LONDON, (Reuters) – Winning the French Open was not  just a personal milestone for Roger Federer, it was the making  of him.
Armed with the belief that he can win titles even when he is  not on top of his game, the Swiss master is determined to snatch  back the Wimbledon crown from his nemesis Rafael Nadal when the  grasscourt grand slam begins next Monday.

“I feel like I’ve definitely become more a man now than in  the last few years since I’m not scared of five setters anymore.
I can handle the pressure,” Federer, who became only the sixth  man to achieve a career grand slam with his triumph at Roland  Garros 10 days ago, told a small group of invited reporters.

“I had to show my fighting spirit more than ever and it’s  nice to have had a chance to show those qualities because before  everybody was just used to my dominance.

It’s good to know for  myself that I can also do it differently,” added Federer, who  for the first time had to play two five-set matches during a  successful run to a major.

“Now going into the grass season, and Wimbledon, and being  on top of the world it’s a fantastic feeling.”
In his previous 13 assaults to grand slam titles, it seemed  as if Federer’s aura was enough to beat most opponents before  the warm-up had even finished.

If that was not enough, the Swiss quickly outwitted his  opponents with his silky shots and killer instinct.
But none of that was on display in Paris and if anything,  Federer’s cloak of invincibility looked tattered and torn when  he was just five points from defeat in the fourth round against  Germany’s Tommy Haas.

That win from two sets down against Haas not only set  Federer on his way to a record-equalling 14th grand slam title,  it also boosted his chances of regaining the number one ranking  Nadal took from him last August.

“For me it’s about the majors because right now Wimbledon is  around the corner,” said 27-year-old Federer.
“From Paris until Wimbledon, this is when you want to play  your best tennis. So the ranking will always follow when you do  play well.
“I know it will take a special effort to get back to number  one because Rafa has set the bar high. It’s going to be hard to  take it away from him because he has so many great tournament  victories in his 365-day rankings. But I feel I’m a step closer  now by winning in Paris and winning my 14th.”
That triumph led to a chorus of players declaring Federer  was the greatest of all time and Martina Navratilova even  suggested the Swiss could “just go on and sip Margaritas for the  rest of his life”.

However, Federer does not have it in him to simply put his  feet up and soak up the sun.
For him it is all about timing and with a baby on the way,  he feels there is no better way to prepare for the new arrival  in his family by breaking the record of 14 grand slam titles he  shares with Pete Sampras at Wimbledon.

“I do think I’m the favourite actually, with the success  I’ve had. I came close again last year,” said Federer, whose run  of five consecutive Wimbledon titles ended with a heart-stopping  five-set loss to Nadal in last year’s final.

“Once you arrive in London, you start getting into the frame  of mind and it’s like ‘let’s go again’, I know what it takes. It  only takes a couple of hours to feel at home.

“With no disrespect to the other players … I feel like  I’ve got the game, I’ve got the mental approach and I’ve got the  experience to win at Wimbledon many more times.”