Rivals play down Federer's Wimbledon favouritism

Queen's club finalists Feliciano Lopez and Marin Cilic have both hosed down talk of Roger Federer being the man to beat at Wimbledon.

While Lopez was beating Cilic to claim victory at Queen's, Federer was producing an absolute masterclass against Alexander Zverev to win his ninth Halle title and 92nd overall.

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Many experts are predicting Federer to run away and win his eighth Wimbledon crown, but both Lopez and Cilic aren't convinced.

"You know, Roger didn't play much, so it's tough to know his form," Cilic said.

"Just looking at the results he has on grass, it's obvious that you have to put him up there.

"All the other guys at the top didn't perform too well, and definitely that opens up a gap. But, you know, to say that he's No. 1 favorite, you know, it could be true but also could not be.

"Definitely he's going to be playing really well, and, you know, he's feeling at home in Wimbledon.

"But yeah, definitely I would say the top guys haven't played the best of their best, so definitely it opens up a gap for a lot of guys."

As for Lopez, he's quietly fancying his own chances of a deep run.

Lopez said he is playing the best tennis of his career and few would argue with that after victories against world No.3 Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych, Grigor Dimitrov and finally Cilic in the space of a week.

"Considering the results of the best players in the world, it is true that it is probably the most open Wimbledon in the last 10 years, I will say," Lopez said, referencing the struggles of Wimbledon champion and world number one Andy Murray and three-times winner Novak Djokovic.

"Roger is playing great. He's not playing much, but when he's playing, he's winning. Novak and Andy, it's true that they are not playing their best, I will say, and Rafa (Nadal), he hasn't played on grass for a long time.

"So it's probably a little bit more open."

After a thrilling Queen's final against Cilic in which he saved a match point before clinching a final set tiebreak 10-8, Lopez clearly believes his best Wimbledon run might still be ahead of him, possibly in the next few weeks.

"Tennis is a unique sport where anything can happen. From one day to the other, it can be so different," Lopez, who will be ranked 25 on Monday and will be seeded at Wimbledon, said.

"It is true that I'm going into Wimbledon with a lot of confidence. Probably this is the Wimbledon that I feel more confident going into it.

"But next week, you know, the draw has to be done. And then I hope I can still play in the same way. Tennis is about sensations, feelings.

"Winning here, it's the best preparation I can have. But on the other way, I think you can have a very tough draw from the very beginning."

Lopez is the first Spaniard to win Queen's since Nadal in 2008 after which the Mallorcan won Wimbledon.

The 31-year-old Nadal will arrive this time having just claimed a 10th French Open but with no competitive grasscourt play, having pulled out of the Queen's Club event.

Lopez warned against writing off his compatriot, though.

"He didn't play one match on grass for such a long time. But with Rafa you never know, because he's capable of everything," Lopez said.

with AFP