Some first-round matches had yet to start at Wimbledon yesterday as defending champion Novak Djokovic eased through to the third round.
Afforded a spot on roofed Centre Court, the Serbian was able to avoid the rain that was affecting all other courts at the All England Club and beat Adrian Mannarino in straight sets.
Recording a 30th successive grand slam victory, Djokovic saw off willing Frenchman Mannarino 6-4 6-3 7-6.
“I think we were the only match on, fortunately I was scheduled on Centre Court and that helps,” he said.
“The roof was closed and that atmosphere when the roof is closed is even more special. It gets loud and the crowd got into it. It was fun.”
Tomas Berdych was glad to get his work done before the heavens opened.
The 10th-seeded Czech was close to securing victory over Ivan Dodig when rain started falling on Tuesday and, even though the conditions remained grim yesterday, he was able to slip in and finish the job in the nick of time.
Berdych beat Dodig 7-6 5-7 6-1 7-6 to set up a meeting with Benjamin Becker which, weather permitting, will be played today.
In the women’s tournament, Agnieszka Radwanska also en-joyed the shelter under the Centre Court roof as the former Wimbledon runner-up eased through her opening test.
The third seed won her match 6-2 6-1 against Ukrainian Kater-yna Kozlova.
Radwanska had arrived at a damp All England Club safe in the knowledge the cover over the main show court meant her delayed first-round match would take place, having been called off on Tuesday when it was billed for Court Two.
And while her game is not about overpowering opponents, the craft of the 2012 finalist meant she was always in control against the world number 97, who was making her grand slam debut.
Radwanska said: “I’m very happy with that win and just looking forward to the next one.”
Later in the evening, British number one player Johanna Konta won her first Wimbledon match at the fifth attempt, seeing off Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig 6-1 7-5.
Konta, who was ranked 126th in the world at last year’s tournament, has risen quickly up the tennis ladder to be seeded 16 this year.
Puig settled better after the rain interruption, holding her serve at the resumption in the fourth game of the second set from 40-15 up, and immediately breaking Konta in a match that had started 24 hours earlier.
But Konta regrouped to break back in the eighth game and then again to claim victory in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
Classy Federer ends Willis fairytale
Roger Federer ended the fairytale Wimbledon run of British qualifier Marcus Willis with an emphatic 6-0 6-3 6-4 victory at a packed Centre Court yesterday.
For once though, the storyline belonged to his opponent as the 772nd-ranked underdog Willis basked in the limelight on a day he will never forget.
Federer played the role of pantomime villain in a 25-minute first set as he denied Willis a game.
But thereafter the 25-year-old Briton, cheered on by his friends at courtside, played a full part in some entertaining action.
When Willis, who got through six qualifying rounds and then beat Ricardas Berankis in round one, finally got on the scoreboard in the second game of the second set the roar could be heard all over the grounds.
He kept Federer on his toes with some audacious drop shots and slices and fought right to the end.
Federer looked a little relieved when he broke for a 5-4 lead in the third set and congratulated Willis warmly after his opponent sliced a final backhand long in the following game.