British No 1 Cameron Norrie got his Wimbledon campaign up and running with a four-set victory over tricky Czech youngster Tomas Machac.
The 27-year-old, a semi-finalist here last year, dropped the second set but went on to record a 6-3 4-6 6-1 6-4 win under the roof on Court One.
Machac, ranked 108 in the world, was making his Wimbledon debut and playing the first Tour level match on grass of his career.
But nevertheless the 22-year-old was a dangerous first-round opponent who beat Norrie’s compatriot Dan Evans in the Davis Cup and took Novak Djokovic to a deciding-set tie-break earlier this year.
There was no drama for Norrie in the opening set, though, as he secured a break for 3-2 and another to wrap it up.
Tomas Machac and Norrie shake hands at the net
The 12th seed is still sporting the tape on his knee that he wore throughout Queen’s, but whatever the issue is it was not bothering him unduly.
However, things unravelled in the second with Norrie twice pointing an accusatory finger at the grass after misreading the bounce of the ball and dumping forehands into the net before Machac levelled the match.
But Norrie got back on track in the third, securing a double break to take the set in just 24 minutes.
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Sky Sports News’ Eleanor Roper explains the big problem Wimbledon organisers have with nearly 70 extra matches needing to be played over the next few days due to the bad weather
He retrieved an early break in the fourth with a forehand which left a flagging Machac in a heap on the baseline.
Further break points went back and forth but it was Norrie who made one stick to complete an encouraging victory in two hours and 32 minutes.
“The last two years that was me waiting around in the rain,” said Norrie. “So it was nice to have a run last year and then to be able to play on this court.
“It’s nice to get it done and get the first one out of the way.”
Evans knocked out by Halys despite fightback | Brit targets break from tennis
Dan Evans admitted switching off from tennis for a little while would help him get over more first-round disappointment at Wimbledon.
The British No 2 exited at the first hurdle for a fifth time in eight main-draw appearances following a 6-2 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 defeat to France’s Quentin Halys.
Evans was knocked out by Australian Jason Kubler in round one last year and quickly found himself in the familiar position of being two sets down at the All England Club on Monday, but had to return on Tuesday to complete his match.
Rain produced a further delay and when all of the outside court matches were cancelled, Evans saw his clash moved to Centre Court where he pulled a set back.
But there would be no late-night heroics with Halys able to clinch his place in the second round with a booming forehand winner.
“I think now it’s important to spend time with family, friends. Tennis won’t be on my agenda for a little while,” Evans reflected after an underwhelming grass-court campaign.
Dan Evans suffered a first-round exit to unseeded Frenchman Quentin Halys
“You know, it’s been a long six months or seven months, whatever it is. It’s important to recharge and get ready for a good swing in America, which I enjoy, but it’s important to rest as well. Yeah, that’s all I’m really going to do for a bit and then start back up.
“I think it’s important to totally switch off now. You know, it’s important to step away sometimes, to live a bit of a normal life and get away from living out of a suitcase for a long time.”
World No 30 Evans was at a loss to explain his flat display on Monday against a player who only made his Wimbledon debut in 2022.
After waiting all day to begin his comeback quest, Evans edged a third-set tie-breaker, much to the delight of those still in attendance on Centre Court.
Break points had been hard to come by for the Birmingham right-hander and when he was presented with an opportunity in the seventh game of the fourth set, Evans sent his forehand long and Halys claimed victory with his first match point to inflict a seventh defeat in eight for the 33-year-old home favourite.
Evans added: “I have done nothing different, so yeah it’s disappointing, but, you know, they’re good players out there. I think everyone is guilty of having opinions on certain players you should beat, you shouldn’t beat.
“I think when the draw came out, I must have had that many messages saying, ‘Quentin Halys is a clay-court player’. It’s very easy to overlook people.
“They’re all good players on the tour and you have to put them away, that’s what I try and do but if I’m losing, which I am at the minute, you know – I wouldn’t say I’ve hit a wall. It’s frustrating, it’s annoying, it’s whatever.
“But I’m not sure what else you can do. You’ve just got to keep competing. It is no good practising, I tried that. I tried to take Eastbourne off and took Nottingham off, and first round, first round, it’s incredibly frustrating.”
Having not dropped outside of the top 40 since 2020, Evans will hope to bounce back for the hard-court US swing in August.
He will have to spend some of the next few weeks working out his coaching team after splitting with Sebastian Prieto last month.
“I’ve got to look at that,” Evans acknowledged. “You know, I’ll leave incredibly frustrated after tonight, to work hard and then serve a double at 30-all.
“But like I said previously, it’s important to switch off. When I feel it’s right, I’ll start thinking about it.”