It's Wimbledon time
Roger Federer insists he can still match Pete Sampras's record of seven Wimbledon, which starts at the All England Club here today, triumphs despite Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal having developed an iron grip on Grand Slam glory.
Federer is fighting time as well as the unwavering dominance of Djokovic, the defending champion, and Nadal, who have won nine of the last 10 majors between them and contested the last four Grand Slam finals.
World number three Federer, who celebrated the last of his record 16 Grand Slam crowns at the 2010 Australian Open, will be 31 in August.
Sampras was 28 when he won the seventh and last of his Wimbledon titles in 2000.
Adding to Federer's headache is the knowledge that Djokovic is still only 25 while Nadal is 26.
It wasn't long ago that Wimbledon represented Federer's traditional bolt-hole, winning five successive championships between 2003 and 2007, then adding a sixth in 2009.
But even in his London safe haven, the shadow of Nadal has loomed large.
The Spaniard, who has just collected a record seventh French Open title, deposed Federer in a five-set epic in 2008, having been runner-up in the two previous years.
Federer's last triumph in 2009 came when Nadal was sidelined with a knee injury.
Women's top seed Maria Sharapova admits winning Wimbledon just weeks after securing her first French Open title would be the crowning glory of her career.
Sharapova captivated the All England Club as a 17-year-old who came from nowhere to beat Serena Williams in the final eight years ago and the Russian is convinced she is finally back in the right form and condition to emulate that astonishing triumph.
The Russian's victory over Sara Errani in the Roland Garros final earlier this month was a cathartic moment for the 25-year-old, who had gone four years without winning a major as she struggled with the aftermath of serious shoulder surgery.
Her gruelling journey back to Grand Slam glory, and the world number one ranking she now holds for the first time since 2008, is a testament to Sharapova's fierce competitive instincts, but she has never been one to rest on her laurels.
Sharapova was beaten in the final by Petra Kvitova last year and her bid for revenge could be aided by the relatively poor form of several of the top seed's main rivals.
Kvitova arrives in London desperately hoping to rediscover the winning feeling she savoured 12 months ago.
Since defeating Sharapova, the 22-year-old has struggled to live up to her new billing as a major force in the women's game.
She has no titles on the WTA Tour this year and suffered semifinal defeats against Sharapova in the Australian and French Opens.
One of the most fascinating sub-plots of the tournament will be the form of Serena Williams, who could meet Sharapova in a re-match of the 2004 final.
Losing to France's Virginie Razzano in the French Open first round last month ranked as the worst Grand Slam result of Williams' illustrious career.
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