Andy Murray is 1-16 with bookmakers to win his last-16 clash on Centre Court against big-serving South African Kevin Anderson this afternoon - but it may not be as simple as that.

Anderson, seeded 20, has been in great form this season and beat Fabio Fognini, who bettered Murray in the recent Davis Cup defeat to Italy, in the previous round.

It’s true Murray has forfeited only 19 games in his three victories this year, without ever looking like losing a set.

But the 6ft 8ins Anderson presents an altogether different threat on grass. He will serve as many, if not more, aces than Murray although his ground shots lack the consistency of the Wimbledon champion's.

Murray said yesterday: "The pressure of wanting to win was finally released last year. I'm still feeling the pressure and the nerves but this year they are completely different. I like having the nerves and I am using them positively."

Anderson is aware that he will be playing the role of ‘bad guy’ on Centre Court as he battles not only Murray but 99.9 per cent of the 15,000 packed into the gladiatorial arena.

Great Britain's Andy Murray in action against Belgium's David Goffin during day one of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon
Eye on the ball: Great Britain's Andy Murray in action

He said: "Maybe I'll be the bad guy but I need to try to block that out. Andy has won it now, so I guess there's no need for him to go on and win two in a row.

"It will be amazing just to play on Centre Court - not many people in this sport do it. It will be a great experience but I am there to win the match."

So far in the tournament Anderson has delivered 63 aces. But his serve has been broken six times and, in Murray, he faces one of the best returners in the game.

Defeat for Murray, the last British survivor in either singles, would be the equivalent of Brazil losing in the World Cup, with national interest in the tournament deflating.

The top two seeds in the women's draw Serena Williams and Li Na have both fallen to lesser opponents, leaving the tournament wide open. Possibly the main beneficiary is 2004 champion Maria Sharapova who would have met Williams, against whom she has a 16-2 losing record, in the quarter finals.

Passion: Great Britain's Andy Murray celebrates winning his second round match

Sharapova now plays Angelique Kerber, conqueror of Heather Watson and a semi finalist two years ago. In the lower half of the draw the 2011 champion Petra Kvitova seems to have a decent chance of progressing. She plays Chinese world ranked 61 Shuai Peng this afternoon.

Sabine Lisicki, whose match against Ana Ivanovic was suspended on Saturday evening in the gloaming with her leading 6-4, 1-1, also showed her liking for grass.

The popular German has not been in good form this year following injury. But her powerful serve and groundstrokes had the leggy Ivanovic in trouble and the latter will do well to turn things around. The winner of this match will likely face Sharapova in the quarter finals.

Both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal play their last 16 matches tomorrow because of the rain delays on Saturday. This means they will have to play back to back matches to catch up without the normal day's rest between.

The Centre Court opens with a very attractive ladies match between Alize Cornet, conqueror of Serena Williams, and 20-year-old Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, the new darling of tennis.

Bouchard, who reached the semi finals of both the Australian and French championships, has a Sharapova-like determination which she matches with the Russian's beauty and elegance.

Cornet was a revelation against Williams, admitting that only two years ago she could not handle a grass surface at all. The 24-year-old sprayed winners everywhere on Saturday, leaving Williams gasping in her wake.

This match could be a wonderful appetiser for the Murray-Anderson clash.