Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Michael Russell of the United States during their first-round clash on Centre Court at Wimbledon in London yesterday. The world No. 1 eased to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Rafael Nadal took a while to warm up but made an impressive start to his Wimbledon title defense with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win over American Michael Russell as the 125th championships began in fine weather yesterday.

The Spanish world No. 1 fell behind against the 90th-ranked 33-year-old in the first set before his forehand clicked into gear on Centre Court at the All England Club in London and he powered into the second round.

Five-time women's singles champion Venus Williams also progressed with ease as the expected rain showers stayed away and play on the outside courts began on time.

The American, just back from a five-month injury layoff, beat Uzbekistan's towering Akgul Amanmuradova 6-3, 6-1 in calm conditions on Court 18.

Wearing her latest creation, a baggy ensemble with a large upside down V slashed in the back, Williams loped smoothly around the slick grass, hammering down big serves to leave the 97th ranked Amanmuradova still looking for her first Wimbledon win after five attempts.

Williams, at 31 one of the oldest players in the women's draw, will have youth on her side in the second round when she plays Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm who beat British wildcard Katie O'Brien 6-0, 7-5.

At 40 years and eight months Date-Krumm became the second oldest player to win a singles match at Wimbledon after Martina Navratilova.

Last year's runner-up Vera Zvonareva, the highest-ranked woman on view on opening day, survived a big scare when the second-seeded Russian beat 115th-ranked American Alison Riske 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.

Defending champion Serena Williams, the seventh seed, begins her quest for a fifth singles title just a week after returning from a year out with injuries and life-threatening health problems today when top seed Caroline Wozniacki also plays her first round.

Nadal inhabits a different tennis world to the diminutive Russell who could be described as the ultimate journeyman having trudged the lower echelons of the men's tour since 1998.

Yet for six games the Houston-based hustler was the equal to a player with 10 grand slam titles who is looking to match Bjorn Borg's feat of completing the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double for a third time.

He missed a break point on Nadal's second service game but did break the Spaniard to lead 4-2 on a Centre Court which was soon full to its 15,000-capacity.

Any repeat of last year's opening-day thriller when six-time champion Roger Federer almost fell to Colombia's Alejandro Falla never looked likely, however, as Nadal began pummelling his opponent with mighty baseline forehands.

It was the perfect start for Nadal and he clearly revelled in being back on the court that witnessed his last Wimbledon defeat, back in the 2007 final against Swiss Federer.

"I've never seen a court like this, it's fantastic today," the 25-year-old said. "Today the first set was so-so but then I started to hit my forehand well."

The first seeded man to lose was No. 30 Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil, who fell 6-7 (3), 4-6, 2-6 to Rainer Schuettler of Germany. The 35-year-old Schuettler is the oldest player in the men's draw.

Tenth-seeded American Mardy Fish beat Spain's Marcel Granollers 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-4, while big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, playing his first Wimbledon, was a 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-3 winner over Marc Gicquel of France. No. 14 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland beat Potito Starace of Italy 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.