• Wimbledon

Federer expects Murray to shrug off slump at SW19

ESPN staff
June 20, 2010
Andy Murray and Roger Federer met in the Australian Open final this year © Getty Images
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World No. 2 Roger Federer is backing Andy Murray to shrug off his recent slump and mount a strong challenge for the title at Wimbledon.

Murray made an auspicious start to the year by reaching the final of the Australian Open - where he lost to Federer - but since then his form has been erratic.

He was dumped out at Queen's at the third-round stage, and he has not reached the last four of any tournament since his exploits in Melbourne in January.

Federer has also fallen below his usual high standards of late - he was surprisingly knocked out of the French Open at the last-eight stage by eventual finalist Robin Soderling.

Nonetheless, he was in bullish mood when questioned about his and Murray's chances of success when the All England Club tournament kicks off on Monday.

"I think, regardless of what happened between here and the Australian Open, Andy is one of the big favourites for this tournament," he said. "It's been for me and for Murray to some degree a bit of a disappointing last few months. But I think Murray also played incredible tennis at the Australian Open."

Ernests Gulbis, who defeated Federer at the Rome Masters earlier this year, has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon with a hamstring injury.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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