Federer faces dark horse Nalbandian, Rafa resumes

Not many players can say they scare Roger Federer but the six-times Wimbledon champion's next opponent David Nalbandian is one of a select bunch as the Swiss master continues his bid to win his 17th grand slam title today.

Not many players can say they scare Roger Federer but the six-times Wimbledon champion's next opponent David Nalbandian is one of a select bunch as the Swiss master continues his bid to win his 17th grand slam title on Saturday.

HT Image

"Nalbandian used to be my dark horse. I think it's a wonderful third round. I wish I could have had an easier one maybe, but I know the danger against him. He can prove his point," Federer said after his late-night victory in the second round.

Nalbandian is not without grasscourt credentials, having reached the 2002 Wimbledon final, but the former world number three lies 23rd in the rankings and Federer will take some stopping as he bids to match the seven Wimbledon titles of American Pete Sampras.

Defending champion Rafa Nadal, a set up in his revenge match against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller who is the only man to have beaten him at Wimbledon since 2005 apart from Federer, opens proceedings on Court One.

Another multiple Wimbledon champion in Serena Williams follows Nadal against Russian Maria Kirilenko, while Centre Court fans could be in for another late night treat as Novak Djokovic and Marcos Baghdatis prepare to slug it out again.

The pair met in the quarter-finals in 2007 in a match lasting five hours, leaving Djokovic with blisters so bad he had to pull out of his semi-final against Nadal despite winning the first set.