Twenty years after debut, can Federer defy age to lift ninth Wimbledon title and set another incredible record?

Twenty years after his debut, Roger Federer will take aim at a ninth Wimbledon title and a place in history as oldest man to capture a Grand Slam singles crown. Federer, who turns 38 in August, is alrey oldest player to win Wimbledon men's title in modern era, a feat achieved in 2017 when he was 35. Australia's Ken Rosewall was only just past 37 when he won 1972 Australian Open, an barrier Federer hopes to smash when Wimbledon starts on Monday.

"I love being around here. It's a good vibe. I have great memories. My heroes all won here," said 20-time major winner Federer.

"Every time I come back here, I try to be like m." However, despite his lifetime affection for All England Club, tussle to d to his London silverware has become increasingly fraught.

His eighth and most recent Wimbledon title came off a straight-sets demolition of an injury-hit and tearful Marin Cilic in 2017 final. Federer was a force of nature that year, t dropping a set in entire fortnight as title rivals fell by wayside.

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vak Djokovic retired with an elbow injury in last-eight against Tomas Berdych while Rafael Nal was stunned by Gilles Muller 15-13 in final set of his last-16 engment. Federer's seventh Wimbledon title h come five years earlier with a final win over Andy Murray. His first six arrived in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009.

But 2017 aside, recent trips to London have proved disappointing for Swiss star whose first experience of Wimbledon was an opening-round loss to Jiri vak of Czech Republic in 1999.

In 2013, he was shocked in second round by Ukrainian serve-and-volleying journeyman Sergei Stakhovsky. next two seasons saw runners-up finishes to Djokovic while 2016 campaign ended with a five-set loss in semi-finals, blown away by heavy artillery of Milos Raonic.

Last year was particularly painful for Federer, beaten by Kevin Anderson in quarter-finals in a 13-11 final set.

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" losses hurt more, that you don't want to be on loser's side. It motivates me to do extremely well here because I don't want to sit here and explain my loss.

"That's worst feeling you can have as a tennis player," he said in aftermath of that loss to giant South African in a tie where he held match points in fourth set.

Despite that shattering loss 12 months ago, Federer will still go into this year's Wimbledon as one of favourites alongside four-time champion Djokovic. Having seen Nal win a 12th Roland Garros to move within two majors of Federer's record 20 for first time, Swiss heed to Halle where he won a 10th title at grass court event.

"To win 10 times in one place is a very special moment in my career," said Federer who w has 102 career titles, just seven off all-time record held by Jimmy Conrs.

It also me him oldest tour-level champion since 43-year-old Rosewall won at Hong Kong in 1977.

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"Every time I've won in Halle, I went on to play really well at Wimbledon," ded Federer.

"It's never a guarantee of course, but I've been on Tour for long eugh to kw what it means.