Berdych has talent to ruffle Federer

LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) A telling admission made at the French Open could come back to haunt world number one Roger Federer at Wimbledon tomorrow.

The defending champion said at Roland Garros, where he lost to Rafael Nadal in the final, that the player he had been least confident about facing was the talented but as yet unproven Czech Tomas Berdych.

Federer beat 20-year-old Berdych in the fourth round in Paris and they will meet at the same stage of Wimbledon on Monday.

''My draw has been tough from the early stages on and the next match will be difficult against Berdych,'' said the Swiss, who is seeking to become only the third man in the professional era to win four consecutive Wimbledon titles.

''I think that is for me a very tricky match already. And Even if would come through that, there's other good players lying ahead.'' Federer struggled to beat Berdych in the final of the pre-Wimbledon Halle warm-up event after which the Czech was asked if he thought the Swiss could be beaten on grass where he has not lost for 44 matches.

''I don't think so, unless something really happens like he's sick or injured. No,'' Berdych replied.

The Czech, though, has plenty of psychological ammunition to go with his redoubtable forehand and impressive all-round game.

Berdych was still only 18 when he beat Federer at the 2004 Athens Olympics, one of the Swiss's most painful defeats.

The 13th seed has won seven of his eight career matches on grass and, astonishingly, has won all eight of the five-set matches he has played in his career, itself a record.

Federer has won only nine of the 19 five-setters he has played.

If he comes through Federer could play another of his former nemeses, Croatian Mario Ancic, in the quarter-finals.

Ancic's Wimbledon win over Federer in 2002 was the last time the Swiss lost on a grasscourt.

Wisely, the tournament favourite is taking it one match at a time.

''I actually don't look that far down the draw,'' Federer added.

''Next would be the semis, and we're not there yet.'' REUTERS PM BST1617