Djokovic starts Wimbledon title defence with a win

The defending champion traditionally opens play on Centre Court on the first Monday and Djokovic wasted little time in seeing off former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero.

A potentially tricky opener was won 6-3 6-3 6-1 with the minimum of fuss by the Serb, who got a terrific 84 per cent of his first serves in.

He will next face Ryan Harrison or Yen-Hsun Lu.

Former semi-finalist Richard Gasquet also won, thrashing Tobias Kamke 6-2 6-2 6-2.

Fernando Verdasco (17) was another straight-sets seeded winner, seeing off Jimmy Wang.