Federer Shoots For Fourth Consecutive Win at Wimbledon

ByABC News
June 26, 2006, 11:59 AM

— -- WIMBLEDON, England -- Andre Agassi, the 1992 champion here, traded low, skidding forehands Sunday with Olympic doubles gold medalist Nicolas Massu of Chile on a pitch-perfect day at Aorangi Park. A dozen television cameras and a massive media contingent recorded the informal session -- the beginning of the announced end for the 36-year-old Agassi in his Wimbledon finale.

Roger Federer is attempting to become the seventh player in Wimbledon history to win the men's title four consecutive years.

The wealth of tennis talent concentrated on the practice courts at the All England Club was, frankly, amazing. One court over, No. 5 seed and French Open semifinalist Ivan Ljubicic grooved his serve. Behind him, reigning French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne worked on the timing of her classic backhand under the eye of Carlos Rodriguez, her coach of more than 10 years now. James Blake, the No. 8 seed and viable threat to go deep in this event, was on the next court and Rafael Nadal, fresh from his triumph at Roland Garros and No. 2 seed, was another court over, practicing approach shots against the spidery Feliciano Lopez.

And while Agassi is the sentimental story of this fortnight, he is not likely to be the last man standing. That player is expected to be Roger Federer. While his peers honed their games on grass, the No. 1-ranked player in the world answered a volley of questions in Interview Room No. 1.

Federer appeared relaxed, almost languid, but there is enormous pressure on him. The 24-year-old Swiss player is the three-time defending champion and is bidding to become only the third man in 93 years to win four straight titles. That the other two are named Borg and Sampras only makes the potential feat more tantalizing. And then there is the 41-match grass court winning streak that Federer currently shares with Borg.

With a win in the first round over Richard Gasquet of France, Federer would own the exclusive rights to the record. When Rafael Nadal won his 54th consecutive match on clay in the first round at Roland Garros --