Champions prepare their defences

Wimbledon's defending champions swept into the All England Club on Sunday with a regal air befitting their status.

Maria Sharapova gushed about her 18 carat gold tennis shoes. Roger Federer smiled the smile of a man who is hot favourite for a third straight Wimbledon crown.

"I am feeling good - I'm really looking forward to my first match," the Swiss said.

Federer faces Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in the first round.

"There will be relief when that's over," the world number one said.

"There will be tension, but that's normal. Hopefully I'll get through that one and then I'll be able to get a feel for the tournament."

Federer has not been beaten on grass since June 2002 and a first round defeat at Wimbledon to Croatia's Mario Ancic. Since then he has racked up a 29-match winning streak on the surface.

"But I don't feel invincible on grass," he said. "For example I should have lost last week in Halle but came through and won."

The season's third grand slam will take place from today to July 3. Federer opens centre-court play today.

Last year's runner-up Andy Roddick was promoted from his ranking of four to be named second seed on Thursday while world number two and 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt was named third seed and is in Federer's half of the draw.

"Andy and Lleyton are the biggest dangers for me," Federer said.

Sharapova can't wait to get going.

"I just enjoy it whenever I come back here," said the Russian who beat Serena Williams for the title a year ago.

"It's exciting... just feels like a special place," the world no.2 grinned.

"Every time I step on grass I feel confident because it just suits my game."

This year the Siberian-born, Florida-based teenager will be sporting new shoes.

"They have 18 carat gold specks on the side," she said of the $900 sneakers. "That's something totally different. It shines unbelievably - hopefully they can distract my opponents a little," she laughed.

"You know, I don't really put my stuff in a locker... if people want to steal my stuff then that's just their problem. But now with my shoes... well, I'll ask the tournament to get me a safe for those."

The second seed plays Spain's Nuria Llagostera-Vives in the opening round while women's top seed Lindsay Davenport also has a straightforward opening match against Russia's Alina Jidkova.