Two-time defending champion Roger Federer and former winner Lleyton Hewitt impressively hammered out their Wimbledon credentials with comfortable opening round wins on Monday. Top-seed Federer, bidding for a third successive title at the All England Club, brushed aside France's Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 to clinch his 30th successive win on grass.
Federer, widely tipped to eventually overhaul Pete Sampras's Wimbledon record of seven titles, was in supreme form on Monday easing to victory in 1hr 49mins.
Hewitt, the third seed and 2002 champion, shrugged off a seeding controversy, and an injury-ravaged preparation, to reach the second round with a commanding 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Belgian Christophe Rochus.
Swiss superstar Federer, whose last defeat on grass came at the hands of Mario Top seed Lindsay Davenport got her 12th Wimbledon campaign off to a rapid-fire start here Monday trouncing Russia Alina Jidkova of Russia 6-0, 6-2 in a first round tie.
The American next plays compatriot Jamea Jackson for a place in the third round.
The 29-year-old Davenport shot out of the blocks and with three service breaks against a hugely overmatched opponent, she wrapped up the first set in just 19 minutes.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005

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