Novak Djokovic was arguably given the hardest draw possible for a number one seed at this year's Wimbledon Championships.
The Serb was drawn against Germany's Florian Mayer, who is ranked 34 in the world and just outside the places for a seed himself.
Despite this, Djokovic was able to progress to round two and you can read how it all unfolded on Centre Court in our minute-by-minute updates below.
Afternoon folks. Second up on Centre today is the world number one - Novak Djokovic. He follows the women's best player, Serena Williams, who has just seen off Mandy Minella 6-1 6-3 in under an hour.
It's fair to say that Djokovic is in the easier half of the draw but he certainly hasn't got an easy start against Mayer, who has reached the quarter-finals twice here at Wimbledon, including last year where he lost to Djokovic in straight sets.
The warm-ups are done and we're just about ready to go on a sunny Centre Court.
It's Djokovic to serve and he moves 30-0 ahead with a scintillating backhand down-the-line. Impressive early on from the Serb.
A love hold to start for the number one seed as Mayer nets on the second-serve return.
Brilliant opening point on Mayer's serve as both men display exceptional length before the German finds the corner and blasts away the smash from Djokovic's looped return.
Despite the encouraging start, Djokovic has taken control of this game and already has two break points.
The first is saved as the Serb is forced to come into the net off a short Mayer ball and the German passes his opponent crosscourt.
BREAK! Djokovic plonks a forehand right onto the baseline under a bit of pressure and Mayer can only net.
This has been some start from Djokovic. He moves three ahead with some more brutish hitting from the baseline. Don't expect this to be a 6-0 6-0 6-0 as Mayer is no mug.
Shot of the match from Djokovic. At 30-0 up Mayer plays what looks to be a perfect drop shot but there's Djokovic charging to the net and then performing one of his trademark slides before dinking it over the net at an incredible angle.
Mayer's on the board as he holds to 30. Can the German now challenge Djokovic's serve and get back into this first set?
Djokovic regains his three-game advantage with a comfortable hold. Elsewhere, Juan Martin del Potro has moved two sets ahead on Albert Ramos on No. 1 Court, while Tommy Haas is also two up against Dimitry Tursunov on No. 2.
Mayer moves 40-15 ahead thanks to a successful challenge on his first serve. The ball did look out but HawkEye tells us that it caught the tiniest part of the line.
Mayer isn't going away just yet as he holds on to his serve.
Point of the tournament so far? I'm not sure it will be beaten either! Mayer somehow tracks down a Djokovic shot, sliding in similar fashion to his opponent and then getting the better of Djokovic with a lob. The Serb gets to the ball and hoists it high into the air. Mayer decides to take it first time but mishits into the net.
Another fabulous point! Mayer somehow stays in it under intense pressure from Djokovic before turning the rally in his favour. He can't get the job done though as Djokovic comes through yet again.
The number one seed is within a game of the first set as he holds serve in one of the most entertaining games I've seen in a long time.
Mayer looked on course to hold at 40-0 but three straight backhand returns from Djokovic have brought us back to deuce. Immense hitting off that two-hander.
Mayer wins the next with a full-length dive at the net and impressive smash as Djokovic tried to lob. He's sticking in there.
The German forces Djokovic to serve it out as we approach half an hour of play on Centre Court.
Two set points for Djokovic as yet again the length of his backhand undoes Mayer.
SET! The Serb misfires on the first but seals the set at the second time of asking with an in-to-out forehand.
It was a nervy start for Mayer but since the opening three games he went 3-3 with Djokovic. Can he start the second better than he did the first?
Heavy hitting from both men but for once it's Djokovic who blinks by powering a down-the-line forehand long. 15-15.
The German gets a fortunate net cord on his way to a hold of serve to start the second.
And now Djokovic hits way long with a forehand to start his service game. Mayer's eyes light up, just a little.
Mayer's flashy crosscourt pass would have opened up break point but it zips just wide. 40-30.
It's "Game Djokovic" moments later as Mayer nets a backhand return.
It's two break points for Djokovic as Mayer loops wide with a forehand.
He saves them both! First with a big serve up the middle and then serving and volleying with Djokovic way out wide.
Djokovic has wasted two more break points, both times netting with the backhand slice.
Yet another break point is saved as for once Djokovic's return fails him. Mayer now with a chance to close it out as the serve and volley pays dividends again.
On we go at Deuce #7 as Mayer hits wide on the run.
Brilliant from Mayer as he plays a volley winner from just inside the baseline off Djokovic's deep return.
That's a huge hold for the German after eight deuces. The crowd rise to applaud the effort of Mayer who will want a 10-minute change of ends I think.
Elsewhere, Del Potro eased through the third set against Ramos and now young Brit Laura Robson is on No. 1 Court against 10th seed Maria Kirilenko. Follow our updates here.
No such troubles on serve for Djokovic as he holds to love, closing it out with a rare serve and volley.
Fabulous start to Mayer's service game as first the German stays in the point before Djokovic fails with a drop shot. Then it's Mayer again who digs in but this time Djokovic finds the corner with a supreme forehand.
No eight deuces this time around for Mayer as he holds to 15 to once again nudge ahead in the second set.
It's all over on No. 2 Court as 35-year-old Tommy Haas sees off Dimitry Tursunov 6-3 7-5 7-5 to reach the second round where he'll play Wayne Odesnik or Jimmy Wang.
Mayer has a chance to break at 30-40 but it's denied by Djokovic who serves wide and then slaps away the easy ball on the return.
Another lengthy exchange, Mayer really is playing well here. Unfortunately for him he shoots long and it's game point Djokovic.
He takes it, getting on top and hitting a winner off Mayer's ball that landed full on the baseline.
It's Mayer who is looking the better player at the moment as he holds to love. Djokovic pretty much surrenders the game at 40-0 by swatting a return miles out.
Mayer pushes Djokovic to 40-30 but can't get the return back as Djokovic goes wide with the serve. This is a big game coming up now as the winner will be within one of the set.
No nerves from Mayer as he begins the game with a fabulous slice that pulls Djokovic out of position before passing the Serb crosscourt.
I said it was an important game and I thought that Mayer may feel the pressure but I was completely wrong. He holds to 15 with some impressive serving and it's now over to the number one seed to serve to stay in the set.
Odd news as Philipp Kohlschreiber retires in the fifth set against Ivan Dodig. The German didn't appear injured but was reportedly feeling unwell. There will be a news conference soon, BBC Sport say on Twitter.
You wouldn't expect Djokovic to feel the pressure and he doesn't, holding with ease to level it up.
Djokovic has a chance to break at this crucial stage of the second but misses and we're back to deuce.
BREAK! Another incredible point between these two. It looks like Mayer's going to win it but Djokovic gets his smash back and then puts the ball in the corner with Mayer on the floor.
SET! A valiant effort from Mayer in that set but it's proven in vain as Djokovic holds his serve to grab the second set.
Has Mayer got anything left? He put everything into that set but came away with nothing. He'll get us underway in the third.
Fine tennis from Djokovic as he tracks down Mayer's short ball and then adjusts well to smash into the open court. It's 30-40 and break point...
BREAK! The Serb gets it done at the first time of asking and Mayer has it all to do now. He must still be thinking about that second set.
Mayer still looks a beaten man as Djokovic moves clearly ahead in the third. The German has to hold his own serve now to have any chance.
And he does just that. He was under serious pressure there but showed resolve to get on the board in the third.
It looks as if Djokovic will be sewing up another game at 40-15 but Mayer plops a good return at the Serb's feet and he fluff's his slice.
Mayer can't take the game to deuce and Djokovic is now three games from a place in the second round.
After the start to this set you might have forgiven Mayer for easing off a little but he's dug in and remains just a single break behind.
A love hold for Djokovic as Mayer thwacks an on-the-run forehand a long way out. Elsewhere, young Miss Robson is now a set AND a break up against Kirilenko.
Djokovic just hit a 105mph forehand winner on the backfoot! Mind boggling stuff.
Despite that incredible shot, the Serb can't earn the chance of a double break as Mayer holds.
At 30-0 Djokovic makes a careless error trying to play the forehand slice. Any future opponents should recognise that his slice, on both wings, is a weakness and should keep the ball low against the world number one.
Break-back point Mayer. Massive moment for the German...
He can't take it as he backs off the first serve but still hits long on the return.
Another chance of a break as Djokovic only finds the middle of the net with an easy volley.
SAVED again by Djokovic, this time with a sweet drop shot and pass. Nerves of steel.
A great effort from Mayer there but he can't break back and Djokovic is now one game away from victory.
A bit of an exhibition game there as Djokovic performs a pirouette-style slide but doesn't win the point. At 40-15 Mayer then nonchalantly smacks a backhand winner up-the-line as Djokovic moved so early to try and read it. Djokovic now to serve for the match.
Djokovic successfully challenges a backhand that landed on the line and it's triple match point.
GAME, SET AND MATCH!
The Serb wrongfoots Mayer with a forehand from up high and that's that. A straight-set win, yes, but that was a tough slog for the world number one. Credit to Florian Mayer, who played extremely well and came so close to winning the second set.
Djokovic will next face an American in the second round. He won't know which yet but Bobby Reynolds or Steve Johnson await.
Next up on Centre Court is number four seed in the men's draw David Ferrer and you can follow his match against Martin Alund with Sian Cowper here.
Thanks for joining Sports Mole for coverage of Djokovic's first-round win. Click here for all of our reports, reaction and commentaries from SW19. I recommend you head over and join Rob Summerscales right away as Robson is about to serve for the match against Kirilenko.
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
