Novak Djokovic got his Wimbledon title defence off to a strong start, while Roger Federer also eased through on the opening day.
However, there was an early shock at the Championships as sixth seed Tomas Berdych crashed out.
The defending champion traditionally opens play on Centre Court on the first Monday and Djokovic wasted little time in seeing off former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero.
A potentially tricky opener was won 6-3 6-3 6-1 with the minimum of fuss by the Serb, who got a terrific 84 per cent of his first serves in.
Ferrero actually broke serve first but the top seed hit back immediately and then served the first set out to love, ending with an ace.
An early break gave Djokovic early control of the second and after Ferrero missed break points, three of them, the Serb moved two sets to the good.
Ferrero knew he was beaten and he was in danger of being handed a love set as well when the champion moved 5-0 up in the third. That was avoided by Djokovic was soon celebrating victory.
The first two sets were exciting and close," said Djokovic, who will next face Ryan Harrison after the American beating Yen-Hsun Lu.
"I was very satisfied with my performance.''
He was given a further boost later in the day when Berdych crashed out to Ernests Gulbis.
Gulbis ending up a 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/4) winner against the 2010 runner-up.
The Latvian sent down a total of 30 aces in total and hit 62 winners in an all-action display, clinching victory in two hours and 38 minutes.
Berdych had been due to meet Djokovic in the last eight.
Meanwhile, Federer began his latest quest to match Pete Sampras' record of seven Wimbledon titles with the easiest of victories.
He barged past Spain's Albert Ramos to reach the second round with a 6-1 6-1 6-1 success and said the match had gone "perfectly".
Federer breezed through each set and from beginning to end the contest lasted just one hour and 19 minutes.
"I thought I played a great match," Federer said.
"Maybe Albert Ramos is not the most experienced grasscourt player out there, that's for sure, but I was able to take advantage of it and I played a very clean match from start to finish.
"It's always nice to save energy, if you want to look further into the draw.
"It gives you good confidence as well, being able to close out matches easy.
"I fought hard to get as many breaks as I could and try to focus on my own service game and things worked out perfectly today."
His post-match press conference ended with talk of the prospects of home favourite Andy Murray, though, with the Scot set to start his campaign on Tuesday.
Despite a tough draw, the 30-year-old has backed Murray to reach the last four and believes the tournament is set up for him to do well.
Federer said: "I think he wants to first get through the first round, like all of us.
"But absolutely. I predict him to get there. I haven't checked his draw. Home-court advantage, playing on grass, with his talent and his game, everything's right there for him."
There were no theatrics from David Nalbandian, despite his exit at the hands of Janko Tipsarevic.
Disqualified from the AEGON Championship final eight days ago for kicking an advertising hoarding against a line judge's leg, the Argentinian lost in straight sets, 6-4 7-6 (7/4) 6-2.
He groaned with frustration at a number of decisions, but kept himself away from the wrath of the officials.
Another outside chance, John Isner, also fell on his sword, going down in five sets to Alejandro Falla.
Big-serving American Isner lost 6-4 6-7 3-6 7-6 7-5 - a surprise buckle from a man who some had predicted to go deep into the draw.
"I didn't put my opponent away," Isner said. "I had my chances and I didn't do it. It's all on me. It wasn't great."
Elsewhere, Ryan Sweeting got through after Potito Starace retired hurt, while French duo Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet advanced to round two, with 13th seed Simon profiting from the retirement of his countryman Paul-Henri Mathieu when he was 6-3 5-4 ahead.
Eighteenth seed Gasquet had no trouble against Tobias Kamke, seeing off the German 6-2 6-2 6-2, while Spain's Fernando Verdasco, the 17th seed, defeated qualifier Jimmy Wang 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 7-5.
The number 24 seed Marcel Granollers suffered a five-set defeat to Viktor Troicki. The Spaniard fought back from 2-0 down to level before losing the decider 8-6.
Radek Stepanek was the beneficiary of a retirement, with Sergiy Stakhovsky pulling out when a set and a game down.
Benjamin Becker saw off James Blake in four sets, Martin Klizan beat Juan Ignacio Chela over five and Jeremy Chardy was in complete control of his match with Filippo Volandri at 6-0 6-1 1-0 when the Italian retired.
Elsewhere there were wins for Fabio Fognini, Florian Mayer, Juan Monaco, Michael Russell, while Carlos Berlocq, Jerzy Janowicz and Xavier Malisse also progressed.
Denis Istomin also got through after riding out a five-setter with Andreas Seppi, the number 23 seed.
Julien Benneteau saw off Gilles Muller, Philipp Petzschner beat Blaz Kavcic, Mikhail Youzhny got the better of Donald Young and Guillaume Rufin defeated Steve Darcis in the other games.
Nicolas Mahut and Paolo Lorenzi, tied at two sets all, will resume on Tuesday morning after the light got in their way, with the same going for Nicolas Almagro and Olivier Rochus who stood tied at 2-2 in a deciding set.
