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.

Hingis struggles
Former champion Martina Hingis had a scare against British wildcard Naomi Cavaday, saving two match points before winning 6-7, 7-5, 6-0 in the first round.
The 18-year-old Cavaday, ranked 221 places below Hingis, settled more quickly in the cold, drizzly conditions, breaking the Swiss in her first two service games for a 3-0 lead when play finally started two hours and 45 minutes late due to rain.
The left-handed Briton eased through the first set tiebreak 7-1.
But once Hingis had saved two match points on her serve in the second set, the 1997 winner did not look like becoming the latest big name to fall on court two, known as 'the graveyard of the champions'.
Hingis, the ninth seed, whizzed through the third set as Cavaday ran out of confidence and steam.

Roddick through
Meanwhile, third seed Andy Roddick started his campaign with a comfortable 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 first-round victory over fellow American Justin Gimelstob.
 Roddick, runner-up at the grasscourt grand slam in 2004 and 2005, broke his opponent twice in the first set to speed to a 5-0 lead before Gimelstob pulled a game back on his own serve. Roddick then served for the set, capturing it with an ace.
Gimelstob displayed some energetic acrobatics to make the rest of the match more of a contest. In the second set it was only in the 11th game that Roddick was able to break his opponent, who was helped along by a couple of lucky netcords.
Games went with serve in the third set until the tiebreak which Roddick, a former U.S. Open champion, sealed 7-3.

Results (first round, prefix denotes seeding):
Men:
5-Fernando Gonzalez (Chi) bt Robby Ginepri (US) 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-2; 3-Andy Roddick (US) bt Justin Gimelstob (US) 6-1, 7-5, 7-6(3); 13-Tommy Haas (Ger) bt Zack Fleishman (US) 6-3, 6-4, 6-2; 1-Roger Federer (Sue) bt Teimuraz Gabashvili (Rus) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4; Alejandro Falla (Col) bt Sam Querrey (US) 7-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Women:
9-Martina Hingis (Sui) bt Naomi Cavaday (Bri) 6-7(1), 7-5, 6-0; Aiko Nakamura (Jap) bt Martina Sucha (Slo) 7-5, 6-2; 16-Shahar Peer (Isr) bt Tamarine Tanasugarn (Tha) 7-5, 6-2; Laura Granville (US) bt Aleksandra Wozniak (Can) 7-6, 6-3; 25-Lucie Safarova (Cze) bt Zuzana Ondraskova (Cze) 7-5, 6-2; Roberta Vinci (Ita) bt Ashley Harkleroad (US) 6-2, 6-1; Kaia Kanepi (Est) bt Tatjana Malek (Ger) 6-1, 6-4.