Top seed Carlos Alcaraz lived up to his billing with a dazzling display to end the singles career of Jeremy Chardy 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 on No.1 Court.
The world No.1 is becoming the 'must-have' ticket for any sporting bucket list. Alcaraz is enjoying himself too.
"It's really beautiful to play here. I have really great memories from last year playing on these courts, at this tournament," said Alcaraz, who went out in the last 16 at The Championships 2022.
"I'm really happy to have a lot of people supporting me, not only in Spain, but around the world. I'm a really lucky guy, to live this kind of experience, to experience this kind of love in every country where I go."
On this evidence, we're lucky to have 'Charly' at The Championships too.
The Spaniard, champion at Queen's Club in the lead up to Wimbledon, showed all the components of his world-conquering game.
There were perpetual "ooooh"s and "aaaaah"s from the crowd, Alcaraz living up to his human highlight reel reputation.
Hotshot One: Backpeddling beyond the baseline, the 20-year-old clipped a trademark drop shot.
Hotshot Two: On the opening point of the second set, Alcaraz lasered a backhand pass with just an instinctive flick of the wrist.
Hotshot Three: A slicing and dicing rally from corner-to-corner was emphatically halted by a booming inside-in Alcaraz forehand.
Wimbledon is a special location for Chardy. The former world No.25 felt it was a fitting finale to his impressive career, having won the Boys' singles title in 2005 and he's also since relocated to England with his family.
The 36-year-old received vibrant support when Chardy took his first game of the match after 35 minutes.
The Frenchman missed 2022 due to knee surgery and has only a handful of matches to his name this campaign. Nevertheless, the current world No.542 has reached the fourth round or better at all four Grand Slams.
That takes some doing, but Alcaraz made a consistent player look ordinary, rushing Chardy in every rally.
At 3-2 up in the third set, Chardy pinged a forehand on to the right tramline and a bruising Alcaraz-style inside-out forehand winner chalked up a rare break.
The world No.1 was forced to elevate his game and the US Open champion did so in some style.
A flicked forehand squash shot set the tone. Alcaraz scampered for a backhand pass on the run, which was applauded by Chardy.
There was time for the 20-year-old to pivot on the baseline, twisting left to right to connect with a ferocious forehand. All three shots were world No.1-worthy and took the sting out of a Chardy comeback.
"I think I started really well, obviously. But in the third set he found his level, I was in trouble," mused Alcaraz.
"I like playing these rallies, these battles. I'm really happy we both played a great level in the third set, it was really close. I had to be really focused.
"I'm really, really happy to get through this round."
Alcaraz will take on a Frenchman again in the second round, with Alexandre Muller or Arthur Rinderknech flying the tricolore.
Back in the locker room, the Spaniard realised a certain eight-time Wimbledon champion was in town.
"After the match I was with the phone checking everything I have, all the stories, all the posts. I saw that Roger Federer was here. I was a little bit jealous," joked Alcaraz.
"Honestly, I want Roger Federer to watch one of my matches obviously. I wish to talk a little bit with him. For me would be amazing. I hope to see him around more than once."
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See the projected Path to the Final of every player in the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ singles draws with IBM Likely to Play
View how favourable or difficult a player's draw is, with IBM AI Draw Analysis
