Former Wimbledon great Bjorn Borg believes world No. 1 Roger Federer is only third favorite to win the grasscourt grand slam this year.
Federer is aiming for a sixth consecutive Wimbledon title but Borg, champion five times in a row from 1976-1980, thinks the Swiss will have his work cut out.
The Swede also said he will not be surprised if Federer chooses to retire next year.
"I pick Rafael Nadal as winner and my second choice is Novak Djokovic, my third is Roger," Borg was quoted in British media yesterday.
"For (Roger) to beat those guys at Wimbledon he needs to play much better than he did last summer. He knows he will have to play some unbelievable tennis to win again. This is the most open Wimbledon for years."
Borg, who retired in his mid-20s, thinks Federer can overhaul Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles - if he keeps playing.
"I wouldn't be at all surprised if Roger came out next year and said: 'I'm not going to play tennis any more'," Borg added.
Federer, beaten in the semifinal at this year's Australian Open by Djokovic and in the French Open final by Nadal, has won 12 grand slam titles.
"He wants to break the Sampras record and I think he will if he wants to continue playing tennis," Borg said.
Even Sampras thinks Federer will overhaul his record for most career grand slam singles titles.
In fact, Sampras plans to be sitting among Federer's most vocal supporters when he does win a 15th career major - even if that requires a lengthy flight to Melbourne, Australia.
If Federer won a sixth straight Wimbledon title next month and a fifth consecutive US Open title in September, he would be aiming for No. 15 at the Australian Open in January. "There is a burning desire in Roger to break my record, and when he does it I would like to be there," Sampras said. "I said to Roger, 'Just make sure it's in New York or London. Australia is a long way to go. (But) if it worked out like that, I would fly there.'
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily June 20, 2008)