Iga Swiatek fought back tears after surviving a scare to begin her Wimbledon title defence with a thrilling three-set victory over American world number 79 Taylor Townsend.
The Polish third seed cruised through the opening set on Centre Court in just over half an hour.
But she then lost the next four games en route to dropping the second set, before edging a 21-minute service game at the start of the decider to pave the way for a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 success in just over two hours.
Swiatek was visibly emotional after setting up a second-round meeting with 2021 runner-up Karolina Pliskova, having made 36 unforced errors during a patchy performance.
“I’m happy I could get through a match like that because I got quite tense in the second set and I was able to come back to my game,” she said in her on-court interview.
“These are the moments where you feel that you did your job because it’s not hard when everything goes your way and you’re so confident that everything goes in.
“When there are ups and downs this is the time to check how much you can put in to change things around and for sure we’ll see (about defending the title) but with my game I feel pretty well and it’s just a matter of consistency.”
Steffi Graf (1994) and Marketa Vondrousova (2024) remain the only two reigning champions to suffer first-round exits in the women’s singles.
Amanda Anisimova’s bid to banish memories of the worst Wimbledon final defeat in more than a century started in comfortable fashion.
The American’s maiden grand slam final quickly descended into a nightmare last year when she was thrashed 6-0, 6-0 by Swiatek inside an hour.
Having become only the third woman to lose a major final without winning a game, and the first at Wimbledon since 1911, her return started with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over North Macedonian qualifier Lina Gjorcheska on Court Two.
“It was a year ago, so it’s not like I started playing this match thinking about the final or anything last year,” said Anisimova.
“It’s a new tournament. I was just ready for my first round, preparing a lot for it.”
The sixth seed will face compatriot Sofia Kenin in the second round after she defeated Croatian Petra Marcinko 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
Eastbourne champion Madison Keys will take on British wild card Katie Swan following a 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3 comeback win over fellow American Kayla Day.
Jasmine Paolini – the 2024 runner-up – overcame a dismal start to prevent a shock against American world number 195 Robin Montgomery, prevailing 0-6, 6-4, 7-5.
“It was a tough one,” said the Italian. “I managed to come back. I played a great match – maybe the best match of this year.”
Clara Tauson’s quest to emulate last year’s career-best run was ended by a 6-3, 6-3 loss to two-time grand slam semi-finalist Maria Sakkari. The 23-year-old Dane – seeded 24th – defeated 2022 champion Elena Rybakina to reach round four 12 months ago.
World number two Rybakina won 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 against France’s Lois Boisson, while eighth seed Elina Svitolina – a two-time semi-finalist – crashed out, losing 7-5, 6-2 to fellow Ukrainian Daria Snigur.
