Roger Federer began his 63rd consecutive grand slam tournament with a majestic 6-1 6-3 6-3 first-round win over little-known Bosnian Damir Dzumhur at Wimbledon.
Roger Federer Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Swiss second seed's pursuit of a record eighth title at the All England Club could not have started more convincingly as he broke the Wimbledon debutant five times to draw rapturous applause from the Federer faithfuls who had flocked to see their hero on Centre Court.
The 33-year-old started off with an unreturnable serve, threw in some crowd-pleasing volleys before finishing off Dzumhur with a love service game to chalk up his 74th victory at the citadel of grasscourt tennis.
The world number two will next face big-serving American Sam Querrey.
2008 and 2010 winner Rafael Nadal, the 10th seed, also won in straight sets over the Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci, and the Spaniard faces Germany's Dustin Brown in round two.
Temperatures for day three are expected to reach a Wimbledon high of about 35 degrees.
Third seed Andy Murray of Great Britain beat Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakstan in straight sets.
There was a major upset in the women's singles draw with Romanian third seed Simona Halep guilty of 34 unforced errors as she crashed out in three sets to Slovakia's Jana Cepelova, the world number 106.
The result completed a miserable month for Halep who was knocked out in the second round of the French Open.
Eugeinie Bouchard into Wimbledon final. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Eugenie Bouchard's fall from grace continued with a first-round defeat by China's world number 117 Duan Yingying as her hopes of repeating last year's run to the final evaporated.
The Canadian 12th seed, crushed by Petra Kvitova in last year's showpiece, was beaten 7-6(3) 6-4 on Court Three and her ranking will now slide considerably.
Since reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January she has suffered eight first-round defeats.
Defending champion Petra Kvitova routed Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens 6-1, 6-love in 35 minutes.
