Americans, Andre Agassi and Jennifer Capriati, have breezed into the second round of the Wimbledon tennis championship on a sunny opening day at the All England Club.
Former champion Agassi, the third seed, was handed the honour of opening the tournament on centre court in the absence of last year’s champion Goran Ivanisevic.
Ivanisevic was represented by his father Srdjan in the Royal Box after the Croatian star was advised not to travel after recent shoulder surgery.
And 32-year-old Agassi, from Las Vegas, did himself proud by advancing to the second round 6-0, 6-4, 6-4 against Israeli outsider Harel Levy on Monday.
Agassi, bidding to become the first man to win the title ten years after last winning the Wimbledon crown, goes on to meet either Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand or Jack Brasington of the United States in the second round.
Over on Court One, Australian Open champion Capriati, the women’s third seed, dispatched Janette Husarova of Slovakia 6-1, 6-4 on Monday.
Capriati, on a quest for her fourth Grand Slam title, goes on to meet Marta Marrero in the second round after the Spaniard ousted Alina Jidkova of Russia 6-0, 7-6 (7/5).
Capriati (26) breezed past her 28-year-old opponent Husarova, who is ranked just 41 in the world and played with her leg strapped.
Husarova rallied in the second set to break serve and lead 3-1, before the American broke back to keep her dream of lifting the Wimbledon crown for the first time on track.
Meanwhile Thomas Enqvist, the 14th seed, dashed British hopes when he unceremoniously dispatched wildcard Arvind Parmar 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Former Wimbledon junior champion Enqvist is making his eighth appearance here after enjoying his best showing last year when he did not drop a set en route to the quarter-finals.
The 28-year-old Swede from Stockholm rushed to an early lead, with Parmar only getting on the scoreboard with an ace to go 5-1 in the first set.
The Briton rallied to break to 2-2 from love in the second set, but threw away a 4-3 lead and was playing catch up after that.
”It didn’t bother me being the first Brit on,” said Parmar.
”He was hitting very heavy and it was hard for me to return any balls.”
Parmar said he would now be rooting for countryman Tim Henman.
”For me I think he’ll win it. His half of the draw is good for him,” said Parmar of British number one Henman.
Meanwhile Enqvist meets Australian Mark Philippoussis who won a titantic battle with Julien Boutter of France before prevailing 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Rising American star James Blake, the 29th seed, booked his second round spot after Argentine opponent Mariano Zabaleta retired, after losing the first two sets to the American 6-2, 6-2.
Blake, making his Wimbledon debut and receiving his first Grand Slam seeding here, next meets former champion Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands.
Krajicek, the 1996 champion, came away 6-2, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) winner against Argentine Franco Squillari.
”He’s (Krajicek) dangerous,” said Blake of his opponent.
”He can scare anyone in a draw. It’s all brand new for me so I have to go out there with no pressure and learn.”
The first winner of the day was Czech Daja Bedanova, the 26th seed, who came away 6-1, 6-2 winner against Seda Noorlander of the Netherlands.
Bedanova meets Selima Sfar of Tunisia, who ousted American Kristina Brandi 6-3, 6-3.
Former Australian and French Open champion Mary Pierce of France struggled but came away 6-4, 4-6, 8-6 winner against Alicia Molik of Australia, and will meet either French eighth seed Sandrine Testud or German Anca Barna in the second round.
French Open semi-finalist Clarisa Fernandez of Argentina, who burst onto the world scene at Roland Garros earlier this month, booked her spot in the next round by easing past Slovak Ludmila Cervanova 6-3, 6-3.
Fernandez, the 30th seed, goes on to meet the winner of the tie between Belgian Els Callens and Russian Tatiana Panova, the 21st seed.
After the exit of the England football team from the World Cup, the country has now switched its attention to Henman.
Up to half a million were expected at Wimbledon over the next two weeks to watch the sport’s stars and rising performers, with attention focused on bookies’ co-favourite and British number one Henman, who plays on Tuesday. – Sapa-AFP