Federer, Ivanovic start Wimbledon bids on winning notes (Roundup)

Jun 24, 2008, 7:14 GMT

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates his victory over Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia during their first round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 23 June 2008. EPA/VASSIL DONEV

London - Roger Federer led top-five seeds Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer to swift victories on a sunny opening day at the Wimbledon Championships.

The Swiss world number-one laid down a marker for doubters who have said that his four-year reign atop tennis is waning, as he blasted former doubles partner Dominik Hrbaty 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to begin the quest for a sixth straight title at the All England Club.

Third-seeded rival Novak Djokovic, who won the Australian Open, dropped a set before eliminating German Michael Berrer 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Fifth-seeded Spanish surprise David Ferrer, a clay-courter who made the switch to grass with a Dutch title at the weekend, advanced to the second round 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, 1-3, as Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky retired.

Canadian Frank Dancevic stunned number seven David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 for the Argentine's second career loss in the first round of a major.

Federer's comprehensive victory went a long way toward dispelling the idea that the Swiss may be a spent force after a bad loss in the Roland Garros final to Rafael Nadal.

'I walked in as defending champion, opening Centre Court, trying to defend the title again,' said Federer, 39-4 at Wimbledon with his last loss on grass in 2002.

'That's all that mattered to me. I came from a good tournament in Halle - I couldn't do any better than not dropping a set, not dropping a service game. I feel like I'm right there to do the same thing again this week.'

Djokovic has announced himself as a threat for the number one ranking held by Federer since 2004.

The 21-year-old Serb made a winning point against Berrer.

'I'm pleased to get through. The first matches are tricky ones,' Djokovic said. 'I had ups and downs, but I managed to get in the control of the match towards the end. Especially in the fourth set, I was happy with my performance.'

Federer won the first 11 points of the contest against Hrbaty, ranked 272 after shoulder and elbow surgeries.

In his last gasp, Hrbaty lightened the mood as he went and sat beside Federer for an unorthodox quick chat at the changeover, after stopping the rot of five consecutive losing games, 2-5 in the third.

One game later, after one hour, 19 minutes, Federer advanced into a match with Swede Robin Soderling, who beat US player Kevin Kim 7-5, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Four other seeds got through: Marcos Baghdatis, Tomas Berdych, Stanislas Wawrinka and Fernando Gonzalez.

2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt needed more than three hours and five sets to win a marathon against Dutch youngster Robin Haase 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (1-7), 6-2.

On the women's side, French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, world number one like Federer, was untroubled by Rossana de los Rios of Paraguay, 6-1, 6-2.

Ivanovic rolled to her seventh straight victory as she opened on grass after declining any tune-up events on the new surface, after her Paris triumph of a fortnight ago.

The 20-year-old Serb reached the semi-finals in 2007 but is under pressure from chasing rivals including compatriot Jelena Jankovic and Maria Sharapova.

Ivanovic won her 11th Wimbledon match against three defeats.

Fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova mounted a comeback to overcome Mathilde Johansson of France 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 6-3.

American sixth seed Serena Williams took to the court in a trenchcoat, which she raved about after a ragged win over Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, 7-5, 6-3.

There was a win for Russian number eight Anna Chakvetadze over Canadian Stephanie Dubois 2-6, 6-1, 8-6, while Australian Casey Dellacqua upset Swiss 12th seed Patty Schnyder 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.