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More from the Q&A session with Roger Federer, who begins his pursuit of a record 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon on Monday.

Q: Some things do not change though because after Rafa's withdrawal, you've been chosen to open proceedings on Monday like a defending men's champion.

FEDERER: "I shouldn't deserve it this year because Rafa deserves it but am obviously very honoured that the championships chose me again to open the tournament."

Q: You've mentioned that becoming a dad later this European summer won't affect your mindset towards tennis. But why do you think only eight men since 1980 have won majors after becoming a dad?

FEDERER: "It's just because you usually get kids later in your career. Maybe when you're getting slower. But you've also got to compare what kind of players (have) got kids.

"I'm only one of two players who have reached 14 grand slams. So I'm also in a different league than other players. Sure the stats are there but they don't worry me in any way. Otherwise I would have played longer with (no) kids. I'm confident that I can definitely have many more victories with a baby otherwise I wouldn't have done it.

"I'm excited about what's ahead in my personal life, my tennis life, really everything is going very well and I'm excited that (my wife) Mirka's doing very well. That's fantastic and I'm looking forward to it and it's going to be a nice new life."

Q: Are you looking forward to 14-hour flights with a screaming baby?

FEDERER: "I'm worried about those as well. Because you don't want to upset the whole plane. But what can you do? Hopefully people will understand."

Q: Has Pete Sampras sent you any message as you try and break the 14-slam record you share with him?

FEDERER: "He's been very happy for me. We've tried to reach each other (since Paris) but miss each other on the phone. He's been supporting me throughout Roland Garros. He's always been texting me and wishing me all the best.

"He's wished me luck for these championships, he's not bitter. There's a chance (he could come for the final if I'm there). The club would love to see him back and the game would love to see him back."

Q: You mentioned you felt mentally drained after your triumphant run in the French Open. What does 'mentally drained' mean for Roger Federer?

FEDERER: "That's how you feel after having put your head down for almost three weeks and trying to concentrate on tennis day in and day out and eat and breathe tennis. It's not the most fun part sometimes in life but sometimes it's what you have to do.

"Because after that you know there is going to be sunshine at the end. It's like a big storm you have to go through and when that's over, all you want to do is just lie down and enjoy the sun. That's how you feel after and especially when the pressure's all over, it all comes out.

"Sometimes you get sick, you get tired, you get emotional, so you don't have that spring in your step any more. You're just slow and you want to hang around. I've had it in the past many, many times after the slams, knowing how tired I was.

"But looking ahead for Wimbledon and looking ahead for my best health, I had to take a week off (and miss the grasscourt tournament in Halle) and go home and recover and celebrate with my friends and family.

"It's important for my mind, it's important for my life that I enjoy victories more today than I did in the beginning. Before I won and I would race to the next tournament, today I try to stay with those victories much more."

Q: Two weeks on from winning your first French Open title and becoming only the sixth man to achieve the career grand slam, was the win more of a relief or more of a joyous occasion?

FEDERER: "It was more of a high joy than relief. I don't like seeing victories as release. Because it's not the way it's supposed to be.

"Of course it was an enormous amount of pressure. It's a relief at some stage but the joy is much, much bigger. Being able to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires, this is what stands out at the end of the day and not like 'oh God, the pressure is off'.

"Sure the pressure is off but when I come back to Paris I don't need to win Paris any more. But I'll try everything I can to win it again because I'd love to relive something similar again. I like to see the positive side and not the negative side ... like I only have to do it just to prove people wrong. That's not really me."

Reuters