Switzerland's Roger Federer ... the man to beat again at Wimbledon. - Reuters

WIMBLEDON, England (AP):

SO MUCH for resisting change at Wimbledon. They're embracing it.

Women will earn the same prize money as men for the first time this year, video screens will help players challenge calls, and a retractable roof is on the way.

Does tradition mean nothing anymore?

Well, there is one thing - besides the white clothes every competitor must wear and the grass underfoot - that remains the same: As the defending men's singles champion, Roger Federer will once again have the honour of being first to stride out on Centre Court when action begins tomorrow.

Something historic

If it seems as though the Swiss star enters each major tournament with a chance to do something historic, it's because he does. Two weeks after coming up just short of completing a career Grand Slam on the red clay of Roland Garros, Federer heads to the All England Club, where he'll try to do something only one man has done in the last 100 years: win a fifth consecutive Wimbledon title.

"That," Federer said, "would be absolutely incredible."

Bjorn Borg won Wimbledon every year from 1976 to 1980, and the only other men who claimed at least five straight titles did it back in the days when the reigning champion automatically advanced to the final - in other words, they needed to win only one match to retain the trophy.

For a little perspective, consider that greats of the grass game such as Rod Laver, John McEnroe and Boris Becker maxed out at two Wimbledon championships back-to-back. And Pete Sampras, who won half of his record 14 major titles at Wimbledon, was stopped at four in a row.

Pistol Pete's streak was snapped by a fourth-round loss in 2001 to ... guess who?

Federer.

"Roger is fun to watch. He's graceful," Sampras said in a telephone interview earlier this year. "Roger is dominating the game much more than I ever did. What he's done the last three years hasn't ever been done in the sport."

When Wimbledon begins, Federer will be entering his record 178th consecutive week at No. 1 in the rankings. He's won six of the previous eight Grand Slams, 10 of the past 16. He also takes a record 48-match winning streak on grass into the first round.

For him, as for many players and fans alike, winning Wimbledon is the be-all and end-all of tennis. For him, success on the sport's most hallowed ground takes away the sting of near-misses at Roland Garros, where he lost to nemesis Rafael Nadal the past three years.

"You do forget about it right away if you win Wimbledon the following month, you know," Federer said. "That kind of overshadows the French Open by a mile."

Part of that attitude stems from the prestige associated with the oldest of the Grand Slam tournaments. It began in 1877 on grass, and is still played that way. The tournament is evolving, however, and two striking symbols are this year' to Centre Court: As part of the project to add a full roof by 2009, the overhang ringing the top of the arena has been temporarily removed, which could make for windier conditions this fortnight; and a form of instant replay will make its Wimbledon debut.

Federer was against the electronic line-calling system when it first emerged, but he's become more open to it. Wouldn't it be fascinating to see him benefit from an overturned call during a big match?

Rivalry

In last year's Wimbledon final, Federer beat Nadal, and they could reprise their No. 1 vs. No. 2 rivalry with a July 9 rematch.

Not that Nadal's thinking that far ahead.

"I'm not worried about Federer. I am worried about(Mardy) Fish right now," Nadal said yesterday, referring to the serve-and-volleying American he faces in the first round.

Nadal and No. 3 Andy Roddick - who lost to Federer in the 2003 semi-finals and the 2004 and 2005 finals at the All England Club - might be the only players who could present a shade of trouble.

"Other than those two," U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe said, "it's hard to think of anyone that can legitimately threaten Federer on grass."

No one holds that kind of sway over the women's draw when it comes to this major, Serena and Venus Williams often bring their best. Venus Williams was one of the loudest voices calling on the tournament to pay the women what the men get, and no one should be shocked if she or her sister winds up pocketing the Grand Slam-record US$1.4 million cheque the women's singles champion will receive.

"It's a step in the right direction," Serena Williams said, "for not only tennis but just for women's sports, for women all around."