World No. 1 Iga Swiatek cruised into the Wimbledon second round with a 6-1, 6-3 mauling of China’s Zhu Lin on Monday in a fine start to her quest for a first grand slam title on grass.

The 22-year-old Pole, who won the French Open title for the third time last month to make it four grand slam crowns, has yet to get past the fourth round of the London major.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic began his quest with a straight-sets victory over Argentine Pedro Cachin.

Serbian Djokovic, 36, is seeking a men’s record-extending 24th grand slam title that would draw him level with Australia’s Margaret Court and match Roger Federer’s eight Wimbledon titles.

Although Cachin claimed an early break in a competitive first set, the only time Djokovic looked inconvenienced was when complaining about the risk of slipping on a mildly damp court after a shower caused a 70-minute delay.

He ramped up the quality through the second set but Cachin showed admirable fighting quality to take the third into a tie-break on serve before Djokovic came through 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(4).

At peace

Swiatek looked good in her movement on the surface and showed no signs of any effects of the illness that had ruled her out of her Bad Homburg semi-final on Friday.

“I felt like I did a very good job,” said Swiatek. “Last year it was my second grand slam (at the French Open) and it felt overwhelming. This time I could focus on celebrating and actually at getting back to work with more peace in my head.”

American fourth seed Jessica Pegula moved into the second round with a hard-fought 6-2, 6-7(8), 6-3 win over compatriot Lauren Davis.

Belarusian former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, the 19th seed, edged past China’s Yuan Yue 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Five-time champion Venus Williams returned to Wimbledon a quarter of a century after her first win on the All England Club lawns but was unable to summon the old magic in a first-round defeat by Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina on Monday.

The 43-year-old American went down 4-6, 3-6.

Warm welcome

Andrey Rublev said he was happy to be welcomed back to Wimbledon after becoming the first returning Russian through to the second round by beating Australian Max Purcell. The 25-year-old seventh seed looked impressive on a breezy Court Three as he posted a 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 victory.

Rublev, who wrote ‘No War’ on a camera lens at a tournament shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, was given a warm welcome by the crowd.

Casper Ruud found his groove on grass after a wobble as the world No. 4 battled past French qualifier Laurent Lokoli 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the second round.

Honour for Federer

Wimbledon: Roger Federer will be feted for his record-setting career at Wimbledon. Federer, who announced his retirement last year, won eight of his 20 grand slam singles titles at the All England Club, the most ever by a man — a mark that Novak Djokovic will try to equal this year.

Martina Navratilova set the overall standard by claiming nine women’s singles titles at Wimbledon.

“Pleased to say that Roger will be with us tomorrow (Tuesday), and we will have a special celebratory moment on Centre Court before play starts, just to honour him as the man holding the most gentleman’s singles titles here at Wimbledon,” All England Club chairman Sally Bolton said on Monday.

“We’ll have a moment just to celebrate his achievements and to say thank you, I think, for us, certainly, for all the memories,” Bolton said.

She said that Serena Williams, who won seven of her 23 major singles trophies at Wimbledon, was invited too, “but ... she’s pregnant, so understandably couldn’t travel.”

AP/PTI