ANDY Murray hailed an old pal for helping clear his path towards a maiden Wimbledon title and got the assistance of a new friend to get him in shape for the SW19 third round.

The World No.2 goes way back with Sergiy Stakhovsky, the man on the other side of the net when the Scot won his US Open Junior boys' title, and watched transfixed on Wednesday as the Ukrainian abruptly ended Roger Federer's defence of the title he won against Murray 12 months previously.

He is taking nothing for granted ahead of his third-round meeting with Tommy Robredo on Centre Court around teatime today – he practised yesterday with 19-year-old British junior Kyle Edmund, who has a similar heavy right-handed forehand.

But with Federer and Rafael Nadal both on their way home, and two prospective quarter-final opponents Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marin Cilic also forced out due to injury, he is entitled to feel pretty positive about his chances of meeting world No.1 Novak Djokovic a week on Sunday in a bid to become the first British male singles winner for 77 years.

"He (Stakhovsky) has always had good talent," said the Scot. "I played him in the US Open Junior finals, but I've known him longer than that as well. He's a talented, talented player with a good game.

"That'll for sure be the biggest win of his career. Maybe he'll have some more wins like that, but it's not often you can say you beat Roger Federer at Centre Court at Wimbledon.

"Stakhovsky was playing unbelievably well, serve-volleying beautifully.

"You always expect someone like Roger to turn the match around but, when you get into tie-breaks a couple of good points, a little bit of bad luck and the match is done.

"It's obviously a surprise. Roger's been in the quarter-finals of every Slam nearly 40 times in a row or something.

"Novak (Djokovic) and I have played consistently well in the Slams the last few years, but it is the first time in a long time Rafa and Roger haven't been in the third round."

Murray said the shocks at Wimbledon this year only prove that no-one is safe. Robredo, a 29-year-old Spaniard, has won two and lost two of the two men's four previous meetings and is in excellent form.

"Steve Darcis beat Rafa, Roger has just lost to Stakhovsky, Tsonga lost to Gulbis," he said.

"So who's to say I can't lose to Robredo in the next round? These things happen all the time in sport.

"I know if I don't play well, I'll lose. That's why I'll be ready for that match and not worry about anything else.

"Mahut has obviously been playing some really good grass court tennis the last few weeks, so him losing to Robredo was a little bit of a surprise."

Federer is now 31 and far from the dominant figure seen for most of the decade. This was the first time he had failed to make the third round at any Grand Slam for 10 years, but Murray feels he will still be a threat at Flushing Meadows.

"Roger still played some top quality tennis this year, maybe not as consistent as he had been for the last 10 years, but you can't keep that up forever," said Murray.

"The levels of consistency and domination, we probably won't see that again. We'll have to wait and see how he responds but he is one of the greatest athletes ever, and he definitely will be a danger at the US Open.

"People wanted to write Rafa off after Wimbledon last year with his injury and he came back and made nine finals in a row.

"So Roger and Rafa will be back competing for Grand Slams in the future, I think.

"It was just a couple of very good performances form Darcis and Stakhovsky, with maybe Rafa and Roger not quite being at their best.

"You can lose when that happens."