Roger Federer: What to Look Forward to from Fed-Ex in 2012

Roger Federer has had some amazing accomplishments over his career, but what is expected of him for the rest of the 2012 season?

Is this the year we finally see him take another step back, or will the former world No. 1 put together another stellar year like he has had in past ones?

If his last match at the 2012 French Open was any inclination as to where this season is headed for Federer, then I think we all should be in for a treat whenever he steps onto a court.

After falling behind early in his quarterfinals match to Juan Martin Del Potro—losing the first two sets—Federer put together three sets of unbelievable tennis on route to the victory. The final scores ended up being 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-0, 6-2.

Could this be the match, that at the end of the 2012 season, we look back and pinpoint to the start of a new Federer. One that may yet again challenge for that top world ranking?

Or maybe this is all just another day at work for the veteran of the ATP tour.

However it all turns out by the end of the season, it looks as if Federer has got a little jump in his game at this time of the year. If he can somehow manage to take home this year's French Open title, it could set up a big year for him.

With Wimbledon, the Olympics, and the U.S Open all still left to play, Federer will be hoping his best tennis is ahead of him after already starting off the year in an impressive way. If Federer fights back in everything, like he did against his last match to Del Potro, then you have to think Federer will be a force for the rest of the 2012 campaign.

Looking ahead to Fed-ex's next tournament—Wimbledon—it is tough to not like him going into this one. After all, it is not on clay, so that brings the Nadal factor out of the question.

(Do not get me wrong however, he will still be just as tough of an opponent as ever, but Nadal and clay seem to bring such a lethal combination, which is much less on other surfaces it seems.)

Wimbledon is like a second home to Federer. He controls that grass court like no one else playing the game right now. Over his career, he has been able to take home the championship an incredible six times.

What is the record for most career titles at Wimbledon you ask? That answer would be seven.

So is there any incentive for Federer to win at Wimbledon one more time? Just a little I would say, if nothing else then to etch his name into the record books of the fabled tournament.

With his last win at Wimbledon coming in 2009, it would seem like he is due for another—and this year seems just as good as any.

It has been since early 2010—when Federer won the Austrailian Open—the last time he has been able to add a Grand Slam trophy to his case. He is also due for one of those, should he not be able to find some magic to knock off Djokovic, and then Nadal (assuming he makes it), at the French this year.

Nonetheless, Federer's best chances in this 2012 season to take home another Grand Slam will come at Wimbledon. He has the experience there, he has the game, he has the incentive to win, and most importantly he is Roger Federer playing at Wimbledon—which rivals, but unfortunately loses out, to Nadal playing at Roland Garros.

This year is also a special year for all tennis players, not just Federer—although it will be very big for him—as the Olympics are being hosted in London just mere weeks after Wimbledon at the same venue.

I am sure Federer is not the only one to feel the unique vibe the games are going to have being played at Wimbledon, as he tells Jonathan Overend, the BBC tennis correspondent:

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be playing at Wimbledon at the Olympic games. It's just a really big deal for us to be living that Olympic spirit, right there, at the most incredible arena we have in tennis.”

After the Olympic games in 2008—where Federer and fellow countrymen Stanislas Wawrinka teamed up to capture the gold in men's doubles—he looks this year to do the same in the men's singles portion of the tournament.

Federer is coming into the Olympics with the goal of winning a gold medal, as any athlete would of his calibre. His experience at the last games may help him be able to accomplish that goal—even with lots of stiff competition—Federer tells the BBC tennis correspondent, Jonathan Overend:

"I think it's going to be helpful that I've won an Olympic Gold already. So I'll feel a little less pressure, although there will be massive pressure on all the players, especially the favourites.”

With a player of his level preparing himself to take a legitimate shot at a gold medal, you have to believe that his play is going to rise as the Olympics start to get even closer. Perhaps this is what the French Open is for Federer. A warm-up, for his real warm-up—Wimbledon. If that is the case, look out Nadal this coming weekend, and look out the field come June 25th at the third major of the year.

Lets not forget the last big tournament of the year either now, the U.S Open. Federer has put some good numbers up at that tournament as well, and like every tournament he enters, he should be a top contender.

After winning for five straight years—from 2004-2008—and making it the finals in the sixth year of that run, Federer has not been able to put himself into that final match since. With already three titles this year on outdoor, hard courts, he seems primed to make another stab at the finals—or even a win—at Flushing Meadows in 2012.

With the end of the French Open still to play, Wimbledon, the Olympics and the U.S Open, there is a lot of Roger Federer still for us to see. By the way that he is playing thus far, sporting a match record this season of 35-4 (including his four matches so far at the French Open) and winning four titles—including an Indian Wells victory where he took down Rafael Nadal in the semifinals on route to the win—he looks ready for anything.

That win against Nadal puts their season series at one match apiece. As for Federer and Djokovic, the latter leads their season series one match to none—having only played once this year so far.

In the end there is nothing better to witness than a Federer that is playing his best tennis. It looks like 2012 could potentially be a big year for him, and that will involve playing some of his best high level tennis ever.

His games against the other two that make up the big three will be spectacular in 2012. This rivalry is what is going to make the rest of the year very exciting. The big question falls on Federer though, and in time, will answer the questions we have about him and this season.

Will Federer be able to beat Djokovic and Nadal when it really matters, come Wimbledon, the Olympic games, and the U.S. Open? After all, it is those tournaments that really matter for the rest of the 2012 season for Fed-ex.