Andy Murray rolled back the years as he produced an impressive performance – and some trademark drama – in his first Wimbledon win since 2017.
The two-time champion limped out of a quarter-final against Sam Querrey four years ago with a hip injury, which required two operations and a metal plate inserting into the joint.
He missed the 2018 and 2019 tournaments, though played in the doubles in the latter, and his career has never recovered, with several injuries stunting his comeback.
But he reminded everyone why he won in 2013 and 2016 with a 6-4 6-3 5-7 6-3 win over Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Murray is the king of late night Centre Court finishes and this was another one as he squandered the chance to win in straight sets by capitulating at 5-0 up in the third, before eventually getting the job done in four.
French Open finalists Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas experienced contrasting fortunes in their opening-day matches.
The pair were playing their first match since Djokovic came from two sets down to win in Paris 15 days ago and the Serbian overcame a tricky start to make it through to the second round.
The defending champion opened play on Centre Court against British debutant Jack Draper and was stunned to drop the opening set.
However, he quickly recovered to win 4-6 6-1 6-1 6-2 and said: "I thought he was playing well. He was fighting. Obviously for him, a unique occasion playing for the first time on Wimbledon Centre Court. He has done well.
"But anyway, (it) was a very good performance. I'm pleased with the second, third and fourth sets, the way I played from the back of the court. I started returning better, as well, midway (through the) second set."
Tsitsipas, however, crashed out with a straight-sets defeat to world number 57 Frances Tiafoe.
The American was far too good in a 6-4 6-3 6-4 win, with Tsitsipas saying afterwards he was not fully motivated.
The biggest win of his career 🙌 Frances Tiafoe notches a stunning victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/4t5k6M0Hri — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 28, 2021
He said: "There have been times that I was much more motivated than this. But that's no reason for me not to play well.
"The conditions are the same for each single player. The bubble makes it really tiring week by week.
"It's certainly very difficult when you know mentally you're going to go from one bubble, being in that bubble two-and-a-half weeks, maybe even more than that, like close to a month, to be honest.
"Just like two weeks later you still have to undergo the same procedure and the same thing again.
"It's just not easy. It's a challenge on its own already. But I don't want to put emphasis to that too much. We had a match today, (I) had my opportunities.
"My opponent played much better, significantly better, than me. There wasn't the drive that I was hoping for. There wasn't that same fighting spirit that I usually put out on the court."
Fifth seed Andrey Rublev equalled his best run at SW19 with a four-set victory over Federico Delbonis.
The Russian lost the first set but came back to win 4-6 6-4 6-1 6-2 and make it through to the second round.
Kevin Anderson has tumbled down the rankings since making it to the 2018 final but Wimbledon always brings the best out of him and he got off to a winning start against Chilean Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera.
He also went a set down but recovered to progress with a 6-7 (4) 6-4 6-4 7-6 (4) victory.
Roberta Bautista Agut beat Australian John Millman 6-3 3-6 6-3 7-6 (4), but rising star and 19th seed Jannick Sinner went out, losing 5-7 6-3 7-5 6-3 to Marton Fucsovics.
