Four-times defending champion and hot favourite Novak Djokovic began his record quest with a straight-sets Wimbledon victory over a willing but eventually outgunned Argentine Pedro Cachin.
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Serbian Djokovic, 36, is seeking a men's record-extending 24th grand slam title that would also draw him level with Australia's Margaret Court, to match Roger Federer's eight Wimbledons and equal Federer and Bjorn Borg's record of five successive men's singles crowns.
He took a convincing first step with a 6-3 6-3 7-6(4) victory where the only time he looked really inconvenienced was when complaining about the risk of slipping on a mildly damp court after a shower caused a 70-minute delay during which the roof was closed and reopened.
"I usually come out with rackets, not towels," he said.
Last time Djokovic lost on Centre Court was in the 2013 final against Andy Murray and remarkably that was also his last defeat on grass by any of the 128 players in this year's draw, though for several years he has avoided any of the grass court warm-up events.
"For me, the opening match is a little bit tricky, I've not played any warm-up match and grass is a little different to clay," Djokovic said. "I've managed to adapt pretty well over the years and hopefully I manage to do it again."
As a reminder of the small margins that separate the great from the merely very good, Wimbledon debutant Cachin had played only one match on grass, and lost it, but for long spells went toe to toe with the most successful player of all time and broke him for a 3-2 first-set lead on a rare Djokovic double fault.
The champion broke back immediately, however, and when he began to find his range.
Djokovic will face Jordan Thompson in the second round after the Australian beat Brandon Nakashima 2-6 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.
No. 4 seed Caspar Ruud eased past France's Laurent Lokoli, winning 6-1 5-7 6-4 6-3 to also move into the second round.
French veteran Richard Gasquet was eliminated in the first round by compatriot Corentin Moutet after losing 6-3 7-5 7-5.
Seventh seed Andrey Rublev was the first returning Russian through to the second round after beating Max Purcell 6-3 7-5 6-4 in just over an hour and a half.
American Michael Mmoh upset 11th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 7-6(4) 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 6-4 in a four-hour clash to claim a surprise win and reach the second round.
with PA
Australian Associated Press
