<p>All was as it should be on the opening day of Wimbledon as returning British hero Andy Murray began the defence of his historic title with an accomplished first-round victory on Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Under bright skies, with the green Centre Court grass glistening and Murray resplendent in spotless white attire, the 27-year-old walked out to a standing ovation and proceeded to reward his fans by dismantling Belgium's David Goffin.<br /><br />It has not all been plain sailing for Murray since his spine-tingling defeat of Serbian Novak Djokovic last July to become the first home men's singles champion at the All England Club since Fred Perry in 1936.<br /><br />Back surgery, a split with coach Ivan Lendl and up-and-down form meant there were a few question marks over the third seed ahead of the biggest fortnight of his year, but he answered them with an emphatic 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 victory.<br /><br />Watched by his grandparents in the Royal Box and new coach Amelie Mauresmo, Murray delivered a dominant display against a lightweight opponent who played the supporting role to perfection, engaging in some thrilling baseline duels but never really threatening to rain on Murray's parade.<br /><br />Stosur ousted<br /><br />Those packed in early on the snug Court Three watched Australian 17th seed Samantha Stosur become the first big-name casualty, the former US Open champion falling to a 6-3, 6-4 defeat by Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer.<br /><br />American 18th seed Sloane Stephens, a quarterfinalist here last year, was also out before desserts were served in the hospitality areas, losing 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) against Russian Maria Kirilenko.<br /><br />There was an early scare, too, for men's sixth seed Tomas Berdych, but he rallied from a set down to beat Romania's Victor Hanescu while Latvian Ernests Gulbis, a surprise semifinalist at the French Open this month, won three tight sets against Estonia's Jurgen Zopp.<br />Results (first round, prefix denotes seedings): Men : 3-Andy Murray (UK) bt David Goffin (Bel) 6-1, 6-4, 7-5; 17-Mikhail Youzhny (Rus) bt James Ward (UK) 6-2, 6-2, 6-1; Jimmy Wang (Tai) bt Alejandro Gonzalez (Col) 6-3, 6-3, 6-2; 6-Tomas Berdych (Cze) bt Victor Hanescu (Rou) 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4, 6-3; 12-Ernests Gulbis (Lat) bt Juerge Zopp (Est) 7-6 (7-6), 7-5,7-6 (12-10); Marinko Matosevic (Aus) bt 18-Fernando Verdasco (Esp) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2; Gilles Simon (Fra) bt Konstantin Kravchuk (Rus) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5; Blaz Rola (Slo) bt Pablo Andujar (Esp) 6-3, 6-1, 6-4; Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukr) bt Carlos Berlocq (Arg) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.Women: Peng Shuai (Chn) bt Johanna Konta (UK) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; Maria Kirilenko (Rus) bt 18-Sloane Stephens (US) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6); Ana Konjuh (Cro) beat Marina Erakovic (Nzl) 6-3 4-6 6-0; Polona Hercog (Slo) bt Paula Ormaechea (Arg) 6-4, 6-4; Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (Cze) bt Alla Kudryavtseva (Rus) 6-2, 6-2; Misaki Doi (Jpn) bt Elina Svitolina (Ukr) 6-4, 6-1; Yanina Wickmayer (Bel) bt 17-Samantha Stosur (Aus) 6-3, 6-4; 32-Elena Vesnina (Rus) bt Patricia Mayr-Achleitner (Aut) 6-0, 6-4.</p>
<p>All was as it should be on the opening day of Wimbledon as returning British hero Andy Murray began the defence of his historic title with an accomplished first-round victory on Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Under bright skies, with the green Centre Court grass glistening and Murray resplendent in spotless white attire, the 27-year-old walked out to a standing ovation and proceeded to reward his fans by dismantling Belgium's David Goffin.<br /><br />It has not all been plain sailing for Murray since his spine-tingling defeat of Serbian Novak Djokovic last July to become the first home men's singles champion at the All England Club since Fred Perry in 1936.<br /><br />Back surgery, a split with coach Ivan Lendl and up-and-down form meant there were a few question marks over the third seed ahead of the biggest fortnight of his year, but he answered them with an emphatic 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 victory.<br /><br />Watched by his grandparents in the Royal Box and new coach Amelie Mauresmo, Murray delivered a dominant display against a lightweight opponent who played the supporting role to perfection, engaging in some thrilling baseline duels but never really threatening to rain on Murray's parade.<br /><br />Stosur ousted<br /><br />Those packed in early on the snug Court Three watched Australian 17th seed Samantha Stosur become the first big-name casualty, the former US Open champion falling to a 6-3, 6-4 defeat by Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer.<br /><br />American 18th seed Sloane Stephens, a quarterfinalist here last year, was also out before desserts were served in the hospitality areas, losing 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) against Russian Maria Kirilenko.<br /><br />There was an early scare, too, for men's sixth seed Tomas Berdych, but he rallied from a set down to beat Romania's Victor Hanescu while Latvian Ernests Gulbis, a surprise semifinalist at the French Open this month, won three tight sets against Estonia's Jurgen Zopp.<br />Results (first round, prefix denotes seedings): Men : 3-Andy Murray (UK) bt David Goffin (Bel) 6-1, 6-4, 7-5; 17-Mikhail Youzhny (Rus) bt James Ward (UK) 6-2, 6-2, 6-1; Jimmy Wang (Tai) bt Alejandro Gonzalez (Col) 6-3, 6-3, 6-2; 6-Tomas Berdych (Cze) bt Victor Hanescu (Rou) 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4, 6-3; 12-Ernests Gulbis (Lat) bt Juerge Zopp (Est) 7-6 (7-6), 7-5,7-6 (12-10); Marinko Matosevic (Aus) bt 18-Fernando Verdasco (Esp) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2; Gilles Simon (Fra) bt Konstantin Kravchuk (Rus) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5; Blaz Rola (Slo) bt Pablo Andujar (Esp) 6-3, 6-1, 6-4; Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukr) bt Carlos Berlocq (Arg) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.Women: Peng Shuai (Chn) bt Johanna Konta (UK) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; Maria Kirilenko (Rus) bt 18-Sloane Stephens (US) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6); Ana Konjuh (Cro) beat Marina Erakovic (Nzl) 6-3 4-6 6-0; Polona Hercog (Slo) bt Paula Ormaechea (Arg) 6-4, 6-4; Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (Cze) bt Alla Kudryavtseva (Rus) 6-2, 6-2; Misaki Doi (Jpn) bt Elina Svitolina (Ukr) 6-4, 6-1; Yanina Wickmayer (Bel) bt 17-Samantha Stosur (Aus) 6-3, 6-4; 32-Elena Vesnina (Rus) bt Patricia Mayr-Achleitner (Aut) 6-0, 6-4.</p>