Unlike UK bookmakers convinced a home triumph is finally around the corner, Roger Federer isn't so sure Andy Murray is the man to stop him winning a record 15th grand slam singles title at Wimbledon.

After defending champion Rafael Nadal withdrew injured on Friday, Murray and Federer were seeded to meet in the men's final on July 5.

The Scot has won their past four meetings since losing to Federer in last September's US Open final and UK betting giants Ladbrokes rate Murray as the $2.75 second favourite for the title, with Federer the $1.72 favourite and Novak Djokovic at $13.

"I always knew that Andy was going to be one of the toughest ones to beat on grass next to Rafa and Djokovic," said Federer, who opens play on Centre Court today (8pm WA time) against Yen-Hsun Lu of Taipei. But asked whether Murray was his biggest threat, Federer said: "No."

"He's a great tactician and he's finally proved it because it took him some time," Federer said. "That was the disappointing part, that it took him longer than I expected. So I was wrong with my prediction, because I expected him to do better a few years ago."

The Swiss, who won his first French Open title two weeks ago to tie Pete Sampras' record of 14 majors, listed Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina, France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, Sweden's Robin Soderling and former US Open champion Andy Roddick as equally dangerous foes.

Federer also has a losing record against Djokovic since beating him in the US Open semi-finals. The Serb, who is seeded fourth and plays Julien Benneteau of France in today's last match on Centre Court, won both their meetings this year.

"There are so many guys around who are dangerous," said Federer, whose French Open victory made him the sixth man to have won all four majors at least once. "Maybe it's hard for them to win the tournament but on any given day they can create a huge upset."

Murray became the first Briton since 1938 to win the Wimbledon warm-up at Queens Club last week and the Scot, who is scheduled to play his opening match tomorrow against American Robert Kendrick, said he would thrive on the weight of expectation as he bids to finally end the host country's 73-year wait for a men's Wimbledon champion

"I expect a lot of myself in the big tournaments and normally that helps me play better," Murray said.

In other matches on Centre Court today, US and Australian Open champion Serena Williams starts her bid for a third Grand Slam title in less than a year against Neuza Silva of Portugal, who is ranked 154th by the Women's Tennis Association.

On Court No. 1, 2004 champion Maria Sharapova, who recently returned from a shoulder injury, faces Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine.

Soderling, who handed top-ranked Nadal his first ever French Open defeat before losing to Federer in the final, plays Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.

LONDON