Roger Federer: Fed-Ex Will Build Momentum at Wimbledon Tuneup This Week

After falling to Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros, Roger Federer will get a confidence boost this week thanks to the familiar grass at the Gerry Weber Open.

Federer will be looking to heal some emotional wounds after losing to Djokovic, who eliminated him 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals of the French Open. Luckily, the world's No. 1 player isn't in the field this week, and Federer has been wildly successful at the Wimbledon tuneup in Halle, Germany.

Federer is the all-time singles king in Halle, winning a tournament-record five titles (2003-2006, 2008) on the grass in northwest Germany. His success has also translated into big performances at the third major of the year, as he's followed four Gerry Weber titles with wins at Wimbledon.

Despite the absence of Djokovic, Federer will still have some stiff competition at Halle. World No. 2 Rafael Nadal will be in the field for the first time since 2005, and hometown favorite and 2009 champion Tommy Haas is always a threat.

Regardless of who he faces, though, I'm expecting Federer to roll. He is to grass what Nadal is to clay, and although he looked slow against Djokovic, his age hasn't completely caught up to him yet.

Federer will first face German Florian Mayer, who has never taken a set from Federer in three career meetings, including the round of 16 at the 2005 Gerry Weber Open.

Like that tournament, Federer will stomp Mayer and start a tidal wave of momentum in his favor.

Nadal certainly could have something to say about this, but I'm expecting Federer to win his sixth title at Halle before claiming his seventh career championship at Wimbledon.