 | Born: 8/8/81 Nationality: Swiss Seeded: 1 World ranking: 1 Wimbledon best:
Champion (2003) Recent record:
2003: Champion
2002: 1st round
2001: Quarter-final |
Federer returns as champion after cruising to glory last year in what he described as a "complete season". He dropped just one set throughout last year's Wimbledon - to third-round opponent Mardy Fish - playing arguably the best tennis of his career.
His style of play earned comparisons to former Wimbledon champion and ex-world number one Pete Sampras.
The world number one, who won the 2004 Australian Open, is viewed as the most naturally gifted player around.
Last season proved a sensational one for Federer, during which he won six other titles including the end-of-season Masters Cup.
This year he has been no less prolific, winning in Melbourne as well as the Hamburg Masters and the Dubai event.
But any dent his confidence took from a third-round French Open loss to Gustavo Kuerten will have been boosted by a successful defence of his Halle title.
The result took his run on victories on grass to 17 in a row, dating back more than a year.
MMIX
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