A wary Roger Federer described his Wimbledon draw as one of the toughest of his career on Sunday.
The triple defending champion plays in-form French 20-year-old Richard Gasquet in the first round on Monday and could face four-times semi-finalist Tim Henman of Britain in round two.
Talented Czech Tomas Berdych and Croatian Mario Ancic are his potential fourth-round and quarter-final opponents respectively. Like Gasquet and Henman, both have beaten Federer in the past.
"It's very hard. As a number one seed and as a seed in general, I think it's one of the toughest draws I've had," Federer told a news conference at the All England Club.
| |||||||||||
"Gasquet should be higher ranked, Tim should be higher ranked. They all can play on grass. It's a very tough little section there.
"You think once you get through those, it's getting easier but it's not. I've definitely got to play very well from the start.
"Gasquet just won a tournament on grass (in Nottingham). I just played him in Halle and almost lost. I'd better be careful."
Nevertheless, Federer believes he is in excellent shape for the grasscourt Grand Slam despite an exhausting schedule of late.
After losing a draining French Open final to Rafael Nadal two weeks ago, the Swiss came through a series of tough matches to win a fourth successive Halle grasscourt title last week.
"I was very tired last year coming to the preparation week for Wimbledon but this year I'm feeling fine," Federer said.
"I'm much more relaxed. I've had a great start to the season. I haven't had a match where I played poor all year long.
"Halle was a hell of an effort, I thought. To come out with the victory, coming here again very confident on grass, that's the best preparation I could have actually hoped for."
NO TROPHY
If Federer beats Gasquet on Centre Court on Monday, he will set a professional-era record of 42 consecutive wins on grass, beating Bjorn Borg's mark.
When Nadal surpassed Guillermo Vilas's record claycourt streak by winning his first-round match at the French Open last month, the Spaniard was presented with a trophy by Vilas on court afterwards.
Federer cringed at the thought of such a ceremony being repeated on Monday.
"No, I wouldn't want one," he said. "Honestly, that is not the right thing, to get a trophy for streaks. They did it at the French, which I thought was a little strange.
"Everyone does their thing, all the tournaments decide for themselves, but I know that this will never happen here in Wimbledon. I'm not expecting it and I wouldn't want it either.
"You get a trophy at the end of a tournament, not after a first-round win."
More from rediff