Federer still the favourite

WIMBLEDON, England (AP):

It's become a ritual of the British summer: Roger Federer striding on to Centre Court for another final on the last day of Wimbledon.

He's been in the last seven finals, a record, and lost only one. That came in 2008 against Federer's nemesis, Rafael Nadal.

If not for that defeat, Federer would already have equalled the record of seven men's titles belonging to Pete Sampras, and Willie Renshaw from the 1800s.

The milestone beckons for Federer starting today, but recent results suggest the Swiss star will do well to reach the final, let alone win a seventh Wimbledon.

Since winning his 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, Federer hasn't won another tournament.

He bowed out early to Marcos Baghdatis and Tomas Berdych on hard courts in the United States, and to Ernests Gulbis, Albert Montanes and Robin Soderling on European clay. He was runner-up to Nadal in Madrid and was upset by Lleyton Hewitt on grass at Halle, Germany, last weekend.

After only his second defeat in 78 matches on grass since 2003, Federer was undeterred.

"I'm happy with the way I'm playing ... I think my level of play is fine," he said in Halle. "This loss here doesn't worry me in any way."

For the first time since 2001, Federer goes into Wimbledon with only one title for the year.

Nadal did not defend his Wimbledon championship last year, withdrawing a few days before the tournament began because of painful tendinitis in both knees.

His is one of several significant returns anticipated at the All England Club in 2010, Justine Henin, who owns seven Grand Slam titles but none from Wimbledon, will be back for the first time since 2007, having rejoined the tour this season after a 20-month hiatus.

Semi-retirement

Kim Clijsters, a two-time US Open champion and twice a semi-finalist at Wimbledon, hasn't played at the grass-court major tournament since 2006, owing to a 21/2-year semi-retirement, during which she got married and became a mother.

Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova are planning to play in the legends' doubles event; Hingis retired for the second time in 2007 when she was given a two-year suspension for failing a drug test at Wimbledon, while Kournikova last played singles at the All England Club in 2002;

Also back after a traditional break between the French Open and Wimbledon will be Venus and Serena Williams, who have divvied up eight of the past 10 Wimbledon championships.

No other women peak better for the Grand Slams, but all of their private practice since Roland Garros looks like it will end up being used against each other.

Serena and Venus have been ranked at numbers one and two for seven weeks, and are seeded to meet in the final for a fifth time at Wimbledon.