Roger Federer is becoming as synonymous to SW19 as the double-decker bus emblazoned on his T-shirt is to London.
For 17 years he has commanded attention like no other when his white-pimpled trainers swagger on to the courts of The All England Club. Only four times has he not been a fixture of the second week.
So the chance the seven-time Wimbledon champion might not be a part of this year’s Championships was unfathomable to some.
This was, after all, the player who had contested a record 65 straight Grand Slams, the man with an unmatched 17 major titles to his name.
When a back injury brought that streak to an end ahead of last month’s French Open, there was the risk the 35-year-old’s body was showing signs of rust and would jeopardise an 18th consecutive appearance at SW19.
It was not the first injury hiccup of his season. Knee surgery and a stomach virus preceded the back ailment.
“I honestly never thought I was going to miss Wimbledon, especially after surgery. I knew I had so much time to make it here, I knew I was going to be fine somehow,” Federer said.
“Did I quickly worry after pulling out of Paris? A little bit potentially, just because, you know, how many more weeks you have. Obviously if you enter, you want to feel like you have chances to go deep and potentially win.
“That's why I'm here as well now. I think this is a huge boost for me after pulling out of Paris, that I'm back here at my favourite tournament. With all the success I've had here, this is the motivation I need right now to get back on the big courts, play good matches, enjoy Wimbledon.”
I knew I was going to be fine somehow
Naturally, questions about how much longer the Swiss great will be a presence in a playing capacity at The All England Club arise with each new glitch, with each extra birthday candle added to his cake each year.
As to be expected, he was not quite up to speed in his grass court lead-up events in Stuttgart and Halle where he lost to two of the game’s brightest prospects – Dominic Thiem, 22, and Alexander Zverev, 19.
The defeat by Zverev brought home the fact he needs 16 more candles on his birthday cake than his than his young conqueror. He had not fallen to a teenager since a 19-year-old Andy Murray defeated him a decade ago.
This was not about proving who was top dog, but about putting his recovery to the test.
“I think really for me was to get some confidence and some knowledge of where I was going to be in those seven matches in 10 days in Stuttgart and Halle,” Federer said.
“I think that was crucial for me going into Wimbledon knowing, OK, I passed that test, the body can take that amount of tennis, four matches back‑to‑back‑to‑back.
“It's really, really important for your mind to know, then you also feel you can manage the five‑setters.
“Clearly I'm not thinking of the title right away. It's too far ahead.”
It is arguably the most tempered Federer’s expectations are heading into Wimbledon since claiming his first title here 13 years ago.
A modest record of 16-6 to start an injury-interrupted season has the world No.4 searching for his first title since last October.
No one is about to write him off, though, should his body hold up and he play himself into the second week. Federer himself points to the dangers posed by Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.
He said: "They are the big favourites in my opinion. They've had such a great last six months, last few years. To me they are the ones to beat.
“I need to focus on myself, getting myself into those positions, meaning second week, growing momentum, you know, the whole thing starts rolling then hopefully.
Don’t pension off Federer or his red double-decker T-shirts any time soon. “I love this tournament more than anything. It's a huge opportunity for me to maybe turn around the season. Who knows?”
