Champion Muguruza off to winning start

Garbine Muguruza began the defence of her Wimbledon title with a straight-sets victory over Britain's Naomi Broady.

The Spaniard was the queen of Centre Court in 2017, beating Venus Williams in the final, and she enjoyed her return there on Tuesday with a 6-2 7-5 success over the British No.4.

She made slightly hard work of it in the second set, but eventually got the job done in an hour and 30 minutes.

Two breaks of serve were enough as Muguruza barely broke sweat in the opening set, with Broady unable to match her precision.

Broady, once Britain's No.2, showed resistance in the second set as she was determined to extend her stay on the main show court.

But there was a sense of inevitability about Muguruza breaking at 6-5, and she did to love, as she booked her place in the second round.

The 24-year-old Muguruza, who also won the French Open in 2016, was happy to return to Centre Court.

"It was incredible, it is a beautiful court, I am back and it is always good, I wanted to win and enjoy it more," she said.

"I am happy with my serve and controlling the emotions, to be back in a grand slam is always emotional so I am happy the way I am playing."

Angelique Kerber also got her campaign off to the best possible start with a straights-sets win over Vera Zvonareva.

The German, a 2016 finalist and former world No.1, beat the Russian 7-5 6-3.

Kerber was a semi-finalist at Eastbourne last week and will be targeting another deep run at the All England Club.

British No.1 Johanna Konta made hard work of beating 103rd-ranked Russian Natalia Vikhlyantseva 7-5 7-6 (9-7) in her opening match.

Konta, a semi-finalist last year, lost control of a match she seemed to have in her pocket and was mightily relieved to escape Court Two with victory, having squandered five match points in the second-set tiebreak.