Martin Lee is confident of beating seven-times champion Pete Sampras on Centre Court when Wimbledon starts today.

The British No.3, from East Preston, could not have been handed a tougher exam than that posed by a man he calls the greatest grasscourt player in the history of the game.

But Lee's rise into the world's top 100 has instilled him with a new-found confidence which he firmly believes can translate into one of the biggest shocks the All England Club has ever seen.

Lee said: "I have been watching a lot of videos of how Pete plays but I think it is more the way I play which will be the factor.

"It has always been a dream of mine to play Pete at Wimbledon and it will be a great honour to play him on the Centre Court this year.

"Pete has earned his reputation as the best grasscourt player ever and this place is almost his home. But it is my home town too and I am ready."

Sampras pulled out of an exhibition match on Saturday with a rib injury but is expected to be fit to play at the All England Club. He asked for his match with Lee to be delayed by a day to give him more time to recover, but his request was turned down.

Lee experienced the Centre Court atmosphere last year when he was beaten by Tim Henman in an all-British match which he accepts came a little too soon for him.

He took great heart out of his colleague Barry Cowan's heroic five-set attempt to beat Sampras last year. The American was later dethroned by emerging Swiss star Roger Federer.

Lee added: "I think if I played Pete two years ago everyone would have said I had no chance.

"But I have a different feeling this year about this match than I had when I played Henman last time. The experience I got against Tim will stand me in good stead.

"I have reached the top hundred in the world but I know I can still do better. It's been a long road to where I am now but I'm getting the rewards - and this match is a great chance to show Britain that our tennis isn't just all about Tim and Greg."