Roger Federer: Big three now ‘fully engaged’

Roger Federer feels he now joins the likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in being “fully engaged” ahead of the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

The intensity of the second week at the All England Club will be ramped up when the last-eight begins on Wednesday afternoon. The top three seeds have all reached this stage for the loss of just a set each and the Swiss star says that will stand them in good stead as things begin to get tougher.

“I think the best guys now are fully engaged, they know exactly what to expect from the court and the conditions. That helps us to play better,” said Federer, who is bidding to reach his 13th Wimbledon semi-final. “We haven’t dropped much energy in any way. It’s not like we’re coming in with an empty tank into the second week. All these little things help us to then really thrive in these conditions.”

Should he overcome Japanese star Kei Nishikori on Centre Court, Federer will become the first player in singles history to win 100 matches at a Grand Slam event. For the fifth year in total, the ‘big three’ of Federer, Djokovic and Nadal are all through to the Wimbledon quarter-finals but on only one previous occasion, in 2007, have all three progressed to the semi-final stage.

Federer, Djokovic and Nadal have won 53 Grand Slam titles between them while none of the five remaining quarter-finalists have won one so far. Guido Pella of Argentina and Spaniard Raphael Bautista-Agut lock horns on number one court on Wednesday, with both seeking a maiden Grand Slam semi-final appearance.

Federer is 4.50 to win the Wimbledon title on Sunday, with defending champion Djokovic favourite at 1.67 and Nadal 4.50.