Oxfordshire's Tim Henman is hoping to thrive in the unaccustomed role of massive Wimbledon underdog when he takes on world No 1 Roger Federer today.

Henman booked his place in the second round against arguably the finest grass-court player in history with a typically nerve-jangling win over Sweden's Robin Soderling yesterday.

But the Briton is now in the enviable position of having nothing to lose against the defending champion, who is bidding to win the title for the fourth year in succession.

"His record here is just getting better and better," Henman said of the Swiss ace, "but it feels good to be playing a match here with very little pressure or expectation.

"I want to go out there and let it happen, go for my shots and see what happens."

Federer indicated, in the way he so easily brushed aside Richard Gasquet who many thought might trouble him that he is unlikely to drop a set against Henman, four times a semi-finalist but now aged 31 and relegated to British No 3.

But the man who grew up in Weston-on-the-Green and who now lives at Aston Tirrold, near Didcot, doesn't completely dismiss his own chances.

"It's going to boil down to who can take their chances," he said. "I'm very happy with the way I'm playing on grass this year.

"I've got to play my own game and not let him dictate as he likes to do.

"I've beaten him six times in my career so I won't be daunted. It's a fantastic opportunity for me.

"I know him well, have practised with him and, with all due respect, it's just another match for me.

"The most important thing is that I feel I haven't got any pressure or expectation on me, and although I've obviously got to do my bit by giving the crowd something to cheer, they can play a massive part."

Henman's 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory over 21-year-old Soderling took three hours 14 minutes but he doesn't feel the length of the match will not drained him.

"I'm in pretty good shape physically," he said.

"It was a pretty routine five-setter for me," Henman laughed as he reflected on how he had again made things hard for himself, and given his fans a nervous ride.

He missed three set points in the opening tie-break but worked his way back with two solid sets.

It would not be a Henman match at Wimbledon without a few twists and turns, however, and the fourth set delivered right on cue, Soderling taking it comfortably.

But Henman regained the initiative by breaking at the start of the final set and Soderling was unable to exert any real pressure on the home favourite, who had now bowed out at the first-round stage since his debut year at Wimbledon in 1994.

His serving was more successful a slow, high-kicking serve from the left court proving particularly effective, and he is getting to grips with the slowness of the courts, which is starting to make serve-and-volley a thing of the past.

"The one thing that hasn't changed is you can't be defensive on grass," he said.