Sunday 26 June 2016 13:04, UK
Seven-time champion Roger Federer hopes he can put a season full of bad luck behind him when Wimbledon gets underway on Monday.
Federer is in London, for the first time since 2000, without a tournament success in the first six months of the year mostly thanks to an accident back in February.
The Swiss star injured his knee while running a bath for his daughter and was forced to have the first surgery of his career.
Federer returned in Monte Carlo back in April but has since been troubled by an issue with his back that forced him to miss the French Open in May, although he has played in two grass court tournaments in Stuttgart and Halle this month. However the Swiss was beaten by Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev respectively in the semi-finals of each.
"I was great at the Australian Open. Felt good throughout," said Federer, who was beaten by world No 1 Novak Djokovic in the Melbourne semi-finals.
"After that, everything changed. The next day, one stupid move, the season's been completely different than what I expected it to be.
"Going into surgery was difficult. That's when it hit me. I got really disappointed and sad about it because that's when I understood what the road was going to look like.
"I felt I had to stop everything by not playing Paris... just reset from there and make another push for Wimbledon, which was great.
"This back has won me 88 titles, so I'm okay with that back. It's okay if it messes around with me sometimes.
"That's why the decision not playing Paris was very easy to take because it was for Wimbledon, it was for the rest of the season, it was for my life, it was for the rest of my career.
"Clearly I'm not thinking of the title right away. It's too far ahead. Regardless if even Novak or Andy (Murray) would be in the draw, and they are, they are the big favourites in my opinion. They've had such a great last six months, last few years. To me they are the ones to beat."
