Andy Murray has a sore hip, Novak Djokovic isn’t in the form of 12-18 months ago, Rafael Nadal hasn’t reached the Wimbledon quarters for six years and Roger Federer is closer to 40 years of age than 30. But according to Federer, on the pre-Wimbledon edition of The Tennis Podcast, the Big Four are still the players to beat in the men’s draw. 

“Andy, Rafa and Novak are the clear favourites to me,” Federer told podcast host Catherine Whitaker. “Andy is the champion and Rafa is coming off an unbelievable run at the French Open. He comes with a lot of confidence even if he doesn’t have the matches on grass. Novak is going to pick up his game. Once he gets rolling and into the second week things are going to look very different - both in terms of how you guys in the media look at him and in the locker room. The same thing for Andy. The last five months have been good ones for me, I feel healthy, which is where I wanted to be for Wimbledon. I’m very excited.”

Whitaker also interviews Nadal on his hopes at Wimbledon, John McEnroe on the fitness of Murray, and the returning Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka. All can be heard on this pre-Wimbledon edition of the Tennis Podcast.

Whitaker and co-host David Law will both be part of the BBC Radio 5 Live Wimbledon coverage this fortnight, and they record this edition of The Tennis Podcast overlooking the practice courts. They go through the various runners and riders, and make their predictions. Neither with much confidence. 

A new Tennis Podcast will be out after play every night during Wimbledon. It is produced in association with Telegraph Sport and Eurosport, who have a highlights show every night from Wimbledon. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.