World number one Jannik Sinner began his quest for a first Wimbledon title with a comprehensive straight-sets win over his compatriot Luca Nardi.
In his first Grand Slam match since he was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in an epic French Open final, Sinner dismantled his fellow Italian, winning 6-4 6-3 6-0 in under two hours.
Top seed Sinner, who turns 24 next month, has won three Grand Slam titles but is yet to reach a final at SW19.
BBC commentator John Lloyd was hugely impressed by Sinner’s performance on Court One and said it was a timely reminder that he is ‘impossible to play against’ when he ‘is on’.
Sinner’s two biggest rivals for the Wimbledon title appear to be defending champion Alcaraz and seven-time winner Novak Djokovic.
Alcaraz, 22, has already claimed five Grand Slam titles and is bidding to lift a third successive Wimbledon title.
The Spaniard began the defence of his title on Monday with a nervy, largely unconvincing win over Fabio Fognini in five sets.
Djokovic, meanwhile, is dreaming of winning a record 25th Grand Slam singles title in potentially his final Wimbledon at the age of 38.
‘It was a really good performance from Jannik Sinner,’ former Great Britain Davis Cup captain Lloyd said on BBC One.
‘Decent competition in the first set but after that he started playing better. Sinner was just brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
‘Luca Nardi tried everything he could but he just didn’t have the weapons. He ran out of ideas quite a while ago. He is not used to playing people of this standard.
‘When Jannik Sinner is on, it’s impossible to play against him.’
Sinner will face Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic in the next round while Wimbledon favourite Alcaraz takes on British qualifier Oliver Tarvet.
‘I am very, very happy to come back here, it’s a special place for me,’ Sinner said following his first-round win.
‘Playing against an Italian is very unfortunate us but one has to go through so I’m happy that it’s me. The atmosphere is amazing actually so thank you for coming out.
‘I know it is very, very hot and humid. I don’t remember the last time when there was this weather in London so thank you so much.’
On moving on from losing a remarkable French Open final to Alcaraz just last month, Sinner added: ‘New tournament, new chances, new challenges.
‘You have one opponent at a time so obviously I try to keep going and enjoy playing here.
‘If you don’t enjoy to play on this courts, I don’t know where you will enjoy. Very happy to be here and let’s see what is coming.’
In terms of high-profile exits on the men’s draw, former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, ex-Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas and in-form Alexander Bublik all suffered first-round defeats.
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