Henman confident of progress

The British number two has beaten the Russian just once in their five meetings - a straight-sets victory at Queen's last year - and with Henman having recorded just two ATP Tour ranking wins in 2007, the number two seed will begin as strong favourite.

Henman said: "He is a good player, he is pushing up towards the top 20 and was in the semi-finals at Queen's last week. Whether he has beaten me before or whether I have beaten him on grass I don't think it really has a great bearing on the match."

Henman has endured a difficult year, suffering first-round exits from Queen's and the French Open in recent weeks and his ranking has slumped to its lowest for 11 years.

But the world number 78 finally found reason for cheer after recording his first victory for four months, a 6-1 7-6 (7-5) defeat of Michael Russell.

With Wimbledon less than a week away the British public will hope the victory signals the start of a more positive string of results for the 32-year-old.

Standing between him and the quarter-finals, however, is a player at the top of his game having made the semi-finals of Queen's last week and who has already beaten him at Wimbledon, Roland Garros and the Australian Open in the last two years.

And the world number 24 served further notice of his current form after sweeping aside Robert Kendrick 6-1 6-4.

But the former world number four Henman believes none of that will matter when they go on court today.

"It's about who can come out and play the best tennis and take their chances. I hope that is going to be me," he said.