Roger Federer survives first-set wobble to win opening Wimbledon match
Eight-time champion Roger Federer recovered from a first-set wobble to record his 96th win at Wimbledon and advance to the second round with victory over South African debutant Lloyd Harris.
As verbal sparring partners Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios set up the first men's blockbuster of the tournament, Swiss legend Federer started slowly as he began his bid for a record-extending 21st grand slam title, struggling to find his rhythm against an opponent who had never won a match on grass.
It was only the second time anyone had taken a set off Federer in a first-round match in his last 17 Wimbledon appearances.
But if 22-year-old Harris, ranked 86 in the world, harboured any hopes of a famous win his dreams were crushed brutally over the next three sets as the second seed won 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-2.
Roger Federer during his first round Wimbledon match. PA AAP
"I just struggled. As my legs weren't moving," admitted Federer.
"In defence you're weak. The next thing you know you're struggling."
The Swiss now plays Britain's Jay Clarke, who won his first grand slam match against American qualifier Noah Rubin 4-6 7-5 6-4 6-4.
Third-seeded Nadal, bidding to claim the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year for a third time, beat qualifier Yuichi Sugita 6-3 6-1 6-3 to seal a showdown with Kyrgios, who beat fellow Australian Jordan Thompson 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 7-6 (12-10) 0-6 6-1 and criticised the Spaniard recently in a podcast, branding him "super salty".
Also on Tuesday, fifth-seeded French Open runner-up Dominic Thiem crashed out in the first round after having to retire at the same stage last year, losing 6-7 (7-4) 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 6-0 to American Sam Querrey.
Former world No.8 Marcos Baghdatis, who is set to retire after the tournament, joined Querrey in the next round after beating Canada's Brayden Schnur 6-2 6-4 6-4.
Japan's Kei Nishikori, seeded eighth, overcame Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.
And American ninth seed John Isner, who reached the semi-finals last year, fired 29 aces and struck 56 winners en route to a 6-3 6-4 7-6 (11-9) win over Norwegian Casper Ruud.
