Wimbledon 2014: Roger Federer's quest for an 18th Slam title surrounded by a cloud of uncertainty

Roger Federer in action at Halle

A few years ago, the regal Swiss would ride into London ushered by angels and hailed by his subjects. He would arrive to the pomp of an emperor with his armour in tow. The forehand was the best the game of tennis had ever seen, revered even by his enemies, the backhand was as fluid as a Nureyev composition and the serve was a weapon that served him with unwavering loyalty.

As he strode forth in all his regal brilliance, the only question on most minds was how Federer might script another glorious triumph inside the temple of tennis.

But the times have changed. As the Swiss pursues an unrelenting quest for his 18th Grand Slam title, many wonder when and if he will ever succeed in that endeavour; the how is beyond comprehension for even the most passionate of his devoted legions.

His footwork was supreme, his movement evoked awe and admiration. But one day, Father Time visited the emperor. The king refused to meet him, but the visitor remained at the door, chipping away at its veneer. And Federer remains in his characteristic bubble, talking up his hopes for an 18th title on the biggest stage in tennis.

But despite his successful title defense at Halle, you have to wonder if the Swiss maestro has it in him to produce seven great matches in the face of constantly deepening enemy lines. There is no doubt that the tennis world will raise as one and hail another epic triumph if that were indeed to be the result on the first Sunday of July.

Just as the sun plays hide and seek during the British summer, Federer’s much vaunted forehand and the nearly poetic backhand have also been coming and going with hardly any discretion.

Federer in full flight is still a sight to behold. No man has ever created symphonies with the racket, as the Swiss has done time and again. And while he is no less elegant at 32, he is a tad less effective. Although you might want to remind yourself that he is far less imposing with his weaponry now, there is no denying the fact that a Federer in full flow is like a Beethoven record that never fails to soothe the soul.

Unlike in the past though, his opponents do not sing his tune. Nor do they hesitate to break it with their own jarring, power-packed notes. At the French Open, Ernests Gulbis knew exactly what was needed of him and went about attacking Federer’s backhand till the great man wilted somewhere in the fifth set.

The flick of Federer’s nearly mythical wrist has always evoked gasps of ecstatic joy from men and women – players and people alike. Unfortunately for Federer, advancing years have meant that a magical moment of genius has often preceded a painfully ill-timed error.

At times, his shanks make you wonder if they had emanated from the same hand that created mystical magic only moments before. Over the past 18 months, Federer has managed to win just three titles. Two of these have come at Halle, where he hasn’t been tested by his biggest invaders.

But such is the aura of this great man that despite winning just two Grand Slam titles since his triumphant summer in 2009 - when he won both the French and Wimbledon titles – he walks into each Major as a contender.

Stung by his second and fourth round exits from Wimbledon and the US Open last year, Federer appointed Stefan Edberg to stem the tide of his flagging fortunes. The passage of time meant that Federer needed to make a few changes to his art.

Considering that he was beginning to lack the legs for a battle at the baseline, Federer resorted, increasingly, to the drop shot and volley. It was a move designed to vary pace and curtail the length of rallies. The ploy has yielded him mixed results.

At times, Federer has looked like a wizard in his ability to use the angles at the net or in leaving his opponent stranded at the back, turning him into a mute witness to the Swiss player’s mastery over placement, flight and spin.

However, players have also taken advantage of Federer’s declining foot speed to easily pass him at the net. At other times, they have been mercilessly pounding his backhand into submission, as was the case with Gulbis in Paris.

But grass is a surface where Federer has sought and found comfort over the years. Besides, Federer also has a reasonably good 34-7 record this season – 5-3 against top 10 opponents. Those three losses came against Rafael Nadal in Melbourne, Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells and Stanislas Wawrinka in Monte Carlo.

It is difficult to say to what extent Federer’s success at Halle might fuel his game next week when the gladiators assemble at SW19. The Swiss received a bye and a walkover, which meant he needed only three matches to defend his title. The match against Kei Nishikori was a useful test.

But he stuttered against Alejandro Falla, a pattern that must surely worry the Swiss. He should have served out the first set, but missed an easy volley in the ninth game to surrender the break before closing it out in the breaker. He was similarly tentative in Paris against Gulbis too.

Federer, once a marauding front runner, seems to have discovered a taste for hesitation at the doorstep of opportunity. It is essential for the Swiss to rid himself of this faltering habit if he is to regain any of his lost glory.

Even if he is able to be more consistent off the ground, Federer will need to strike deep and hope for some help from the weather. The Swiss is at home when the ball skids off the surface. Somehow, his magic turns resplendent when the grass layers the act with a few tricks of its own.

So he will pray that the temperatures in London hover in the teens through the fortnight, with an occasional shower to smoothen and feed the grass. All of London might crave sunshine, but they can count on Federer to desire some cold and muggy conditions to help his quest for indisputable greatness.