federer has reached 20 straight semi finals in grand slam tournaments. not 20 straight slam finals :p

Someone correct me if I'm mistaken, but if Federer wins Wimbledon, I think he'll overtake Rafa as no. 1 again. And if Murray gets Wimbledon, he'll bypass Federer to no. 2 (though the difference between him and Nadal would be 5 points.)

Fed beat Tsonga on grass last year I think, so I'd probably be worried about Ivo. I mean that man could beat you on a bad day providing he serves well. I mean he did press Roddick, and Roddick dropped the bombs on him in return. (A bad day meaning his volley skill abandon him) Soderling might test Federer in the second set, probably crumble when he realizes Federer is unmoved by his performance. (Might be a toughie though)

I'm thinking Roger is gonna provide some drama here just like he did in Roland Garros... I'd really like to see Tsonga get his game in gear and make some noise...

Fed has been having some really good luck in the last 6 weeks...and to his credit...he's capitalizing like a true champion.

yes, 20 straight semifinals, NOT finals!

I think Fed's real test will be the semi where he will meet Djoker but I think Fed will win against Djoker and his biggest test is against Murray. I think the players now must be scared when they step on the court and the other side of the net is a living legend and also 5-time WImby champ.

Roger losing this in the earlier rounds will be more shocking than Rafa losing to Soderling.

But everytime I think Roger might lose to a hot-streak lower-ranked players on GS, they end up getting pounded or chokes because of inexperience.

Yes, Faem you're right. If Fed wins he will go back to #1. And if Murray wins, he'll go to #2 regardless of Fed's result.

part of being a champ is this cloak of invincibility they wear, results in choke of other player. Don't know if TMFs still got that even after RG. certainly Andy M. Tsonga and Djko will believe they can beat him. Hope other players like Dimitrov can step up as well. However, I bet TMF wants that trophy back very very badly!

This is Roger's back yard ,home away from hom,his arena
one match at time champ

ricky...this is what you said....

'The second-ranked Swiss has appeared in an amazing 20 straight slam semifinals'.

you didn't say 20 slam finals? Am i missing something?

okay....question to all of you...who was the tennis player who held the record number of 'most slam semi finals reached' prior to federer? ........and honestly? I think I know what the answer is but i need to go and check!

well...fedex...this is gonna be another rollercoaster ride.....more toilet breaks than ever before!........with fed..and it's good to know that ricky doesn't think there should be any probs until at least the semi finals...but we all know that anything can happen in these 'games' don't we? but you know.....i am always gonna keep the belief, always stand strong and loyal against 'our' fed...he knows what he has to do so he just gotta do it!
Go:roger:go!

C'MON!
Allez Federer!

fedfans...the fed is just u-n-r-e-a-l.................

apart from the 20 slam semi finals....look at the following! 15 OUT OF THE LAST 16 GRAND SLAM FINALS? that is just U-N-R-E-A-L!

REUTERS: 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 semi-finals,

15 out of the last 16 grand slam finals................

and had 14 major trophies in your possession, what would you have said?

FEDERER: "No way! I would have said no chance. I remember watching an (old) interview from Rotterdam a few days ago. I was surfing the net and it was a video from even before I beat Sampras. I was asked 'what is your dream?' and I said well maybe I would love to win Wimbledon or the U.S. Open down the road. That was my honest dream. That was a big dream to have and hopefully be number one in the world.

"I knew it was possible to win a Wimbledon, win a U.S. Open or become number one in the world. But I didn't believe it was possible for me to dominate the game the way I did. This is what caught everybody a little bit by surprise and obviously me the most."

C'MON!
Allez Federer!

Djokovic as well as Murray will underachieve. We will see anothoer Slam with a one hit wonder in the final -again - against Federer.

Federer is the only one with the consistency of a true champion.

I'm guessing J M del Potro in the final. 1-3 to Federer in the final.

Federer crowns his career with an olympic gold on the grass of wimbledon 2012, then retires and leaves the ground open for JM del Potro!

Ricky, can you or someone else answer this for me - why wasn't a lucky loser put into Nadal's spot in the draw given that the draw had already been done? Isn't that the normal procedure in that case? What's the precedent for moving the #5 seed into that spot and rejigging the draw?

Federer is tournment first seeded which makes Murray 2nd djoko 3rd and Del Potro 4th that is why Potro, Federer Djoko cant be in the same half of the draw while murrya in the other half alone which is logical

tennislover...there will be no top seed entering into wimby tomorrow.....their seedings all remain the same.....

but that is why they moved Del Potro to Murray's half?

tennislover...

the reshuffle doesn't change their seedings for wimby......they will still go in as the seedings they were prior to nadal's withdrawal....


there will be no top seed for wimby...first time since 2002....

The men's singles draw is now available at http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/draws/ms/index.html.

You can now use that and investigate the draw fully yourself.

cheers!

C'MON!
Allez Federer!

hope this helps tennislover.....

The loss of Nadal is a blow for the tournament, especially after the manner in which Nadal beat Roger Federer in last year's classic final.

The hole at the top of the men's draw left by Nadal will be filled by the fifth seed, Juan Martin del Potro.

Del Potro's place will be taken by the 17th seed James Blake of the USA. The next to be seeded,

Nicolas Kiefer moves to line 56 to take Blake's position as the 33rd seed.

Thiago Alves takes Kiefer's position on line 61 and is a lucky loser.

that is why Nadal should have made his decision before the draw!

if murray was in federer's half when the draw was out, will murray be the one to take nadal's place in the draw?

I dont thinks so Karupin, I believe that is a rule that when any top 4 seeds withdraws the number 5 seeds get any of the empty spot. And the, like Malt sayd other players move around the draw.
I believe Fed is highly motivated to reach the final, and he, like Ricky said, is a momentum builder right now, the winner of the last two most important tournaments, and has a 12 matches winning streak. For some reason I don't see djokovic getting to semifinals. And I believe Andy Roddick will upset Del Potro and Murray... My bet is Rodick vs Federer in the final.

mdmuch...what exactly do you do in the jungle my friend? I am intrigued.......

fedfans....here is a short excerpt from a fed article which matches our own strategy in the French Open...and it's great that Roger is thinking this way.......

Imagine, the only person you are trying to get the better of is yourself. It is a great place to be. Only a handful of athletes in the entire history of sport have been there. And the genial Swiss could get there in two weeks? time.

For all that, Federer insists that surpassing Sampras?s record was not on his mind. ?The focus is on the first round, first point. I am trying to regain my Wimbledon crown. That stands over trying to beat Pete?s record right now,? he said on Saturday.

guys...i cannot wait.....
Fed is a fantastic classy player....he is the best of all the greats...in my opinion.....i just cannot wait.....

C'MON!
Allez Federer!

Malt, I am in a rural rotation to get my MD degree, I need to expend ten more weeks here and I`ll become one, but thats not the topic of this forum., greetings to you, does anyone have predictions on the draw? Torres9, sky, zoey, Malt what do u think?

mdmuch...just interested..no offence buddy...great luck to you....xx

well...am just thinking one game at a time mdmuch.....don't want to think too far ahead...many, many talented players out there....all wanting the trophy....all now believing they have more of a chance...but read a wonderful article about fed...and how he is feeling as 'free as bird' to use one phrase.....that he is only thinking of the first round, first point and everything else (trying to 'beat' sampras's record) is not his priority...i like that thinking mdmuch...it shows that he is focused and that's good news.....i will try and find article extract and post it here.....

what do you think of the draw...would be interested to know....?
C'MON!
Allez Federer!

I can't believe what an easy draw Djokovic got.... he should be in the semis without losing a single set.

mdmch I'm surprised your picking Roddick. Roddick was hurt recently at Queens... (although subconsciously you might like the idea of the FED's outstanding record against him!) LOL I don't feel like predicting. Like malt, I prefer to take the tournament one day at a time... Focusing on the intensity of each point, magnified by each game, each set and culminating in the FED "WINNING" the match! WOW! Of course I see the FED in the FINAL, and FINISHING with a GREAT performance! Another VICTORY at Wimbledon for his 15th GRAND SLAM Honour!!! I'm getting maxed out with excitement thinking about it! The building of an avalanche, culminating with nothing less than an earthquake, and fireworks!!! LOL I would rather keep it open, and be completely surprised and say WOW, this is the guy the FED is going to BEAT for the TRophy! Wimbledon 2009 WON! Federites United. A world scale sports phenamenon accomplished! BEAUTIFUL, and COMPLETE!!! :)

Nice happy posts/ thoughts Malt, sky and yes Emiliano.....Nole lucked out but he has not been himself, so I 'see' him making it to quarter, maybe in semi....but not winning this year.

MDMCH...gave it all my best rookie shot over on Ricky's approach shot thread. Basically must agree with Ricky's Final prediction but there are upsets....this is gonna be FUN!!!

Hey Malt, I know you think I am crushing on Delpo....which makes me really giggle, a lot...so silly there chick but he is smarter than people think, I fancy, lol....AND he has a MONSTER serve...he's maturing faster now and he has reason to go deep, beat Roddick and match up with Murray....I think Delpo could surprise...crowd will be nuts about Muzz but is Delpo dependent on crowd? If ANYONE can beat Murray, they'll need to be fairly 'comfortably numb.' Situations like this favor the icemen...not saying the Argentine is a Soderling but he seems more laid back than a Gonzo, lets say. Roddick has not impressed in the laid back cool department. Tsonga seems to like fan support....If Marat or Hewitt somehow win early rounds...either of those could go deep....Marat is ALWAYS a crowd fave and Hewitt, tough Aussie could give a flock about noise.

I agree with you Zoey, the only difference is that I think Del Potro might face a hungry Hewitt, who is not a bad player, he had recover some form and just beat and injured Nadal ( injured but Nadal ). If Roddicks injury is nothing serious , I believe he can get to quarter and And he shall beat Del Potro, if he doesnt fall before. Murray may have some trouble if Gulbis decides to grow up and play some tennis... but maybe he is a few years away.. and Murray shall be afraid if he meets Safin on his way to semis, I think Safin needs to display a good performance on the year that he retires, so, it is now, or in the US open. I see Djokovic getting Upset by Mardy Fish, i have that feeling, and, i dont think Fed will face any trouble getting to the semis, I predict him only straight set wins... I know, one game at a time, one match at a time..

Malt! I have an idea. Why don't you create a sign with Zoey, Sky, Fedexman, Mwah! On it! I'm sure you will get a camera man/woman's attention!!! Then we would get a chance to SEE YOU! LOL Just a thought. Hope you have yourself a GREAT time at Wimby!!! Zoey, must say I like Del Potro! Would not mind seeing him reach the FINAL! After that, well it's "the FED" "ALL THE WAY"!!! :) Go FED go!!! C'MON!

Or BETTER still "Mwah Zoey, Sky, Fedexman, all FEDERITES!" That WOULD GET THERE ATTENTION!!! LOL Then we would be ALL world famous!!! LOL Well for a few seconds anyway! :) mdmch you know your tennis match "better" than I... LOL :) Go FED go! C'MON!

Sky, you always, always make me at least smile, thanks buddy. Malt w/ a big, big sign and I will be glued to tube, if not live to the recorded coverage.

Am wayyyy into this early round stuff mdmch! Hewitt is a tough teflon don, man. I do not underestimate the Aussie champ, not at all. He has gone through hell and gone with that hip...seems he is on the mend, gaining physical strength... he is determined and BELEIVES. Delpo may underestimate him but is Hewitt's hip up to Hewitt's hunger? Maybe yes, or no. When was his surgery? I usually pick Roddick. To do otherwise goes against my heart but...did not like his behavior at the French Open...he seems ready to fall apart despite his experience and improved fitness. Unfortunately Gulbis....Murray will clean his talented clock. Gulbis is sadly not hungry enough. Safin, oh Marat, soo talented and physical but...please surprise me , Marat! I might even be confused as who to cheer in a Wimby Safin v Federer final. Yes Nole is not himself...but he would dine on Fish. He'll fall in quarters or semi.

one step at a time is right mdmch....all the stars young and old believe this is the chance...I know you think Soderling is on his laurels but...the Swede is one to surprise...

cheers mdmch

Zoey! You are so lucky! Have a great time, and be sure to give us updates. Do you twitter? www.twitter.com/Rafterfan

Mdmch, my prediction for semi-final is Delpo-Murray-Roddick (it's between this 3) and other Semi-Final Fed VS ? (I dunno if Djoker can make it but I think he surely ahs the ability to do it.

Final is Fed Vs ? Not sure who will he face. If it's Roddick, I think Fed has 90% chance to win.

Murray, he has 50% chance to win.

Against Delpo, 49% because I think Delpo will want revenge.

I dunno if I can predict the winner but last year I had a feeling that Fed will lose because he hasn't played great last year. This year, I can only predict after I watch a couple of Fed's matches.

torres.....no time for doubting my friend! just one match at a time.....that's all we can do as fans...but wow! just wow! for fed to be going in as the RG champ, 14 GS trophies....and counting........20 GS semi finals...having won 16 of the 17 GS finals....15 masters...

oh my god.....the guy is just riding a wave right now.....and yeah...i know anything can happen....but the fed is ready....he been practising hard at wimby practise courts all this week....we have had shots/photos of that here in uk.....it's all gravy...torres...it's all gravy.......

some fabulous players out there....and my monaco is also playing and I love him.....remember that fed is 'the' most natural grass court player.....can he pull it off?....well.....he gonna try his best and go for title.....his best torres should be good enough......so whilst no predictions at this stage (for us all).....we should certainly have the belief that he can do it! He believe he can..so who are we to argue?

Go:Roger:Go........

This is Roger's year!
C'MON!