JOIN USDjokovic off to rollicking start; Ivanovic crashes out
World number one Novak Djokovic got his campaign for a third successive Wimbledon title off to a winning start with a 6-0, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 victory over Britain's James Ward on Monday.
The 29-year-old Serb, the holder of 12 Grand Slams after clinching a first French Open earlier this month, is on target for the record books.
A fourth Wimbledon title would make him just the second man since Don Budge in 1938 to win five straight majors.
It would also put him three-quarters of the way to becoming the first since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar Grand Slam.
Top seed Djokovic goes on to face France's Adrian Mannarino for a place in the last 32.
"The first nine games were flawless," said Djokovic, who raced out into a 6-0, 3-0 lead before Ward, ranked at 177, steadied the ship.
In early action Monday, five-time champion Venus Williams battled past Croatian teenager Donna Vekic 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.
Williams, 36, is the oldest woman in the main draw of this year's tournament and first won Wimbledon in 2000 when Vekic was just four.
The world number eight, playing in a record-equalling 71st Grand Slam, will play Greek qualifier Maria Sakkari for a place in the third round.
Former world number one Ana Ivanovic was knocked out, losing 6-2, 7-5 to Russian qualifier, Ekaterina Alexandrova, the world 223.
Ivanovic, the 2008 Roland Garros champion and a semifinalist at the All England Club in 2007, suffered just her second opening round loss at Wimbledon in 12 visits.
Croatian ninth seed and former US Open winner Marin Cilic saw off Brian Baker of the United States 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 and Spanish 13th seed David Ferrer was a 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 winner over Israel's Dudi Sela.
Milos Raonic eased into the second round with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-4 victory over Pablo Carreno Busta in front of new coach and All England Club legend John McEnroe.
Kei Nishikori started his bid to finally make a strong run at Wimbledon with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 first round victory over Australia's Sam Groth on Monday.
French Open champion Garbine Muguruza reached the second round with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win over Italy's Camila Giorgi.
The second seeded Spaniard, who was runner-up to Serena Williams in 2015, goes on to face Slovakian qualifier Jana Cepelová for a place in the last 32.
Britain's Marcus Willis, ranked at 706 and who had made just $65 on tour this year, reached the second round where he could face Roger Federer in a pulsating rags-to-riches saga.
The 25-year-old tennis coach defeated Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania, ranked 652 places above him, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.
The beefy left-hander had been on the verge of quitting the sport in February to take up a coaching job in the United States. But then he met dentist Jenny Bate, who became his girlfriend, and she persuaded him to have one more shot.
And the gamble has paid off in spectacular style.