Roger Federer was up and running in his quest for a fifth consecutive Wimbledon singles title after a smooth 6-3 6-2 6-4 victory over Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili on Monday.
The Swiss world number one lit up a gloomy day on a Centre Court shorn of its roof, first by walking out wearing an immaculate blazer and white trousers, then with the dazzling strokeplay that has made him a Wimbledon great.
Drizzle had delayed the start of the match for a little under two hours and there was light rain in the air for much of a largely one-sided contest against a player making his debut at the All England Club.
Anxious to get the job done before the lurking grey clouds moved in, the 25-year-old Federer offered his 86th-ranked opponent just one break point chance in a masterly display. Federer, who can match Swede Bjorn Borg's five successive titles this year, took a few games to find his range on an unfamiliar looking and chilly Centre Court.
Open to the elements because of the redevelopment that will provide a sliding roof for 2009, a gusting wind and damp turf initially produced a few ragged forehands from the Swiss. However, he broke to love to lead 4-2 and from then on Gabashvili became nothing more than a willing practice partner as Federer unleashed a selection of his grasscourt armoury.
Every now and again Gabashvili, who has won just one Tour match on grass, flashed down a winner but Federer was unruffled, accelerating through the second set with a couple of breaks. One more break at the start of the third set was sufficient for Federer to clinch a place in the second round.
WIMBLEDON MEN'S SINGLES RESULTS WIMBLEDON MEN'S SINGLES FIRST ROUND RESULTS ON MONDAY (PREFIX NUMBER DENOTES SEEDING, * NEW RESULT):
-- 5-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) beat Robby Ginepri (US) 3-6 7-6(4) 6-2 6-2
-- 3-Andy Roddick (US) beat Justin Gimelstob (US) 6-1 7-5 7-6(3)
-- 13-Tommy Haas (Germany) beat Zack Fleishman (US) 6-3 6-4 6-2
1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat Teimuraz Gabashvili (Russia) 6-3 6-2 6-4
Alejandro Falla (Colombia) beat Sam Querrey (US) 7-6 6-1 6-4
WIMBLEDON WOMEN'S SINGLES RESULTS:
-- Wimbledon results on Monday (prefix number denotes seeding, * new result)
-- 20-Sybille Bammer (Austria) beat Varvara Lepchenko (Uzbekistan) 6-2 6-2
9-Martina Hingis (Switzerland) beat Naomi Cavaday (Britain) 6-7(1) 7-5 6-0
Aiko Nakamura (Japan) beat Martina Sucha (Slovakia) 7-5 6-2
16-Shahar Peer (Israel) beat Tamarine Tanasugarn (Thailand) 7-5 6-2
Laura Granville (US) beat Aleksandra Wozniak (Canada) 7-6(4) 6-3
25-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) beat Zuzana Ondraskova (Czech Republic) 7-5 6-2
Roberta Vinci (Italy) beat Ashley Harkleroad (US) 6-2 6-1
Kaia Kanepi (Estonia) beat Tatjana Malek (Germany) 6-1 6-4.
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