Roger Federer has started his campaign to equal Pete Sampras' record of seven Wimbledon titles with a comfortable first round win, beating the world number 61 Mikhail Kukushkin from Kazakhstan 7-6 6-4 6-2 in blustery conditions.
Federer said the first match at Wimbledon is never easy and he paid a tribute to the quality of his opponent's game.
Novak Djokovic, playing his first match since the French open, dropped only six games in his opening match against the Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.
The upset of the day belonged to the youngest player in the men's draw, Australia's Bernard Tomic.
The 18 year old qualifier outclassed the former world number three Nikolay Davydenko from Russia in straight sets.
The defending women's champion Serena Williams, broke down in tears after battling her way to a three sets win in her opening match against Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai, relieved to have celebrated her comeback from injury and illness with a victory.
Denmark's world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki raced into the second round, taking only 59 minutes to dispatch Spain's Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-2 6-1.
Serbia's former world number one Jelena Jankovic, the 15th seed, crashed out in three sets to the Spanish left-hander Maria Jose Martinez 5-7 6-4 6-3.
