Confidence high for Federer and Sharapova ahead of Wimbledon
LONDON: Defending Wimbledon champions Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova will begin the defence of their Grand Slam titles in confident mood next week after clinching repeat warm-up event wins on Sunday.
Federer, the two-time Wimbledon champion, made it a hat-trick of Halle grasscourt wins beating Australian Open winner Marat Safin of Russia 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 in the final.
It was the world number one's 29th consecutive win on grass.
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RED HOT: Russia's Maria Sharapova in action on her way to beating Serbia-Montenegro's Jelena Jankovic in the final of the Edgbaston International in Birmingham on Sunday. Sharapova won 6-2, 4-6, 6-1. |
But Safin did enough to suggest that, despite his own reservations about playing on grass, he can still perform at a high enough level to worry Federer, the man he beat on his way to the Australian Open title in January.
Federer too has to consider the traditional threat from Andy Roddick, last year's Wimbledon runner-up, after the American clinched his third Queen's Club title on Sunday.
“I feel confident about Wimbledon, but there can always be a tough draw, there can always be a shock loss in the first round,” said Federer.
“I don't really think about it, that's what I was more concerned about last year defending my first time Wimbledon title. Now it's easier for me to deal with the situation than last year.”
Meanwhile, Roddick won the Queen's club title for a third consecutive year to put himself into a confident position heading into Wimbledon.
The American second seed, who enjoyed a 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-4) victory over Croatian Ivo Karlovic, joins Lleyton Hewitt (2000-2002) and John McEnroe (1978-81) in earning three straight titles at the prime Wimbledon tune-up event.
“I'm happy, and I'm even happier that I got some good preparation going into Wimbledon,” said Roddick who credited his Queen's experience with sharpening his game for Wimbledon, where his only two losses on grass over the past two years have been at the hands of Federer.
“When I won the first time here, I hadn't really had any really great results on grass and I hadn't played well on it before,” he explained.
“Now two or three years later, it's up there with my favourite surfaces. It's been a complete 180 (degree turn).”
Sharapova was also in impressive form ahead of her return to the All England Club with her 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 win over Serbia's Jelena Jankovic giving her a 17th win in a row on grass and her 10th career title.
“I haven't been playing my best tennis but I still managed to get through and I felt really comfortable as the matches went on,” said the world number two.
“I've played five good matches, where opponents have pushed me and I still came through. I'm going to take that experience and confidence into Wimbledon.” – AFP
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