Roger Federer believes his decision to skip the clay court season will pay rich dividends when he gets to crunch time in his bid for a record eighth Wimbledon title.
Having won the Australian Open during an unexpectedly strong start to the season, Federer opted to miss the French Open and the tournaments leading up to Paris so he would stay fresh for Wimbledon.
The 35-year-old knew he had a much better chance of winning Wimbledon, where he lifted the trophy seven times, than he did at Roland Garros, where he has triumphed only once.
Although Federer lost in the first round of his return to action in Stuttgart, he quickly shook off the rust, winning the grass-court tournament in Halle for the ninth time, and he is confident the healthy state of his mind and body will be crucial in the latter stages at Wimbledon.
“The idea is to be mentally fresh still and eager to play, hopefully when the second week rolls around,”Federer told reporters at a Laver Cup launch in Wimbledon on Thursday.
“I've done that without making any compromises about the grass-court season.
“Originally I was going to take seven weeks off and then play the clay, but I decided to take 10 weeks off.
“I never had any regrets. When I take a decision I move on with it. I got an incredible amount of practice on grass. Now Wimbledon is coming around you want to feel your best and play your best.
“I just have to focus on my first round and take it from there. If I go deep I think it could be very beneficial that I didn't play clay at all."
With Federer's game motoring along nicely, the 18-time Grand Slam champion is favoured by the bookmakers to win Wimbledon for the first time since 2012.
Historic
That would move the Swiss star past Pete Sampras and William Renshaw into sole possession of first place in the list of male Wimbledon champions.
Federer's charge towards another historic milestone could be helped by Andy Murray's hip injury, which prompted the reigning Wimbledon champion to withdraw from two exhibition matches this week and sparked fears about the world number one's readiness to defend the title.
Novak Djokovic, three times a Wimbledon winner, is enduring a crisis of confidence after the worst run of his career, while French Open champion Rafael Nadal hasn't been past the fourth round at the All England Club since 2011.
American legend John McEnroe won Wimbledon three times and he agrees with the odds-makers that Federer is in pole position to hoist the trophy on July 16.
Federer is happy to have McEnroe's support, but he insisted the threat from Murray, Djokovic and Nadal is still strong.
“It's nice John thinks highly of me this season, but does it get me a couple of free rounds or maybe some big points?” Federer said.
“Look, Australia went well, so did the hard courts in general and now last week in Halle.
“I'm healthy, so from my side I feel good about my chances but there is such a long way to go.
“There are other guys that feel great right now as well so I know it's going to be a tough one. They will have their chance to win it.
“I do believe Wimbledon will be won by one of the top contenders. I hope I'm there and if John thinks so that's even better.”
40 years on, British women still not feeling force at Wimbledon
It was 1977: The Sex Pistols' 'God Save the Queen' was banned, Elvis Presley died and Luke Skywalker faced down a black-clad inter-galactic megalomaniac with breathing difficulties who was later revealed to be his father.
It was also the last time a British woman won Wimbledon... or any Grand Slam title for that matter.
Little could Virginia Wade, resplendent in her modest white dress, homely pink cardigan and energised only by occasional sips of barley water, know that 40 years on, members of the British royal family would have had their hands on the Venus Rosewater Dish more times than a homegrown player.
However, there is hope that 2017 might end the long wait for a British women's champion as this year's Wimbledon, stripped of the likes of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, looks the most open in years.
So step forward Johanna Konta, the current British number one.
Like Wade, Konta had a global upbringing. She was born in Sydney but has settled on England's south coast. Wade, born in Bournemouth, spent her childhood in South Africa and even now keeps a home in New York.
Konta, 26, heads into Wimbledon ranked at seven in the world and is seeded to make at least the quarterfinals.
However, making it to the second round at the All England Club last year remains her best performance, following four successive first round exits.
Her form ahead of Wimbledon has been inconsistent.
A first round exit at the French Open was followed by a runners-up spot on the grass at Nottingham where she lost to the 70th-ranked Donna Vekic.
Another early loss in Birmingham last week to American Coco Vandeweghe, the world number 30, put the British number one on edge as she fenced with the media at a post-match inquisition.
“Another defeat in a short period? I think I did okay. I made finals last week. But cheers for the positivity,” she said.
“Me losing second round against a very good player on this surface is by no means a blow. It's part of the game.
“Just because I am seven in the world does not mean I am entitled to winning every single match. My job is to go out there and do the best that I can.”
The tension felt by Konta is understandable as Wimbledon approaches.
Since Jo Durie made the quarter-finals in 1984, only two British women have got as far as the fourth round — Sam Smith in 1998 and Laura Robson in 2013.
A former Wimbledon junior champion, Australian-born Robson also made the top 30 that year but regular struggles with a wrist injury have seen her ranking slump to its current 188.
British number two Heather Watson, ranked 126 in the world, has twice made the third round at Wimbledon.
In 2015, she was just two points from knocking out Serena Williams before the narrative of the plucky, but ultimately unsuccessful, Briton took over.
For this year's Wimbledon, only Konta of the British players made the main draw by right.
Robson, Watson and national number three Naomi Broady all required wild cards.
Robson is 23 so still has time on her hands, while Watson is 25 and Broady 27.
Watson showed glimpses of her abilities when she knocked out world number nine Dominika Cibulkova, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year, in Eastbourne this week.
“I just felt everything came together and I played really well,” Watson said.
“Is it my best win of the year? I guess so yeah. I just am really enjoying playing at the moment.”
