problem. All of a sudden you're coming into Wimbledon with more confidence, more understanding where you're at.  Now we'll see."

For the most part, Federer has been blessed with good health throughout his career, especially when compared with his rival Rafael Nadal, who pulled out of the French Open and Wimbledon with a left wrist injury. When Federer underwent an operation to repair a torn meniscus in February, it was the first surgical procedure of his career.

"When I heard that I had to do surgery, I took it, accepted it. But then going into surgery was difficult. That's when it hit me. I just got really disappointed and sad about it because that's when I really understood what the road was going to look like."

Despite the setbacks of this year, Federer made it clear he bore no resentment to the body parts that have recently proved problematic.

"Look, this back has won me 88 titles, so I'm okay with this back," he said. "It's okay if it messes around with me sometimes."