Federer steps in for absent Nadal

By Pritha Sarkar

LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer may well feel like an impostor when he steps out to open Centre Court proceedings at Wimbledon on Monday.

The 27-year-old Swiss has been given the honour usually bestowed on a reigning champion after his great rival and title holder Rafael Nadal pulled out of the grasscourt major with a knee injury before a ball had even been struck.

That left officials in no doubt about who should step in for the Spaniard.

"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," Federer, whose five-year Wimbledon reign was ended by Nadal in a spectacular five-set final last year, told Reuters.

The newly-crowned French Open champion, who became only the sixth man to complete a career grand slam, will begin his pursuit of a record 15th grand slam title against the only Asian man in the draw, Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan.

While British fans have already started anticipating a Federer-Andy Murray final on July 5, they will have to wait until Tuesday to catch a first glimpse of the third seed.

Instead, local supporters can exercise their vocal chords by cheering on 15-year-old grand slam debutante Laura Robson, who earned a wildcard thanks to her run to the junior title 12 months ago.

She and her opponent Daniela Hantuchova have been given the honour of contesting the first ever match on the new 4,000-seater Court Two.