WIMBLEDON: The morning after Roger Federer won a record-tying seventh Wimbledon championship, he returned to the site of his latest triumph to conduct interviews in various languages and, while there, ran into All England Club Chairman Philip Brook.
They exchanged pleasantries today and before parting ways, Brook said, "I'll see you in a few weeks." "I'll check in with you when I get back," Federer replied with a grin.
In this rather unusual season, the green grass that Federer knows so well is the scene of two significant events: Wimbledon, which ended Sunday, and the London Olympics tennis competition, which begins July 28. Having restored his reign at the Grand Slam tournament, Federer can quickly follow that up by earning a gold medal in singles for Switzerland, one of the few accomplishments missing from his overflowing resume.
And make no mistake, Federer is not merely happy to be participating in the 2012 Summer Games. "I do believe my situation has got that little star next to it. I am now the Wimbledon champion, and I think that gives me even more confidence coming to the Olympics. And maybe in some ways, it maybe takes some 'pressure,'" he said, uncrossing his arms to make air quotes with his fingers, "off the Olympics, because I already did win at Wimbledon this year. So that's a good thing for me, because of course there is a lot of hype around me playing at the Olympics this year."