Wimbledon - Men's round-up: World number one Roger Federer began his quest for a record sixth consecutive Wimbledon title with a 6-3 6-2 6-2 demolition of Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty, while one of his main challengers, Serbian Novak Djokovic, was convincing in the end, beating German Michael Berrer in four sets on Centre Court.
Federer, extending his unbeaten streak on grass to 60 matches, eased into the second round with a confident performance in glorious sunshine on Centre Court.
The Swiss, with a morale-boosting tournament win on grass in Halle last week after a crushing French Open final defeat by Rafael Nadal earlier this month, was never extended by Hrbaty who battled hard but lacked the firepower to pressure the top seed.
Federer will face Swede Robin Soderling next.
"It was fun playing against him and it was the sort of match I was hoping to expect," Federer said afterwards. "He played better in the beginning than I thought he would actually. I've seen him struggling with his serve and his elbow and he's had surgery. He's not the same player and he knows that."
Federer went on to describe Soderling as "dangerous", after the Swede drew the short straw courtesy of a four-set victory over American Kevin Kim.
"He's a good player. I think grass really suits his game," said the Swiss, who has met the Swede six times and has won on each occasion.
"Against me, he's had some issues.. maybe not playing great in the most important moments," he said. "He gave up against me in Miami (in March), which surprised me... those are just signs sometimes of being a little mentally weak.
"But nevertheless, he's a guy I respect a lot. It's not a whole lot of fun playing against him in the second round of Wimbledon already. I won't underestimate him, that's for sure."
Djokovic had to work for his 7-5 first set win and was then rocked back on his heels when Berrer tooke the second 6-2. The third-seed, however, wasted not time in biting back and took the third and fourth sets 6-3 6-0 to set up a meeting with former world number one Marat Safin.
The Russian was in action against Fabio Fognini of Italy and emerged victorious in three sets on a scoreline of 6-1 6-2 7-6 (7/3).
Former finalist David Nalbandian was the biggest casualty on day one after losing to Frank Dancevic.
The Argentinian seventh seed, who lost to Lleyton Hewitt in the 2002 final, was beaten in straight sets, 6-4 6-2 6-4.
It was only Nalbandian's second first-round defeat in 27 Grand Slam appearances, while Dancevic described his win as the best of his career.
Former semi-finalist Marcos Baghdatis was delighted to get back on the grass as he booked his place in the second round with victory over Belgium's Steve Darcis.
Baghdatis, who reached the quarter-finals last year and the last four in 2006, won 6-3 6-2 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 on court two and will face former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson in the last 64.
"I'm pretty happy with the way I was playing on the baseline and returning, but not so happy with the way I served," said the popular 23-year-old from Cyprus, the 10th seed. "But I'm pretty happy to win and be in the second round, that's for sure. It feels good to be playing back here. To be playing on grass it feels very good, for sure. It's one of my favourite surfaces, if not my favourite one."
Johansson enjoyed an epic win over American Vince Spadea, coming back from two sets down to win 6-7 (8/10) 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 6-4 6-3.
Chile's Fernando Gonzalez had a much easier time against another American, Robby Ginepri, the 15th seed winning in straight sets, while number 21 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero recovered from the loss of the opening set to beat Sam Querrey 2-6 6-4 6-4 6-4.
Former champion Lleyton Hewitt drew on his vast experience to tame Dutchman Robin Haase on his Wimbledon debut, the Australian prevailing 6-7 6-3 6-3 6-7 6-2.
Men's singles results - Day One
Victor Hanescu (Romania) beat Alejandro Falla (Colombia) 6-3 6-7(2) 6-2 6-4
20-Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) beat Robin Haase (Netherlands) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3 6-7(1) 6-2
Marat Safin (Russia) beat Fabio Fognini (Italy) 6-1 6-2 7-6 (7/3)
Florent Serra (France) beat Lu Yen-husn (Tawain) 6-4 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3
Ilia Bozoljac (Serbia) beat Chris Guccione (Australia) 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3
Olivier Rochus (Belgium) beat Dudi Sela (Israel) 6-4 7-5 6-4
3-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Michael Berrer (Germany) 7-5 2-6 6-3 6-0
11-Tomas Berdych beat Evgeny Korolev (Russia) 4-6 6-1 6-4 3-6 7-5
Simon Stadler (Germany) beat 18-Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) 4-6 7-6(4) 6-3 7-5
Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) beat Igor Kunitsyn (Russia) 7-6(5) 7-6(5) 3-6 6-2
Simone Bolelli (Italy) beat Alex Bogdanovic (Britain) 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 7-6(4)
15-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) beat Robby Ginepri (United States) 7-6(3) 7-5 7-5
Thomas Johansson (Sweden) beat Vince Spadea (United States) 6-7(8) 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 6-3
Albert Montanes (Spain) beat Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) 6-3 7-6(2) 6-4
31-Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat Brian Dabul (Argentina) 7-6(1) 3-6 6-3 6-4
29-Andreas Seppi (Italy) beat Tobias Kamke (Germany) 5-7 6-3 6-2 6-4
10-Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) beat Steve Darcis (Belgium) 6-3 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3
Mischa Zverev (Germany) beat Alexander Peya (Austria) 6-3 6-4 6-4
21-Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) beat Sam Querrey (United States) 2-6 6-4 6-4 6-4
1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat Dominik Hrbaty (Slovakia) 6-3 6-2 6-2
Robin Soderling (Sweden) beat Kevin Kim (United States) 7-5 0-6 6-3 6-4
Roko Karanusic (Croatia) beat Luis Horna (Peru) 7-6(4) 6-3 6-1