Roger Federer has progressed into the second round at Wimbledon with a routine victory over Paolo Lorenzi.
The former world number one is looking to add to his seven titles at SW19 and he was never troubled by his Italian opponent, who now holds a record of failing to win in 13 Grand Slam matches.
Federer broke serve six times on the way to securing a 6-1 6-1 6-3 victory against the world number 83, and the Swiss will now move through to a clash with either Gilles Muller or Julian Benneteau.
Read below to see how the action unfolded on Centre Court.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the first-round match between Paolo Lorenzi and Roger Federer at Wimbledon.
The Swiss has won his tournament a remarkable seven times, but he suffered one of the biggest shocks of his career 12 months ago when he slumped to defeat against Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round. The 32-year-old will be hoping for a different story this time around!
Well the players are ready, it's time for us to get underway! It will be Federer to serve first.
It's a quick start from the Swiss, who canters into a 40-0 lead. He miscues on the next point, but a routine volley at the net sees him take the opening game.
BREAK! It doesn't come as a huge surprise, but already, Lorenzi looks overawed by the occasion and immediately gifts Federer three break points. However, a decent first serve and a lucky net cord help the Italian get back to 30-40 before Federer frames a forehand to see the game get back to deuce. There's some super rallies occurring already, but it feels as though Federer is almost toying with his opponent. The number four seed takes the next two points to seal the early break.
Federer looks in control after two points in a row take him to 30-15, but a couple of wayward forehands give Lorenzi a chance to break back! But that's how a seven-time Wimbledon champion deals with a break point - an ace down the middle. He saves another with a serve to the same area and eventually comes through the game, but Lorenzi will be slightly encouraged.
It's a classy start to the game from Lorenzi, who passes Federer at the net with a sublime backhand, but Federer responds by drilling a forehand from the baseline for 15-15. However, a couple of aces from the Italian see him get on the scoreboard.
It's a much more comfortable hold for Federer, who ghosts into the net twice in succession for the easy put-away, before the love hold is sealed with a smash into the open court.
BREAK! Lorenzi is showing plenty of intent to get to the net, but he misfires twice to give Federer 0-30. Those errors encourage him to remain at the baseline, but that doesn't work either. However, after Federer misses with a backhand return, Lorenzi plays a fine cross-court backhand to get back to 30-40, but it's not enough for the Italian, who concedes the double break after netting.
SET! Federer takes the opening point, but two errors at the net and a backhand return from Lorenzi sees the Italian earn two break points. Federer saves both of them, but Lorenzi picks off the Swiss at the net to earn a third, but again, Federer survives via the assistance of a net cord. That's Lorenzi's last opportunity, and Federer finally seals the set with an ace.
It's been said that Federer has started to slow down a touch, but he looks rather sprightly on his feet in making it to the net to put away a forehand down the line. Lorenzi needed a fast start in this set, but he is forced to save two break points after poor shots into the net. It's a topsy-turvy game that sees Lorenzi save two more break points, but he comes through the game with some sharp work at the net.
After that marathon game from Lorenzi, Federer breezes through his service game with an ace, two unreturnable serves and a backhand down the line. Over to you again, Paolo...
BREAK! Lorenzi gives Federer a 0-30 start before firing down an 126mph ace. The Italian gets to game point, but a Federer forehand has too much on it and Lorenzi nets for deuce. It proves to be the start of Lorenzi's downfall in the game, and a couple of errors gift Federer the break.
That break of serve should be the catalyst that Federer needs to up the ante in this set and an exhibition of his volleying skills sees him hold to love.
BREAK! Lorenzi looks like he is beginning to unravel a touch, but he gets the better of Federer during a couple of baseline rallies to get to 30-30. After the game moves to deuce, Federer earns break point, which is taken with a delightful forehand into the corner of the court.
A drop-volley and an ace help Federer earn 40-0, but two successive mistakes see Lorenzi get back into the game. However, the Italian can't force deuce and Federer moves one game away from a two-set lead.
SET! To be fair to Lorenzi, he is competing well in some of these rallies, but Federer is far too good. The deftest touch at the net sees Federer bring up three set points before Lorenzi goes long from the baseline. This could be over pretty quick now.
Federer looks in a hurry to get this one over and done with. Two volleys and an ace earn him the game in marginally over a minute.
BREAK! I'd love to see the net statistics for the former world number one. He is all over it, and Lorenzi just can't cope. Lorenzi pulls it back to 15-30 but a poor effort from the baseline give Federer two break points, and the first is taken when Lorenzi nets.
Lorenzi takes the opening point, but three in a row from Federer take him to the brink of his nine successive gmae. The Italian is given a reprieve when the Swiss nets but it doesn't last long after a mistake from the world number 83.
Wowzers. We shouldn't be surprised really, but Federer has been at another level at the net today. A backhand volley and pass take him to 15-40, but Lorenzi displays his desire to remain on Centre Court by saving both break points. Another is saved when Federer goes wide, but Lorenzi fails with the game-point chance when slicing into the net. However, he takes the next two points and Centre Court erupts as he avoids the bagel. The world number 83 lapped up the applause too.
I think a part of Lorenzi is relishing this atmosphere now. He has relaxed now that he won't lose the set without troubling the score, but he can't do nothing to stop the Federer onslaught. The number four seed holds to 15 and moves two games away from the match.
Before the start of this game, Federer had won more than half of the points on Lorenzi's serve, but the Italian starts to improve that record with a hold to 30. There are more roars from the Wimbledon crowd, who are keen to see Federer remain on court for as long as possible.
The chances are, though, it won't be for much longer. Federer holds to love and when we return, Lorenzi will serve to remain in the tournament.
Federer starts the game with a forehand deep into the court to edge 0-15 ahead, but he goes for too much on a backhand and miscues the shot into the net. Federer takes the next point, but what do we have here? Lorenzi wins a net exchange! He can't back it up though, and Federer earns match point. Lorenzi survives when Federer nets the return but another match point is earned when Lorenzi mis-judges a backhand volley from Federer and allows it to drop into the court! Bizarre. It's saved though, but it's match point number three for Federer after Lorenzi makes an error. Remarkably, Federer wastes it again and then two more go begging soon afterwards! This is a crazy game but eventually, Lorenzi takes it when Federer sends a volley into the net! Centre Court goes wild, and Lorenzi salutes them!
MATCH! Is this the start of the greatest comeback that Wimbledon has ever seen? Lorenzi wins the first point, but Federer moves to 30-15 with a super one-two off his serve. However, hie throws in a double fault and there is hope for the Italian! Not for long though, and on match point number six, Federer fires down an ace to book his place in the next round.
That was a rather enjoyable end to what had been a routine match for Federer, but the Swiss sweeps into the next round with a 6-1 6-1 6-3 victory over Paolo Lorenzi.
He was never going to win this match, but Lorenzi played his part near the conclusion to ensure that Federer had to work for his win. He moves on to 13 matches without a win at a Grand Slam...
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match, but let me bring your attention to Rafael Nadal's opening contest with Martin Klizan, which you can follow here. Goodbye for now.
