Monday, 25th June 2007 at 6:18 pm

Five in a row for Federer

Strawberries and cream, Henman Hill, Cliff Richard singing in the rain… Wimbledon evokes a standard range of imagery, and 2007 will be no different. Except for one thing: Wimbledon’s single most powerful image is no longer the locals cheering on a hapless Tiger Tim on his way to a semifinal defeat, or the black clouds that seem to book their tickets to SW19 before anyone else.

No, the defining image of the year’s most sought-after Grand Slam is a tall, soft-spoken Swiss player who this year will be chasing a fifth consecutive Wimbledon title, an achievement only Bjorn Borg in the modern era has matched. And while he might have lost out on clay to Rafel Nadal, who amongst you would honestly bet against Roger Federer adding title number five to his collection in just under a fortnight?

If there’s a certain hesitancy on clay, a surface where he’s never looked entirely comfortable, then on grass there’s a regal self-assurance that makes him look unbeatable. The range of strokes, the anticipation, the total command of Centre Court (where he’ll play most, if not all of his matches this year) - Roger Federer in full cry at Wimbledon is one of tennis’s great sights. Unless, of course, you happen to be on the other side of the net.

And so, while Feverpitcher will be keeping an eye on Justine Henin-Hardenne, chasing the only Grand Slam title she’s never won, and will be watching to see just how far an increasingly forlorn Henman can get this year, most focus will be on Federer, and the sublime brand of tennis he unfurls so effortlessly on grass. Paris was a disappointment for the world number one, certainly; redemption should have arrived by late next Sunday afternoon.