WIMBLEDON Date: 22 June - 5 July Coverage: BBC One, BBC Two, BBC HD, Red Button, website streaming (UK only) and text commentary, 5 Live, 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC iPlayer Tennis on the BBC
Federer and Nadal played out a classic final at Wimbledon 12 months ago
Roger Federer says he is disappointed that Rafael Nadal's withdrawal from Wimbledon denies them the chance to meet in this year's final.
Nadal, who beat Federer last year to claim his first Wimbledon title, pulled out on Friday with a knee injury.
"I'd love to play him. He's my main rival," said Federer, who opens against Yen-Hsun Lu on Centre Court on Monday.
"We've had some wonderful matches over the years, including last year, so that we can't repeat that is obviously sad."
The defending men's champion traditionally opens play on Centre Court at Wimbledon, but in Nadal's absence, that honour goes to Federer.
"I shouldn't deserve it this year because Rafa deserves it (as champion) but I am obviously very honoured that they chose me again to open the tournament," said the five-times Wimbledon winner, who has faced Nadal in the last three finals.
I feel like I'm ready to win a Grand Slam now - but I need to play my best tennis ever to do it"
Andy Murray
Third seed Andy Murray is in the opposite half of the draw to Federer so he will begin his campaign to become the first British winner of the men's singles since Fred Perry in 1936 on Tuesday.
Nadal was a potential semi-final opponent for the Scot but he is refusing to get carried away with the Spaniard's absence.
"It's very easy to say, 'Oh, Rafa's not playing, so I've got a much easier route to the final'. I don't view it like that at all," said the 22-year-old.
"You just focus on each match at a time, the first one, and try and win one best-of-five set match every couple of days and not get ahead of yourself.
"I wasn't thinking about playing Rafa at all. If that opportunity came, then I'd obviously look forward to it any time I play him. It's a great challenge.
"I'm sure everyone would have liked to have seen him here. I enjoy watching him play. He's my favourite player to watch, so I'm sure the fans that wanted to come to see him will all be disappointed. But he's got to do what's best for him."
Federer, the world number two, admitted he had a feeling Nadal would withdraw after a brief chat with the Spaniard on Wednesday.
"We had a 10 second chat. He congratulated me for Paris and I asked him how his knee was. He was like, 'it's OK'. So I kind of knew it wasn't great, because he's very honest to me. So I knew that something could be coming up.
"I heard he was going to have a press conference on Friday and I guess I was slightly prepared that he wouldn't play, so then it doesn't come as such a big surprise.
"But I'm sad for him, because it must have been a very difficult decision to make."
The Swiss player matched Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam titles when he beat Robin Soderling to win the French Open for the first time earlier this month.
A sixth Wimbledon crown for Federer would make it a record-breaking 15 Grand Slam titles - and would mean he reclaims the world number one ranking from Nadal.
Murray has sympathy for Nadal
"I don't feel like I have extra pressure now having to win the tournament," he said.
"There's a lot of weight off my shoulders since Paris. So I'm entering tournaments a little bit more relaxed these days."
Murray believes Federer is the "big favourite" but the 22-year-old says he has a "chance" of winning his first Grand Slam title.
"I feel like I'm ready to win a Grand Slam now, whereas last year I might not have been," said the British number one.
"But I need to play my best tennis ever to do it. It's not like it's going to come easily."
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