WIMBLEDON, England: Returning to his favorite stage and resuming his dominant ways on grass, Roger Federer started his bid for a sixth straight Wimbledon title yesterday by sweeping Dominik Hrbaty in straight sets on a sunbathed Center Court.
In keeping with tradition, Federer had the honor of opening play on the main stadium court as defending champion at the 122nd Wimbledon championships. He seemed right at home as he beat Hrbaty 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 for his 60th straight grass-court win and 35th consecutive victory at the All England Club.
“I played well. It was a good match against a good friend of mine,” Federer said. “I was consistent all the way throughout. I didn’t have to face a break point. It’s good, but never easy to open Center Court, but it’s a real honor.”
A few minutes before Federer closed out his match, two-time women’s champion Serena Williams completed a harder-than-expected 7-5, 6-3 win on Court 1 over Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.
Following Federer on Center Court was top-seeded woman Ana Ivanovic, who beat Rossana de Los Rios of Paraguay 6-1, 6-2 in less than an hour in her first match since winning the French Open and taking over the No. 1 ranking. The Serbian player never faced a break point and ripped 13 baseline winners.
“Coming as the top seed, lots of people just expect you to win,” Ivanovic said. “You have to work hard, especially on grass. Everything is happening so fast.”
Among the men, No. 3-ranked Novak Djokovic — the Australian Open champion who could face Federer in the semifinals — overcame a poor second set on Center Court and beat Michael Berrer 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0. Djokovic dropped the last five games of the second set against the German left-hander, but won the next three games while dropping only one point and cruised the rest of the way.
Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 winner and only champion in the men’s draw other than Federer, labored for 3 1/2 hours to subdue Robin Haase in five sets, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-2. The 20th-seeded Australian, who has been slowed by a chronic hip injury, never lost serve and celebrated a key break in the fifth with a trademark flurry of uppercuts fist pumps.
Federer, who loves the traditions of the game, walked onto Center Court at 1 p.m. in retro fashion — donning a herringbone-pattern, four-button cardigan with gold trim and a stylized F on a badge on his left chest. The insignia on the buttons represent his five Wimbledon titles.
Federer had worn classic white blazers at the last two Wimbledons.
“I thought two jackets was enough,” he said.
Federer will next face big-serving Swede Robin Soderling, who beat Kevin Kim of the United States 7-5, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4.
In other men’s matches, 10th seeded Marcos Baghdatis — a semifinalist in 2006 and quarterfinalist last year — moved into the second round by beating Steve Darcis of Belgium, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3.
Also advancing among the women was No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova, who overcame Mathilde Johansson of France 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3. Five lower seeded women went out, including No. 12 Patty Schnyder. The Swiss player, who reached the fourth round last year, lost to Australia’s Casey Dellacqua 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. Williams, whose Wimbledon wins in 2002 and ‘03 are among her eight major titles, struggled in the first set. She fended off five break points against the French Open quarterfinalist. The turning point came at 5-5 when Kanepi had a break point for 6-5. Williams attacked and put away a forehand volley smash, letting out a shout and pumping her fist. She held serve and Kanepi double faulted on set point in the next game. Williams was in command throughout the second set.
