Isner goes Dutch after record-breaking epic

It took 11 hours and five minutes for John Isner to become the biggest story in tennis but his only reward is a good night's sleep, a take-away meal and a second-round match against Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker.

After his marathon first-round victory over Frenchman Nicolas Mahut that extended to over three days, the big-serving American has to come back on Friday and do it all again.

"I'll probably just get takeout food and get a massage and try to sleep as much as possible, because I've got to come back tomorrow and try to get it done," he said after staggering off court on Thursday.

"I'm going to do everything necessary to get myself ready for tomorrow.

"I know my opponent; he's not the freshest one either. Not nearly like me. But I definitely think I can win."

As Isner and Mahut were preparing to step on court to begin day three of their epic clash, Roger Federer was dining with Queen Elizabeth on her first return to the tournament in 33 years.

The six-times former champion returns to Centre Court on Friday, after a brief sojourn on Court One, to face Frenchman Arnaud Clement for a place in the fourth round.

Signs of frailty continue to dog the Swiss who is used to strolling through the opening rounds at the All England Club with his aura of invincibility unblemished.

But after dangling over the precipice of a first round defeat, Federer then failed to silence the doubters in a four-set victory over Serbian qualifier Ilija Bozoljac.

"I think the first two matches have been tough," he said after coming off court on Wednesday. "My opponents did play very well.

"I'm excited that I'm still in the tournament. Looking forward to my third round, regardless how I got there."

At 32, Clement, the 2001 Australian Open finalist, is past his prime but showed he is at home on the Wimbledon grass when he reached the quarter-final in 2008.

Elsewhere, former champion Lleyton Hewitt is pitched against gangly Frenchman Gael Monfils in an intriguing match-up on Centre while on Court One Venus Williams plays Alisa Kleybanova, Andy Roddick faces Philipp Kohlschreiber and Novak Djokovic takes on Albert Montanes.