Seven-time champion Roger Federer confident ahead of Wimbledon

LONDON — Roger Federer doesn't know how many more Wimbledons he'll have in his career, but the seven-time champion backs his chances to win this year after a solid lead-up that leaves him feeling physically fresh and confident. Seeded fourth, Federer is looking to rebound from his surprising second-round loss to Sergiy Stakhovsky last year. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Federer believes the tournament is on his racket.

"I feel like if things click, I should be able to win the tournament here," Federer said. "At the French I feel like I'm slightly more dependent on Rafa [Nadal]. He's the only guy, really. But that doesn't mean I don't believe I can win the French either. It's just that I know he's been so dominant over there that it goes through him regardless, whereas on the grass or hard courts you don't feel it as much.

"I hope to utilize my fitness, the amount of matches I've played this year. So I'm really coming in with a much better feeling than maybe in the last year, for instance," Federer added.

Federer admitted his game wasn't good enough to win last year, when he was still struggling with a back injury and a deflated confidence.

"I had too many hiccups leading into Wimbledon and probably somehow I felt those," Federer said. "Plus, Stakhovsky did play well you know, so you've got to give him credit. There's certain things I wanted to do [with my game], but I couldn't figure it out or couldn't do it. This year I feel all the options are there. Return, serve, serve and volley, come in, my backhand, everything is working to my liking. For that reason, I feel I'm a bit more relaxed mentally because I know it is there."

Federer plays his first round match on Tuesday against No. 81 Paolo Lorenzi.

Add us as a preferred source on Google