Ageless Navratilova back in the hunt

Other former champions to advance on day one were nine-times women’s winner Martina Navratilova, twice women’s champion Venus Williams and Lleyton Hewitt, who won the men’s title in 2002.

Naturalised American Navratilova, making her first appearance in the women’s singles at the All England Club for a decade, thrashed Colombia’s Catalina Castano 6-0, 6-1.

Thirty-one years after her Wimbledon debut, Navratilova — whose name loosely translates as “comeback” in her native Czech — produced some vintage serve-volleying to bamboozle an opponent who, at 24, is almost half her age.

Navratilova, who lost in the first round of the French Open on her return to Grand Slam singles action last month, will play either Australian Jelena Dokic or Argentine Gisela Dulko — her conqueror in Paris — in the second round.

“I did (enjoy that). I very much did,” the 47-year-old said. “I’m focused, I’m concentrating.

“I think I relaxed when it was 6-0, 5-0… that’s when I finally relaxed and that’s what happens, I lose a game,” she smiled.

“It’s great to be out there, great to have that opportunity. I think, you know, when people say, ‘Why are you doing it?’ I guess the answer is, because I still can, bottom line.”

Navratilova’s first opponent at Wimbledon was Britain’s Christine Janes in 1973. On Monday, her daughter Amanda looked to be set to cause an upset, but having won the first set against 11th seed Ai Sugiyama, crumbled 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Third seed Venus Williams started her bid for a third Wimbledon crown with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Marie-Gayanay Mikaelian of Switzerland.

Australian Hewitt suffered a first-round loss last year — the first men’s champion to lose so early since tennis turned professional in 1968 — but avoided a similar fate on court one with an assured 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Austria’s Juergen Melzer.

“I felt good out there,” the Australian said. “I felt like I played the first set pretty well, got out of the blocks well. I was happy with where my game was at today. So I can be confident going into the second round now.”

Croatian Ivo Karlovic showed heis developing a taste for Wimbledon upsets by beating Thai 13th seed Paradorn Srichaphan 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round.Last year, the 2.08-metre tall Karlovic caused one of the biggest shocks in tennis history by beating 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt in the first round.

The magic of Goran Ivanisevic returned to Wimbledon when the 2001 champion — playing the tournament for the first time since winning the title — beat 31st seed Mikhail Youzhny.

Ranked 415 in the world, the rangy Croatian dismantled his opponent’s game on Centre Court with his swinging serve and crisp volleys to win 6-3, 7-6, 6-2.

He will next face either British qualifier Jamie Delgado or Filippo Volandri of Italy. (Reuters)