World number one tennis player Roger Federer of Switzerland has opened his campaign for a fifth straight Wimbledon crown with a straight-sets win, after the start of play at London's All-England Club was delayed more than two hours by rain.
The top-seeded Federer faced little opposition after skies cleared Monday, dominating Russia's Teimuraz Gabashvili, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. In other results, third-seeded Andy Roddick beat fellow-American Justin Gimelstob, 6-1, 7-5, 7-6, while number five Fernando Gonzalez of Chile topped Robby Ginepri of the United States, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-2.
In the women's draw, top-seeded Justine Henin of Belgium easily advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Jorgelina Cravero of Argentina. Number-seven Serena Williams of the United States topped Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain, 7-5, 6-0, while ninth-seeded Martina Hingis of Switzerland battled back after losing a first-set tiebreaker to beat British teenager Naomi Cavaday, 6-7, 7-5, 6-0.
With three weather delays on the opening day, rain could be a continuing opponent for schedulers. Wet weather is forecast for the first three days of the two-week Grand Slam tournament.
Other seeded women advancing included number 15 Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, who beat Frenchwoman Camille Pin, 6-1, 4-6, 8-6 and 16th-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel, a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand.
Twentieth-seeded Sybille Bammer of Austria dismissed Varvara Lepchenko of Uzbekistan, 6-2, 6-2, while number 25 Czech Lucie Safarova was a 7-5, 6-2 winner over countrywoman Zuzana Ondraskova.
In the men's draw, 13th seed Tommy Haas of Germany ousted American Zack Fleishman, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, and 17th-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer eliminated Sergio Roitman of Argentina, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. Frenchman Florent Serra surprised 27th-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
