THEY both started out playing swingball with their brother in the back garden.

But this afternoon Kevin Anderson and Andy Murray will be slugging it out for real on the most famous lawn in tennis.

These shared beginnings serve as an interesting footnote as the 6ft 8in No.20 seed from Johannesburg and the reigning men's singles champion go head-to-head on Centre Court in the Wimbledon fourth round.

While Andy and Jamie used to play the game under the watchful eye of mum Judy, Anderson and his younger brother Gregory were doing likewise on the other side of the world.

"My dad taught me and my brother and before we ever stepped onto a tennis court we played hours and hours of swingball," said Anderson.

"At that age getting that hand-eye co-ordination is important. It's funny we have that in common."

If mum Judy was the tennis driving force behind the Scot's development, in Anderson's case the mentor is his dad Michael, a retired engineer. So focused was he on helping his sons have a career in tennis that he made them practise on Christmas Day, while the teenage Anderson could even have followed in his father's footsteps to become a middle distance runner. He knows he will have to go the distance against the Scot.

"I pride myself that I started so young," Anderson said. "My dad instilled a very hard work ethic in my brother and myself. And I think that has been one of my biggest attributes in being successful as a tennis pro.

"My dad was a good runner and he tried to impart on us how important it is to be fit. When you are out there playing three and five sets you need to feel you can last. That's the biggest battle, especially when you are playing the tough guys."

Anderson, who resides in Florida, is a practice partner of Murray's, and is also on good terms with his fitness coach Jez Green and former coach Ivan Lendl.

The affable big 28-year-old from Johannesburg was delighted when the Scot won this title last year, but he is prepared to make himself the villain of the piece to bring about his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final.

"I was happy to see him win it," said Anderson, who has played Murray twice, winning one and losing one. "I really enjoy watching Novak Djokovic playing. But you couldn't help but hope for Andy last year.

"At this tournament given the history I think he had a lot of support - even from a lot of the other tennis players. But he has won it now - so I guess there's no need for him to go on and win two in a row!

"It's the fourth round, we're into the second week of the tournament, and it's up against the defending champion, from Great Britain! It will be great to take it all in. But it will also be important to focus on what I need to do to win the match."

Murray, meanwhile, does not expect a rejigged men's schedule to boost his Wimbledon title defence.

The likes of Stan Wawrinka could face five matches in seven days to reach his first Wimbledon final after heavy rain saw some matches shifted back a day while Murray has had no hold-ups.

Asked if he could stand to benefit from the shifts, the Dunblane ace: "Not really. I've played many Grand Slams and sometimes the schedule works in your favour and sometimes it doesn't.

"At least they'll have had a two-day break so they'll be completely fresh when they start. It's just bad luck. It happens sometimes.

"I've had situations where the schedule hasn't worked out. You just get on with it."