World number one Carlos Alcaraz laid down a serious Wimbledon marker with a three-set defeat of Jeremy Chardy in the first round.
The 20-year-old Spaniard is seen as the most realistic challenger to Novak Djokovic's bid for an eighth title this fortnight.
He proved his blossoming grasscourt credentials by winning at Queen’s last weekend, and then produced an impressive all-round display, dismantling Chardy for two sets before digging in to take the third for a 6-0 6-2 7-5 win under the roof on Court One.
Chardy had announced he would retire after the Championships, with the London-based Frenchman calling time on his career 18 years after winning the Wimbledon boys’ title.
The 36-year-old, who reached a career high of 25 in the world, had said beforehand the match would "be a great end, no matter what".
He may have revised that opinion after a first set which lasted just 22 minutes and in which he could not buy a first serve, throwing in seven double faults to hand Alcaraz a bagel for lunch.
The match began at just after 1pm, but it was nearly 1.45pm by the time Chardy finally got a game on the board.
Alcaraz had only ever played six matches on grass before Queen’s. But, all venomous serves, thunderous forehands, sliced backhands and the occasional beautifully disguised drop shot, he now looks at home on the surface.
Chardy was two sets behind after less than an hour, yet, out of the blue and willed on by a crowd wanting to see at least something of a contest, he converted a break point at the fourth attempt to lead 4-2 in the third.
It was a fleeting show of defiance, however, with Alcaraz breaking straight back and going on to complete the victory in an hour and 53 minutes.
Sometimes all you can do is applaud... 👏@carlosalcaraz could do no wrong in his first round match 🔥#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/tAJEfLAU1j
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2023
"I think I played really well at the beginning of the match but in the third set he showed his level," said Alcaraz.
"I like to play rallies and battles, let’s say, and I’m really happy to have played at a great level and get through this first round.
"Without the roof and sun it’s better for me and everyone, but I have to be really focused. The sound of the ball with the roof is beautiful."
British number one Cameron Norrie got his campaign up and running with a 6-3 4-6 6-1 6-4 victory over tricky Czech youngster Tomas Machac under the roof on Court One.
Machac, ranked 108 in the world, was making his Wimbledon debut and playing the first Tour level match on grass of his career.
But nevertheless the 22-year-old was a dangerous first-round opponent, and one who took Novak Djokovic to a deciding set tie-break earlier this year.
There was no drama for Norrie in the opening set, though, as he secured a break for 3-2 and another to wrap it up.
The 12th seed is still sporting the tape on his knee that he wore throughout Queen’s, but whatever the issue is it was not bothering him unduly.
However, things unravelled in the second with Norrie twice pointing an accusatory finger at the grass after misreading the bounce of the ball and dumping forehands into the net before Machac levelled the match.
But Norrie got back on track in the third, securing a double break to take the set in just 24 minutes.
He retrieved an early break in the fourth with a forehand which left a flagging Machac in a heap on the baseline.
Further break points went back and forth but it was Norrie who made one stick to complete an encouraging victory in two hours and 32 minutes.
Andy Murray put on a Centre Court show for old foe Roger Federer.
The two-time champion took apart countryman Ryan Peniston with a 6-3 6-0 6-1 victory under the roof to ease into the second round for the 15th consecutive time.
Federer, whose career had been celebrated with a short video prior to the start of play, sat in the front row of the Royal Box in time for the first shot of the all-British clash.
It is 11 years since a tearful Murray was beaten by the great Swiss in his first Wimbledon final, and he believes that his days of challenging for the title here are not over.
He missed the French Open to focus on his grasscourt preparations, winning back-to-back Challenger Tour titles in Surbiton and Nottingham.
Murray improved greatly as the match progressed and cut out the unforced errors – 15 of his total of 24 came in the opening set.
By the time Peniston won another game after the first set, he had lost nine in a row and was 2-0 down in the third set.
Much more difficult tests will await but the crispness with which Murray struck the ball off the ground certainly appears to bode well.
An epic 31-shot rally! 🚨@Andy_Murray and @RyanHPen thrilled the Centre Court crowd with this one! #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/twdrv3Nua2
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2023
Dan Evans suffered more Wimbledon disappointment after he exited the tournament in the first round for the second year in a row.
World number 30 Evans had started his match with Quentin Halys on Monday and quickly found himself two sets down, but had to wait to try and mount a comeback that never materialised, with the
Rain from lunchtime onwards on day two forced a further delay before his tie was eventually moved to Centre Court and despite winning the third set, Evans exited 6-2 6-3 6-7 (5) 6-4.
While play was possible on the two show courts, only an hour's action took place on the outside courts due to persistent rain.
Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas will resume a set down against former world number three Dominic Thiem.
